what really happens in TDCJ

what really happens in TDCJ What really happens in TDCJ?

These are stories from current/recently released TDCJ inmates or their families posted anonymously.
**Article 19 of the UDHR
**First Amendment of the Constitution

02/10/2026

The incarcerated in many US prisons are served food that is sometimes labeled or considered not for human consumption, often characterized as low-quality, spoiled, or containing filler materials. These meals are frequently moldy or rotten, leading to higher rates of foodborne illness, malnutrition, and long-term health issues for incarcerated individuals. Key Aspects of Substandard Prison Food Labeling: Some food items, particularly bulk meat products, may be labeled "for institutional use only," which is interpreted by some as not for human consumption, or are simply treated as low-grade food. Food Quality: Reports include food that smells like rotting meat contains mold, is infested with cockroaches, or has excessive salt and fat with little to no fresh vegetables. Health Impact: Inmates are six times more likely to get foodborne illness than the general public, and the lack of nutritional value can cause severe, long-term health issues. Common Issues:"Meatloaf" or "Salisbury steak" made with questionable, low-grade ingredients, Expired foods or food past its prime. Nutriloaf: A dense, unappetizing, and often bland mixture sometimes used as punishment in solitary confinement. Causes: Budget restrictions, with some facilities spending less than $3 per day on food, and the use of private contractors are often cited as reasons for the poor quality. Legal and Advocacy Actions Advocacy groups like Impact Justice are working to improve the quality of prison food. Lawsuits have been filed against companies providing food service, such as Aramark and Trinity, for serving spoiled or contaminated food. The incarcerated often rely on the commissary to buy food, but those with little to no money from prison jobs may be forced to rely entirely on the provided, poor-quality meals

01/28/2026

"Jasper Texas, Glen Goodman Unit has TDCJ and ISF inmates. ISF inmates are treated less than humans, by guards and TDCJ inmates who run and controls unit operations. The food, commissary, and any privileges, are at officers and turnkey inmates discretion. Because they're only there for a short time, but it's cruel and unusual punishment"

01/21/2026

If you aren't using your car for transporting goods or services, you aren't legally a 'driver,' so you don't need a license. Although there is a process with recenssion of contracts.

Blacks law dictionary 4th edition:

EMPLOYED. This signifies both the act of doing

a thing and the being under contract or orders to

do it. To give employment to; to have employ-

ment. State v. Birmingham Beauty Shop, Ala.,

198 So. 435, 43

COMMERCE. The exchange of goods, produc-

tions, or property of any kind. Jeu Jo Wan v.

Nagle, C.C.A.Cal., 9 F.2d 309, 310.

In*******se by way of trade and traffic between

different peoples or states and the citizens or in- habitants thereof, including not only the purchase, sale, and exchange of commodities, but also the in- strumentalities and agencies by which it is pro- moted and the means and appliances by which it Is carried on, and the transportation of persons as well as of goods, both by land and by sea. Bren- nan v. Titusville, 14 S.Ct. 829, 153 U.S. 289, 38 L. Ed. 719; Railroad Co. v. Fuller, 17 Wall. 568, 21

L.Ed. 710; Hoke v. United States, 33 S.Ct. 281,

283, 227 U.S. 308, 57 L.Ed. 523, 43 L.R.A.,N.S., 906, Ann.Cas.1913E, 905. Also interchange of ideas, sentiments, etc., as between man and man. U. S. v. Eason Oil Co., D.C.Okl., 8 F.Supp. 365, 368.

Commerce, in its simplest signification, means an exchange of goods; but in the advancement of society, labor, transportation, intelligence, care and various medi- ums of exchange, become commodities and enter into commerce; the subject, the vehicle, the agent, and their

various operations become the objects of commercial regulation. Lorenzetti v. American Trust Co., D.C.Cal., 45 F.Supp. 128, 132.

"Commerce" is not traffic alone, but is in*******se between nations and parts of nations in all its branches.

Blumenstock Bros. Advertising Agency v. Curtis Pub. Co., 252 U.S. 436, 40 S.Ct. 385, 387, 64 L.Ed. 649.

The words "commerce" and "trade" are often used interchangeably; but, strictly speaking, commerce relates to in*******se or dealings with foreign nations, states, or political communities, while trade denotes business inter- course or mutual traffic within the limits of a state or nation, or the buying, selling, and exchanging of articles between members of the same community. Ho**er v. Van- dewater, 4 Denio, N.Y., 353, 47 Am. Dec. 258; Jacob;

Wharton.

DRIVER. One employed in conducting or operat-

ing a coach, carriage, wagon, or other vehicle,

with horses, mules, or other animals, or a bicycle, tricycle, or motor car, though not a street railroad car. A person actually doing driving, whether employed by owner to drive or driving his own vehicle. Wallace v. Woods, 340 Mo. 452, 102 S.W.2d 91, 97.

