TexasCHLforum.com

imkopaka wrote:It is a felony to bring a firearm inside the secure perimeter of any correctional facility. The parking lots of correctional facilities are not open to the public due to the plethora of possible security breaches that can occur. Members of the public who are allowed visitation into the unit have to follow the unit rules, which includes no firearms anywhere past the highway gate. If a visiting guest is found to be in violation of this rule, their visitation privileges will be permanently revoked and they can never return. While correctional officers in Texas are not peace officers and cannot arrest anyone, we typically have good relations with local law enforcement and will get them on-site rapidly to deal with anyone on the premises who shouldn't be there. Additionally, once you drive onto jail or prison property your vehicle is subject to search. If you refuse a search you will not be allowed to stay. Vehicle searches don't happen that often, but they do happen.

Bottom line: I wouldn't bring it. If you do bring it, put it behind two locks. If an offender got it in his head to break into your vehicle (and yes, it's happened before - there are offenders who work outside the perimeter in the area where you're going to be, so they don't even have to escape for this to be possible), he could get your weapon and use it for all manner of evil. A trigger lock or cable lock, or better yet, a locked case or locked glovebox, in addition to locked vehicle doors and rolled up windows, is the best way to ensure that even if an offender were to gain access to your vehicle, he cannot even use your weapon to intimidate. Also, don't leave your car unlocked or you will likely come back to find that it was searched without your consent.

Source: been working with TDC for the last 3 years.