The so-called ’12 building‘ at the Allan B. Polunsky Unit in Livingston, Texas, is a central component of this maximum-security facility operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). The Polunsky Unit, originally opened in 1993 as the Terrell Unit, serves as a state prison for male offenders with various security levels, including administrative segregation and the Texas death row. Since 1999, the entire male death row population has been housed in this complex, while the actual executions are carried out at the Huntsville Unit.
Within this prison, ’12 building‘ occupies a special position: it is a two-story concrete and steel administrative and detention building that was originally designed for administrative segregation – now often referred to as restrictive housing. It comprises six sections with a total of 504 single cells; each section is divided into smaller subsections. The cells are approximately 60 sq ft in size and designed for single occupancy, with a narrow window and a solid door.
The building has several day rooms and outdoor recreation areas, as well as its own medical stations and a kitchen. Guarding and surveillance are standard throughout: security measures include personal alarms for staff and intensive surveillance, including numerous cameras throughout the complex. Architecturally, ’12 building‘ is organized into three parts, with central circular areas that serve as recreation yards and are separated from the surrounding cells by controlled access points. This structure supports the strict separation and monitoring of inmates. Inmates on death row wear special markings and are largely excluded from normal activities and work participation in the rest of the facility.