Interestingly enough though, Rusk State Hospital was originally Rusk State Penitentiary.
It was a prison from 1883 to 1917.
In 1919, it was transformed into a hospital for criminally insane African-Americans.
In 1953, a maximum security unit was added to house those who were judge not guilty by reason of insanity in violent crimes.
In 1988, that duty was transferred to Vernon State Hospital.
Well, now…it’s coming back.
In fact prisoners have already been transferred.
Although they were sent to other facilities, we’re talking about people like Andrea Yates of Houston, or another case of child murder, Deanna Laney.
These are the kinds of cases that the new unit will handle.
Despite the assurances from the state, the folks in Rusk we talked to, who didn’t want to go on camera, are a bit nervous.
We wanted to talk with the staff at the hospital, but the state said no.