Willacy Co Regional Detention is for Regional Facility offenders have not been sentenced yet and are detained here until their case is heard.
All prisons and jails have Security or Custody levels depending on the inmate’s classification, sentence, and criminal history. Please review the rules and regulations for Regional Detention - low facility.
The phone carrier is Securus Tech®, to see their rates and best-calling plans for your inmate to call you.
If you are unsure of your inmate's location, you can search and locate your inmate by typing in their last name, first name or first initial, and/or the offender ID number to get their accurate information immediately Registered Offenders
The Willacy Co Regional Detention is a locally operated low to medium-security regional detention center situated at 1601 Buffalo Dr in Raymondville, TX. This facility houses inmates from multiple surrounding counties that do not have a holding facility or jail, in addition to local detainees. Individuals awaiting trial or sentencing, as well as those serving shorter sentences, typically serve less than five years. Willacy Co Regional Detention accommodates detainees brought in by the Willacy County Sheriff's Office, the Texas DOC, Raymondville Police Department, and other nearby law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
New detainees arrive frequently and may be released on bail, under pretrial supervision, or on their recognizance with a commitment to appear in court. Those who remain in custody receive essential amenities, including secure accommodations, meals, and access to necessary services. To review recent arrest records for Texas, you can access public records here.
The Willacy County Regional Detention Facility is a federal detention complex located in Raymondville, Texas, in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley. Opened in 2003, the facility became part of South Texas’ rapidly expanding federal detention infrastructure during a period when immigration enforcement, federal inmate transportation, and U.S. Marshals Service detention contracts were growing aggressively across the region. The detention center was originally designed to house adult male federal detainees and prisoners awaiting court proceedings, sentencing, or transfer to other correctional institutions.
For years, the facility operated under private prison contractor Management & Training Corporation, commonly known as MTC. That relationship officially ended in 2022 after federal policy changes tied to Executive Order 14006 reduced Department of Justice contracts with private prison operators. The closure created major economic uncertainty in Willacy County, where detention facilities had become one of the largest employment sources in the region.
Today, the Willacy County Regional Detention Facility has entered an entirely different operational era. The facility is now tied to a long-term leasing agreement involving Hidalgo County and is operated under the direction of LaSalle Corrections rather than MTC. The reopening of the facility was largely driven by severe overcrowding issues inside Hidalgo County’s jail system, which had been forcing officials to transport inmates to neighboring counties at enormous taxpayer expense.
The facility now functions less as a traditional federal private prison and more as a regional overflow correctional resource for South Texas. Its reopening restored correctional jobs to Raymondville and reestablished the facility as an important component of the broader detention network serving the Rio Grande Valley.
The Willacy County Regional Detention Facility now serves as a key overflow detention resource for Hidalgo County and the broader Rio Grande Valley correctional network.
Hidalgo County officials have repeatedly stated that overcrowding at the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center became financially unsustainable. At various points, inmates were being housed in Brooks County, Starr County, Jim Hogg County, and other nearby facilities, costing taxpayers millions annually.
The reopening of the Raymondville facility provided Hidalgo County with additional detention capacity much closer to home. Reports indicated that approximately 450 inmates were expected to be transferred into the facility during the reopening phase.
Before reopening, the detention center required substantial upgrades and compliance work. Public officials noted that the facility needed improvements involving fire suppression systems, air conditioning infrastructure, and compliance with Texas jail standards.
The facility eventually passed state occupancy inspections and resumed operations under LaSalle Corrections management. Hidalgo County officials described the reopening as a major milestone in reducing overcrowding pressures throughout the region.
