What was the second TDCJ unit established?

The second TDCJ unit established was the Rusk penitentiary, which is significant in the history of Texas corrections as it played a crucial role in the state's early efforts to manage its prison population and implement a structured correctional system. The construction of the Rusk penitentiary represented a shift towards more organized and formalized incarceration practices in Texas, focusing on rehabilitation and security.

This context is important because the establishment of Rusk laid the groundwork for subsequent facilities and set standards that would influence later developments in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The establishment of Rusk also reflected the changes in law and order during that era, as authorities sought to improve correctional methodologies that were previously in disarray.