Therefore, one not engaged in commerce or acting in a commercial capacity cannot be a driver.

(If you aren't using your car for transporting goods or services, you aren't legally a 'driver,' so you do not need a license. Although there is a process with rescission of contracts.)

01/14/2026

Blacks law dictionary 4th edition:

JUSTICE, n. In common law. The title given in England to the judges of the king's bench and the common pleas, and in America to the judges of the supreme court of the United States and of the appellate courts of many of the states.
It is said that this word in its Latin form (justitia) was properly applicable only to the judges of common-law courts, while the term "judex" designated the judges of
ecclesiastical and other courts. See Leg.Hen. I, §§ 24, 63;
Co. Litt. 71b.
The same title is also applied to some of the judicial officers of the lowest rank and jurisdiction, such as police
justices and justices of the peace.
A term used in the United States and England to desig-nate judicial officers and magistrates of every grade.
School Dist. No. 18 v. Grubbs Special School Dist., 184
Ark. 863, 43 S.W.2d 765, 766.
In Feudal law. Jurisdiction; judicial cognizance
of causes or offenses.
High justice was the jurisdiction or right of trying
crimes of every kind, even the highest. This was a privi-lege claimed and exercised by the great lords or barons of
the middle ages. 1 Robertson's Car. V., appendix, note 23.
Low justice was jurisdiction of petty offenses.
In Jurisprudence. The constant and perpetual
disposition to render every man his due. Inst. 1,
1, pr.; 2 Inst. 56. See Borden v. State, 11 Ark.
528, 44 Am.Dec. 217; Collier v. Lindley, 203 Cal.
641, 266 P. 526, 530; The John E. Mulford, D.C.
N.Y., 18 F. 455. The conformity of our actions
and our will to the law. Toull. Droit Civil Fr. tit.
prel. no. 5; Livingston Oil Corporation v. Henson,
90 Okl. 76, 215 P. 1057, 1059.
Commutative justice is that which should govern con-
tracts. It consists in rendering to every man the exact
measure of his dues, without regard to his personal worth
or merits, i. e., placing all men on an equality. Distribu-tive justice is that which should govern the distribution
of rewards and punishments. It assigns to each the
rewards which his personal merit or services deserve, or
the proper punishment for his crimes. It does not con-sider all men as equally deserving or equally blameworthy,
but discriminates between them, observing a just propor-
tion and comparison. This distinction originated with
Aristotle. (Eth.Nic. V.) See Fonbl.Eq. 3; Toull.Droit
Civil Fr. tit. pre. no. 7.
In the most extensive sense of the word "justice" differs
little from "virtue;" for it includes within itself the
whole circle of virtues. Yet the common distinction
between them is that that which, considered positively and
in itself, is called "virtue," when considered relatively and
with respect to others has the name of "justice." But
"justice," being in itself a part of "virtue," is confined to
things simply good or evil, and consists in a man's taking "Equity" and "Justice" are substantially equivalent
terms, if not synonymous. In re Lessig's Estate, 6 N.Y.
S.2d 720, 721, 168 Misc. 889.
Under constitutional provision guaranteeing right to
obtain justice, the "justice" to be administered by courts
is not an abstract justice as conceived of by the judge but
justice according to law or, as it is phrased in the con-
stitution, "conformably to the laws". State ex rel. Depart-
ment of Agriculture v. McCarthy, 238 Wis. 258, 299 N.W.
58, 64.
In Norman French. Amenable to justice. Kel-ham.

01/12/2026

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01/11/2026

"A FULL YEAR HAS PASSED SINCE C-4O BECAME LAW.

It was last year - December 17th 2024 - that close to 100 families celebrated King Charles' signing Bill C-40 into Law.

Families gathered around holiday tables, endless smiles, and joyful tears filled their homes, as they celebrated a Law that would reunite their broken homes, put together the broken pieces, and return their loved ones back to that 'empty chair' at the dinner table.

The chair that sat empty, and deafingly silent for so many birthdays, graduations, holidays, and celebrations.

These homes tried to move on, and carried on the best ways they could.
But the dark sad cloud over the empty chair loomed. Over every birthday, every celebration, over every single dinner.

This is the reality that the families of a Wrongful Conviction live with.
While their missing loved one, is serving his or her time in a prison cell, the entire family is living the same trauma, and serving the same sentence, outside the prison cell.

You can imagine the incredible joy, the incredible relief, the incredible hope, that filled all their hearts and minds, as C-40 became law. C-40 is basically the creation of a Miscarriage of Justice Commission.

