Violent sex offenders to be relocated to West Texas town

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A facility in Littlefield, Texas, is now contracted to be the new destination for violent sex offenders from halfway houses across Texas, starting September 1.

A contract signed today will send sex offenders -- who have committed at least two violent offenses -- to the civil commitment center. Jessica Marsh, a spokeswoman for the Texas Civil Commitment Office, says the civil commitment program "is responsible for commitment and treatment of sex offenders towards the end of the offender's sentence."

There are currently 199 offenders in Dallas, Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston and Austin. There are other offenders in work release programs throughout the state.

There is one halfway house in Houston, located in the 10900 block of Beaumont Highway.