window_crazy Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 I am looking for information about the windows of the Harris County Jail at 701 N. San Jacinto. I paid for a GHPA walking tour of downtown recently and the guide claimed that the windows are part of an architectural facade that surrounds the jailhouse proper. He was unsure how to respond when I reminded him that the windows are lit at night and one can clearly see bars in some of them. I've received conflicting reports from those I know who have spent time inside -- most say there are NO windows in the cells, but one insists he had a window in a shared cell and he could look out over the bayou. Can inmates see out of those windows? All of them, or just some? What's the architectural story here? (It is difficult to find any information about this except for a link from an old HAIF forum post in which the link was broken.) Many thanks for specific information and any SOURCES in advance! P.S.: I know it was cold storage before it was a jailhouse -- just looking for info about the windows. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Chenevert Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 I am not a prison designer, but generally speaking you dont let prisoners have a window office.So maybe some of the windows are real, and maybe you can see bars behind the glass.... that doesnt mean that there is a cell right behind the window.maybe you are seeing a hallway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Interesting - I went on the same tour last year and was told the same thing about the windows. Recently I was in the area and told a friend about it, and he seemed skeptical. It was daytime though, and hard to tell...Maybe someone around here has more insider information Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippy Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Interesting - I went on the same tour last year and was told the same thing about the windows. Recently I was in the area and told a friend about it, and he seemed skeptical. It was daytime though, and hard to tell...Maybe someone around here has more insider informationYes.. some of the windows are indeed real.. and some are not.. the ones which are real do have bars in the inside of the window to keep obvious break-outs/ins.. I'd say about 50% of the windows are open.The cells there are primarily group style with a "pod" in the middle overlooking 2 or 3 large rooms (as I recall).. I couldn't guess how many groups of rooms are on each floor, but they each have at least 1 real window.. Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Yes.. some of the windows are indeed real.. and some are not.. the ones which are real do have bars in the inside of the window to keep obvious break-outs/ins.. I'd say about 50% of the windows are open.The cells there are primarily group style with a "pod" in the middle overlooking 2 or 3 large rooms (as I recall).. I couldn't guess how many groups of rooms are on each floor, but they each have at least 1 real window.. Cheers!Correct. In a pod system, the jailers are in a secure room in the middle of the "day room", a central common area where inmates congregate to play cards or watch TV. The day room is surrounded by the cells where the inmates sleep. Many of these pods are set up as a dayroom with two floors of cells. There are numerous windows, though if I remember correctly, they are not at floor level and not in the cells. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippy Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Correct. In a pod system, the jailers are in a secure room in the middle of the "day room", a central common area where inmates congregate to play cards or watch TV. The day room is surrounded by the cells where the inmates sleep. Many of these pods are set up as a dayroom with two floors of cells. There are numerous windows, though if I remember correctly, they are not at floor level and not in the cells.Indeed, the windows are not floor to ceiling.. I guess I should have been more explicit.. they're more like.. "If you stand on a chair you might be able to see through them.. " From what I recall they were in the actual group cells.. but it has been a while since I was there so I may be a little hazy .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
window_crazy Posted September 6, 2008 Author Share Posted September 6, 2008 Indeed, the windows are not floor to ceiling.. I guess I should have been more explicit.. they're more like.. "If you stand on a chair you might be able to see through them.. " From what I recall they were in the actual group cells.. but it has been a while since I was there so I may be a little hazy ..thanks, folks, for the first-hand knowledge! this really helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted October 16, 2021 Share Posted October 16, 2021 Turner won the contract to do the Harris County Jail renovations. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted July 9, 2022 Share Posted July 9, 2022 AT crane flying up a chiller system for the jail. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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