The Commission was meant to sit and quickly review cases where a miscarriage of justice may have taken place. Where an actual innocent person fell through the cracks, and was convicted of a crime that they were innocent of.

This was in no way an attack on our legal system, or society. In fact, it was the exact opposite. In every society, in every legal system, and in every country, sometimes mistakes happen. Sometimes these mistakes happen because of police tunnel vision, sometimes they happen because the accused is tricked into the conviction, sometimes it's as random as a 'plane crash' or a 'shark attack'... just absolutely bad luck. There are even a few of these wrongful convictions that took place by design. (So convinced were the police and prosecutors of the accused's guilt, that they may have overlooked his or her innocence, or may have pushed too hard to get a conviction, that they shouldn't have). The fact that our legal system, our government, and our people, looked for a way to rectify these issues, actually demonstrates how great of a country we truly are.
And that our rule of law legal system, was truly looking for a way, to protect its citizens, from these types of mistakes.

Prior to this Law being passed, we had in the criminal code, a 696(1), commonly known as a Ministerial Review. Whereas once all other means we're exhausted, the innocent person can ask the Attorney General to look at his/her case.

This basically meant that many decades would pass, and there was no guarantee that their cases would even be heard. The bar for this review was irrationally very high, and many experts stated that "it was designed to fail".
The innocent person would have to submit all documentation for the review.
These trials where the wrongful conviction took place, lasted weeks if not months. Meaning the innocent person sitting in jail without income or resources, would have to find a way to go to the courtroom that this took place, and get copies of all files. The files to be copied alone, could cost up to $10,000 in some of these cases. At 10 or 15 cents a copy, with thousands upon thousands of documents to be photocopied, you can see how the task becomes difficult. On top of all that, the hours upon hours needed to locate the documents, and then have them all copied. And then, if one document or page is missing, the whole process can't go any further. And sometimes, it can take years to even find out, that your case is not being heard, because one page is missing somewhere.

And that doesn't even include, the hurdles that someone would face depending on which political party was in power.

One of the key points in C40, was to remove the 'sphere of politics', from the decision-making process. This point was very, very well argued, by the actual innocent people, finding hurdles as the country's politics would go back and forth. In many well-known publications, going back some 15 years, we see prison authors demanding the end of political interference. Later when recommendations were done for the creation of this law, that was one of the key factors, making the commission more independent, and free from political influence, in their decision-making process.

Other key factors were worked into the law, making it easier to actually have a review, even if documents are missing. After all, everyone should remember, this was not about pointing fingers at prosecutors or the legal system, this was about giving those that are 'factually' and 'demonstrably' innocent,
a chance to demonstrate their innocence, a chance to end the injustice, and reverse the Miscarriage of Justice, that sometimes does happen.

The last hurdle, that made it impossible to have "Honest Justice" with 696, was the demand that "fresh new evidence" be produced. In many cases, the evidence proving the person was 100% innocent, was actually somewhere hidden in the disclosure of evidence, but because of overwhelming documentation, or other factors, nobody really saw or paid any attention to the exonerating evidence. How frustrating was it for people, that can prove their innocence, but couldn't be heard, because that document existed somewhere during the original trial?
Was it really Honest Justice, or the preservation of the wrongful conviction?

So, when experts around the country pushed forward the reasoning and urgent need, for the Commission, hope was sparked, not only in the hearts and minds of the innocent people and their families, but also for legal experts who had advocated for "a more transparent" and "just" legal system, were also cheering their support.

After a full year, everyone assumed that the first dozen of the close to 90 factually and demonstrably innocent people, wrongly serving a life sentence, would have been released.

Not only has no one been released yet, not only has no case been heard yet, not only has the Commission not even chosen their members & who will sit on the Commission yet, but sadly,
two more factually and demonstrably innocent people died in jail, virtually running out of time, waiting for Honest Justice that never came.

This holiday season, as families gather to celebrate their love, and their future. Remember this, there are still over 80 families that will be sitting down for their dinner tonight, looking over at 'that' empty chair, wondering and asking themselves - "Wasn't last holidays supposed to be the last?!?"

Tonight as you gather and toast your good fortunes, give a private toast of thanks, that your table is full, and no chair is missing a loved one.
Nobody can plan against a wrongful conviction. It's as random as a plane crash or a shark attack.
With the only exception that together, we can undue the damage, and truly make a difference.

No money or donations are needed, or accepted. Just your voice.
Raise Awareness, make some noise, demand that the government stop letting the innocent slowly die off in prison."

11/28/2025

WAKE UP

10/31/2025

Considering that it's Halloween, enjoy
TDCJ's DARKEST SOULS 🎃 👻

Within the walls of TDCJ, the specters of history's most chilling figures reside. These are not just inmates; they are the substance of true crime nightmares.

