G1, G2, G4 · State Prison · TDCJ

Torres Unit

Hondo, Medina County, Texas

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (830) 426-5325 Info last verified: June 2026

A general-population men's prison near Hondo in Medina County, west of San Antonio, known for its specialized canine programs.

Statewide rules that apply at every TDCJ unit

These rules are set by TDCJ and apply at every unit. The full list — including all permitted and prohibited items and the approval process — is in Visiting in Texas.

Dress code

Tight-fitting, revealing, or see-through clothing is not allowed.
Sleeveless shirts and dresses are allowed only if the shoulders stay covered.
Shorts and skirts must be no shorter than three inches above the middle of the knee while standing.
Clothing with profane or offensive images or language is not allowed.
Visitors may not wear all-white clothing (incarcerated people wear white). Sandals and open-toe shoes are allowed.

ID: Each adult visitor (18 or older) must present a current government-issued photo ID, and at least one ID document must show a current physical address.
What to bring: No cell phones, smartwatches, cameras, other electronics, tobacco, paper money, food, or outside drinks. A small clear bag or change purse and up to $35 in coins for vending machines are allowed.
Scheduling: Visits are booked through the TDCJ Online Visitation Portal, at least one and no more than seven days ahead. One visit per weekend is standard.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in Texas

Overview

The Torres Unit is a general-population men’s prison near Hondo in Medina County, west of San Antonio. TDCJ established the unit in January 1993 and lists its capacity at about 1,384 beds. It holds people classified at the G1, G2, and G4 custody levels.

The unit’s full name is the Ruben M. Torres Unit. Medical care is managed by UTMB and covers ambulatory medical and dental services.

What Makes Torres Unit Different

Notable canine specialization — alongside security pack canines, the unit works scent-specific canines and Human Remains Detection (HRD) canines
Operates a print shop, security horses, and a unit garden
Houses a faith-based dormitory and a separate Transformational Ministry dormitory
Education and vocational programs include Adult Basic Education, GED, CHANGES pre-release, cognitive intervention, automotive, HVAC, and electrical trades

Visiting Hours and Procedures

The statewide rules above — approval, ID, prohibited items, and dress code — apply at the Torres Unit. What follows is specific to this unit.

The unit holds a G1, G2, and G4 custody mix, so the visiting format follows the incarcerated person’s classification rather than one unit-wide rule. General-population housing typically uses standard contact visiting, while more restrictive housing can mean different room assignments or non-contact procedures on the same weekend. Two families arriving the same morning may have different experiences depending on the person each is visiting.

Getting There and Parking

The Torres Unit is in a rural part of Medina County, about three miles west of Hondo and roughly 40 miles west of San Antonio. The main route runs west from San Antonio on US-90 toward Hondo, then onto the local road that reaches the unit.

Services thin out west of San Antonio, with the nearest concentration of gas, food, and lodging in Hondo and the larger set of options back in San Antonio.

Phones, Mail, and Video

Contact has a sequence to it. A phone number must be on the incarcerated person’s approved contact list before calls can connect, and after intake or a transfer that approval can take time to process. Calls are placed by the incarcerated person on TDCJ’s Securus phone system; a prison cannot be called into. Account setup, rates, and video options are covered in Phone & Video Calls.

Nearby Services

Hondo is a small city with limited commercial services. It is the nearest service center for gas, food, and groceries before the unit, with a fuller range of lodging and restaurants in San Antonio to the east.

For support beyond the unit itself, the Texas Inmate Families Association is a statewide nonprofit focused on education, advocacy, and prison-system navigation resources for families with someone in TDCJ custody.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone at a Texas state prison:

Visiting in Texas — TDCJ approval process, dress code, scheduling
Mail & Packages — what you can send and what gets rejected
Phone & Video Calls — Securus accounts, call costs, video visits
Sending Money — how to add funds to a TDCJ trust account
Medical & Mental Health — healthcare in TDCJ facilities
Transfers — what happens during transfers

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.