As of 2012, the prisons in the Gatesville area employ 2,600 people. Most of the employees live in Coryell County. Timothy F. Orwig (born 1949) of the Cove Herald said, "Correctional officers in gray uniforms have been a common sight in the town's businesses for years, and the job of a 'prison boss' was once a highly regarded career choice in Gatesville." thumb|Christina Melton Crain Unit, a women's prison of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Of the eight Texas Department of Criminal Justice general correctional facilities for women, which include five prisons and three state jails, four prisons and one state jail are in within the city limits. thumb|left|Mountain View Unit, which houses the state death row for women The Christina Melton Crain Unit prison (formerly Gatesville Unit), the Hilltop Unit prison, the Dr. Lane Murray Unit prison, and the Linda Woodman Unit state jail are co-located among one another. In addition the Patrick O'Daniel Unit, a prison with the State of Texas female death row, is in Gatesville. One prison for males, the Alfred D. Hughes Unit, is in Gatesville. As of 2012, the 5,552 female prisoners and 2,958 male prisoners were over half of the population of the city.
As of 2012, the prisons in the Gatesville area employ 2,600 people. Most of the employees live in Coryell County. Timothy F. Orwig (born 1949) of the Cove Herald said, "Correctional officers in gray uniforms have been a common sight in the town's businesses for years, and the job of a 'prison boss' was once a highly regarded career choice in Gatesville." thumb|Christina Melton Crain Unit, a women's prison of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Of the eight Texas Department of Criminal Justice general correctional facilities for women, which include five prisons and three state jails, four prisons and one state jail are in within the city limits. thumb|left|Mountain View Unit, which houses the state death row for women The Christina Melton Crain Unit prison (formerly Gatesville Unit), the Hilltop Unit prison, the Dr. Lane Murray Unit prison and the Linda Woodman Unit state jail are co-located among one another. In addition the Patrick O'Daniel Unit, a prison with the State of Texas female death row, is in Gatesville. One prison for males, the Alfred D. Hughes Unit, is in Gatesville. As of 2012, the 5,552 female prisoners and 2,958 male prisoners were over half of the population of the city.