The unit opened in June 1993. The unit serves as the University of Texas Medical Branch hub site for treatment of HIV and other infectious diseases. As a result, the Stiles facility houses many HIV positive prisoners. A hospice for prisoners with HIV opened at Stiles in 1997.
The unit has offered Buddhist meditation classes since 2003.
In 2011 the metal products plant closed; its operations were consolidated to the plants at the Coffield Unit and the Powledge Unit.
In 2023 the unit saw three inmate on inmate homicides. The homicides were part of a trend of rising violence in TDCJ facilities which prompted a statewide lockdown of all facilities.
↑Ward, Mike. "Prison industry programs a victim of economic recession[link removed]," Austin American-Statesman. Sunday September 4, 2011. Retrieved on September 23, 2011.