THE CANDY MANS LEGACY: Inmates whisper about the horrors of Dean Corll, "The Candy Man," the perpetrator of the Houston Mass Murders in the early 1970s. Though he was killed before incarceration, his two accomplices, Elmer Wayne Henley and David Owen Brooks, served life sentences in TDCJ, carrying the secrets of at least 28 murdered boys with them to their cells.

THE BROOMSTICK KILLER: Kenneth McDuff, "The Broomstick Killer," embodies a true-life horror story of the justice system's failure. Originally sentenced to death, he was paroled, only to go on another killing spree. His return to the death chamber solidified his place as one of Texas's most notorious and feared serial killers.

THE RAILROAD PHANTOM: The tracks of Texas carry the eerie legacy of Ángel Maturino Reséndiz, "The Railroad Killer." Traveling the railways like a dark spirit, he murdered at least 15 people. His ex*****on in 2006 closed a chapter on one of the most chilling manhunts in state history.

THE CULTIST'S CAPTIVITY: Warren Jeffs, the infamous leader of a polygamous cult, now spends his life behind bars in a TDCJ unit, convicted of child sexual assault. He is a modern-day reminder that pure evil can hide behind the guise of religion.

HUNTSVILLE'S BLOODY STAIN: The walls of the Huntsville Unit still bear the memory of the violent 1974 prison siege led by drug lord Fred Carrasco. The deadly standoff and failed escape attempt remain one of the bloodiest chapters in TDCJ history.

SAY HIS NAME!!! 📢Malcolm Bobby Sanders"My uncle had currently been locked up in the ellis unit in Huntsville, Texas Last...
10/23/2025

SAY HIS NAME!!! 📢
Malcolm Bobby Sanders

"My uncle had currently been locked up in the ellis unit in Huntsville, Texas Last month on September 20, my uncle was found unconscious in his cell was rushed to the hospital where they tried to say he had kidney failure, respiratory failure, internal bleeding, and pneumonia. Two days prior to being rushed to the hospital when we asked what had happened they tried to say that he hit his head and passed out and they rushed him to the hospital. They tried to do dialysis were dialysis failed, and his body started shutting down and he died September 24. They are trying to say it’s a natural causes but hitting your head doesn’t leave bruises all over your face your head your chest your sides. They beat my uncle to death (i have pictures of bruising all over his body) and they’re trying to cover it up. They’re trying to say he wasn’t strapped to the bed when he was and had four guards guarding him at all times the warden will not answer us back and I want to know what happened to my uncle we have witnesses saying that he was beat to death by the guards. We have people that will testify against it. That has personally reached out an said we need to hire lawyers investigate Please share this and help get his story out. My uncle may have had a past, but he was an amazing person and he had family that loved him! Say his name Malcolm Bobby Sanders and please help us get justice for him"

09/22/2025

Statewide Lockdown
In July 2025, the TDCJ implemented a lockdown at 19 prisons across Texas.
The lockdown was a response to a "surge in dangerous contraband and drug-related violence" within the facilities.
During this period, higher-custody inmates were subjected to comprehensive searches, movement restrictions, and had their visitations canceled.

09/19/2025

TWO WOMAN IN TROUBLE FOR THEIR FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"We both had to go in there and talk that same day. They called me and her both in, and she still talked to you. (Us at this page) In fact, they threatened me, saying they were going to give me a major case. They put me on three months' probation and told me that if I tried to speak to you, (They just said "the person you've been messaging") they would give me a major case. I got put on three-months probation because of it, but then everything was dropped. I didn't get my major case like they were going to give me because I didn't contact you anymore. I let everything ride over. It was all because they didn't want you knowing what was going on. When she (the Warden) sent me she said 'who do you think you are?' I said 'it's freedom of speech.' I said 'I may be imprisoned, but I still have the right to speak.' But I think they did go ahead and give the other lady a case. I think - I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure - they gave her one because she still talked to you after. So she got a case and I didn't because I quit."

09/19/2025

•Heat-related deaths: A lack of air conditioning in two-thirds of state prisons has been linked to numerous inmate deaths, a situation that has led to multiple lawsuits. Though TDCJ has long denied that heat is the primary cause, extreme temperatures have been cited as a contributory factor in autopsies.

•Inadequate medical care: Lawsuits have alleged systemic failures in providing adequate medical care, including accusations that staff withheld or restricted medication and equipment.

•Wrongful housing placement: A 2024 class-action lawsuit claims that TDCJ's flawed policies have kept nearly 500 inmates trapped for years in punitive housing without proper notice or access to an appeal process.

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Huntsville, TX
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