The Choice Moore Unit celebrates its 10-year anniversary this month. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division (TDCJ-CID) was handed the keys to the unit from the General Contractor on May 02, 1995. The unit is extremely proud of it’s accomplishments and growth over this relatively short period. It has earned an excellent reputation and become a model transfer facility for the State of Texas.
In early Spring 1995 TDCJ employees from all over the state were assigned or hired specifically to work at the Choice Moore Unit. These employees assembled in Bonham on May 2nd, 1995 for two days of introduction, coordination, and training. Warden Richard Watkins, the unit’s first Senior Warden, Warden Watkins and the other supervisors formulated the structure and organization of the various Departments and established security procedures. Employees then worked hard in preparing the unit for the receipt of the first offenders. Within weeks the unit approached its capacity of 1,008 offenders. In 1998 modifications were made to the unit increasing the population to house 1,224 offenders.
The last ten years have proved to be very productive for the Choice Moore Unit. Not only have we successfully complied with our assigned Mission Statement “To provide safe and appropriate confinement, supervision, rehabilitation, and reintegration of adult felons, and to effectively manage or administer correctional facilities based on constitutional and statutory standards”, but we have strived to make significant contributions to the local community as well.
When the Choice Moore Unit opened its doors many people expected great changes with the prisons introduction in the Bonham area, but no one predicted its actual impact. With an annual payroll of over $6 million dollars, the unit employs 155 correctional officers, 21 security supervisors, 33 medical personnel, and another 50 employees in various support positions such as education and maintenance. The local economy has been boosted by the increased need for numerous consumer items as well as an increase in area utility usage. Unit employees have also played a major role by making a commitment to become part of this community, such as volunteering for a wide variety of community functions.
The employees of the Choice Moore Unit make significant contributions to the Fannin County Community. The unit as a whole is involved in many charitable groups such as: WalkAmerica - March of Dimes, Texas Special Olympics, Community Blood Drives, United Way of Fannin County, Fannin County Christmas Drive, Camp Wohaleto, and CASA. Some of our remarkable employees have or are currently serving as board members of organizations such as March of Dimes, CASA, the Bonham ISD, and the Bonham Chamber of Commerce.
The unit has a Community Work Squad that works throughout Fannin County on various community improvement projects. Examples have included: Lake Bonham beautification; the clean-up of Dodd City after a major wind storm; re-locating several Fannin County Offices to the South Annex; Bonham Street Department “Christmas Tree Drop Off.” The offenders have also made major contributions to the local area by having participated in renovating the Bonham Civic Center, clearing brush and trees, donating wood to needy families, landscaping the VA Hospital as well as decorating the grounds for Christmas. They have also made major repairs to a cemetery long thought lost to the Whitewright community and assisted in the city wide cleanup prior to their selection as a Texas Historical Society “Main Street City.”
Production and the distribution of food to “low income” families is also a project for the unit. The Choice Moore Unit in conjunction with Buster Cole State Jail combine equipment, Officers and offender labor in producing vegetables. The vegetables when harvested are furnished to local SNAP Centers and needy families through the Bonham Community Ministries, which coordinates distribution. It is estimated that the Food Bank Project contributions have exceeded one million pounds of produce. Bonham Community Ministries, Bonham’s Pastors Association, Bonham United Way, and the Voluntary Purchasing Group Company and other supporting agencies have shared in the donation of money used for the supply of fertilizer and seeds. This “seed money” made the preparation and planting of the fields possible.
The Choice Moore Unit is also proud of it’s accomplishments in the Corrections Arena. The unit has received its second national accreditation from the American Corrections Association and is preparing for its third.
The Choice Moore Unit is proud to celebrate its 10 years in Bonham and it’s partnership with the Fannin County Community and looks forward to many more years of service. We invite the community and former employees to join us on June 9th at 11:00 AM, at the unit, to commensurate this special event.