You’ve probably never heard of Post, Texas, unless you’re from Garza County or you’ve had the misfortune of dealing with the Texas prison system. It’s a small town, the kind where everyone knows everyone, and for decades, its biggest claim to fame—and its biggest paycheck—was the Giles W Dalby Correctional Facility. This place has been a ghost town since late 2024, but that’s changing fast.
Right now, in early 2026, the facility is at the center of a massive state-level tug-of-war. For years, it was a private money-maker run by Management & Training Corporation (MTC). Then it was a "last resort" for overflowing county jails. Now? It’s transitioning into a state-owned asset. If you’re trying to figure out why a 1,900-bed prison in the middle of nowhere keeps making headlines, you have to look at the messy history of private interests versus state standards.
The 2024 Shutdown: What Actually Happened?
Honestly, the closure of the Giles W Dalby Correctional Facility in September 2024 wasn't just some administrative hiccup. It was a scandal.
Tarrant County and Harris County were paying tens of millions of dollars to ship their "overflow" inmates there. We’re talking about a $40 million contract just for Tarrant County. But then, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) dropped a bomb: the facility was failing. Hard.
Inspectors found that jailers were skipping checks on inmates. Not just once or twice, but 42% of the time. Think about that. Nearly half of the required safety checks just didn't happen. There was also evidence of medical neglect and missing documentation for when people were put in restraints.
The kicker? MTC didn't even tell the counties they were failing inspections. Tarrant County officials found out from the news. "If they're hiding this from us, what else are they hiding?" a local resident asked at a commissioners' meeting back then. Tarrant County pulled their contract, Harris County followed suit, and by September 30, 2024, the lights went out.
The $110 Million Comeback in 2026
You might think a failed private prison would just stay closed. Nope. Not in Texas.
The 89th Texas Legislature stepped in with a massive checkbook. They allocated $110 million for the state to actually buy the facility. Why? Because the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) is constantly looking for more beds, and building a new 250,000-square-foot prison from scratch would cost way more than $110 million.
As we move into 2026, the deal is basically done. Garza County Judge Lee Norman has been vocal about how this closure gutted the local economy—170 people lost their jobs overnight when MTC left. The state taking over is seen as a "save" for the town, even if the facility’s reputation is, well, complicated.
Who really ran the show?
For most of its life, the Giles W Dalby Correctional Facility was a private operation. MTC, based out of Utah, ran it for the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) until 2022. It mostly held "deportable aliens"—non-citizens serving time before being sent to ICE.
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When the Biden administration moved to phase out private federal prison contracts, Dalby lost its main source of income. That's when they pivoted to taking county inmates from Fort Worth and Houston. It was a desperate move that ultimately failed because they couldn't keep up with Texas state standards.
Life Inside: More Than Just Cells
If you look at the floor plan, Dalby is a sprawling complex. It’s got:
- Six general population units.
- A mix of two-person cells and open-bay dormitories.
- A dedicated "Special Housing Unit" (SHU) with 61 cells for disciplinary issues.
Back when the feds ran it, they actually had some interesting programs. Inmates used to make dog collars and leashes for the Post Animal Refuge Center (PARC). They had GED classes and a "Inside Out Dads" parenting program. But during the 2023-2024 "county overflow" era, most of those rehabilitative vibes disappeared in favor of just trying to keep the doors open.
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What’s Next for Dalby?
If you have a loved one in the Texas system or you're a local in Garza County, here is the current reality.
The state is currently finalizing the transition. This means the facility is moving from "private/county" status to a full-blown state unit. The days of MTC management are over. The goal for 2026 is to get the facility back up to 100% capacity under the TDCJ banner.
For the people of Post, it means jobs are coming back. For the inmates, it (hopefully) means more oversight than the private era provided. Private prisons have always been controversial because their "profit motive" often clashes with "human safety."
Actionable Insights for Families:
- Track the Transfer: If you are looking for an inmate previously held at Dalby, they were likely moved back to their original county (Tarrant or Harris) or a different state facility. Use the TDCJ or county inmate search tools.
- Job Opportunities: If you're a former employee, the state-run model usually offers better benefits but stricter certification requirements. Keep an eye on the TDCJ careers portal.
- Monitoring Standards: Since the facility is now state-owned, you can find public inspection reports directly through the Texas Commission on Jail Standards website. They are much easier to hold accountable than a private corporation.
The Giles W Dalby Correctional Facility is a perfect example of why the "private prison" experiment is dying. It’s a story of budget cuts, failed inspections, and a final, expensive bailout by the state. We’ll see if the state can run it any better than the private guys did.
Check the TDCJ website for the latest inmate transfer schedules or to see if the facility has officially opened its doors for visitation under the new state management.