The following is a summary of the Tennessee State Prison System, with citations and research sources:
Overview
The Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) operates 14 state prisons housing around 21,000 inmates.[1] The state’s incarceration rate is 433 per 100,000 residents, which is slightly higher than the national average of 419 per 100,000.[2]
Locating a Prisoner
Family and friends can locate an inmate using the TDOC’s Felony Offender Information Lookup (FOIL) system online. It provides information on the inmate’s location, sentencing data, and parole eligibility dates.[3]
Visitation Rules
Visitation policies vary by facility but generally allow visits on weekends and holidays. Visitors must be on the inmate’s approved visitation list, limited to immediate family, two friends, and two associates. All visitors are subject to search.[4]
Prison Security Classifications
TDOC classifies inmates into three security levels: minimum, medium, and maximum. Classification is based on offense severity, sentence length, and behavior. Lower security levels offer more privileges and programming.[5]
Parole
The Board of Parole, a separate agency from TDOC, handles parole hearings and decisions. Inmates are eligible for parole after serving a certain percentage of their sentence, depending on the offense. Factors considered in parole decisions include the offender’s criminal history, behavior in prison, victim input, and release plan. If granted parole, offenders are supervised in the community.[6]
Educational and Vocational Programs
TDOC offers various rehabilitative programs, including adult basic education, GED preparation, vocational training (e.g., welding, carpentry, horticulture), and college courses through partnerships with local colleges. These programs aim to reduce recidivism and improve post-release outcomes.[7]
Pros and Cons of the Tennessee State Prison System
Some strengths of the Tennessee prison system include offering educational and vocational programs to reduce recidivism, a focus on evidence-based practices, and recent reforms to improve conditions and outcomes.[8] However, issues persist such as overcrowding, high staff turnover, allegations of inadequate healthcare, and a higher-than-average recidivism rate of 47% within three years.[9]
Tennessee State Prison News – The 3 Most Dangerous Tennessee Prisons:
Web Sources And References
1. Tennessee Department of Correction, Prison Facilities
2. The Sentencing Project, State-by-State Data
3. Tennessee Felony Offender Information Lookup (FOIL)
4. Tennessee Department of Correction, Visitation
5. Tennessee Department of Correction, Policies and Procedures, Index #506.14 –
6. Tennessee Board of Parole
7. Tennessee Department of Correction, Rehabilitation and Re-Entry
8. Vera Institute of Justice, “Unlocking Potential: Pathways from Prison to Postsecondary Education”
9. Tennessee Department of Correction, FY 2018 Statistical Abstract –
TENNESSEE STATE PRISONS
Bledsoe County Correctional Complex
Bledsoe County Correctional Complex
1045 Horsehead Road
Pikeville, Tennessee 37367
Telephone: (423)-881-3251
Inmate Mailing Address:
Inmate Name, ID Number
Bledsoe County Correctional Complex
1045 Horsehead Road
Pikeville, Tennessee 37367
Hardeman County Correctional Facility
Hardeman County Correctional Facility
2520 Union Springs Road
Whiteville, Tennessee 38075
Telephone: (731)-254-6000
Inmate Mailing Address:
Inmate Name, ID Number
Hardeman County Correctional Facility
P.O. Box 549
Whiteville, Tennessee 38075
Lois M. DeBerry Special Needs Facility
Lois M. DeBerry Special Needs Facility
7575 Cockrill Bend Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209-1057
Telephone: (615)-350-2700
Inmate Mailing Address:
Inmate Name, ID Number
Lois M. DeBerry Special Needs Facility
7575 Cockrill Bend Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209-1057
Mark H. Luttrell Correctional Center
Mark H. Luttrell Correctional Center
6000 State Road
Memphis, Tennessee 38134
Telephone: (901)-372-2080
Inmate Mailing Address:
Inmate Name, ID Number
Mark H. Luttrell Correctional Center
6000 State Road
Memphis, Tennessee 38134
Morgan County Correctional Complex
Morgan County Correctional Complex
541 Wayne Cotton Morgan Drive
Wartburg, Tennessee 37887
Telephone: (423)-346-1300
Inmate Mailing Address:
Inmate Name, ID Number
Morgan County Correctional Complex
P.O. Box 2000
Wartburg, Tennessee 37887
Northeast Correctional Complex and Annex
Northeast Correctional Complex and Annex
5249 Highway 67 West
Mountain City, Tennessee 37683
Telephone:
(423)-727-7387
Inmate Mailing Address:
Inmate Name, ID Number
Northeast Correctional Complex and Annex
P.O. Box 5000
Mountain City, Tennessee 37683-5000
Northwest Correctional Complex
Northwest Correctional Complex
960 State Route 212
Tiptonville, Tennessee 38079
Telephone:
(731)-253-5000
Inmate Mailing Address:
Inmate Name, ID Number
Northwest Correctional Complex
960 State Route 212
Tiptonville, Tennessee 38079
Riverbend Maximum Security Institution
Riverbend Maximum Security Institution
7475 Cockrill Bend Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0471
Telephone:
(615)-350-3100
Inmate Mailing Address:
Inmate Name, ID Number
Riverbend Maximum Security Institution
7475 Cockrill Bend Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209-1048
South Central Correctional Facility
South Central Correctional Facility
555 Forest Avenue
Clifton, Tennessee 38425
Telephone: (931)-676-5372
Inmate Mailing Address:
Inmate Name, ID Number
South Central Correctional Facility
P.O. Box 279
Clifton, Tennessee 38425-0279
Tennessee Prison for Women
Tennessee Prison for Women
3881 Stewarts Lane
Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0468
Telephone:
(615)-741-1255
Inmate Mailing Address:
Inmate Name, ID Number
Tennessee Prison for Women
3881 Stewarts Lane
Nashville, Tennessee 37218-3302
Turney Center Industrial Main Site
Turney Center Industrial Main Site
1499 R.W. Moore Memorial Highway
Only, Tennessee 37140-4050
Turney Center Industrial Annex
245 Carroll Road
Clifton, Tennessee 38425
Telephone:
Main Site: (931)-729-5161
Annex: (931)-676-3345
Inmate Mailing Address:
Inmate Name, ID Number
Turney Center Industrial Main Site
1499 R.W. Moore Memorial Highway
Only, Tennessee 37140-4050
Inmate Name, ID Number
Turney Center Industrial Annex
P.O. Box 182
Clifton, Tennessee 38425
West Tennessee State Penitentiary
West Tennessee State Penitentiary
480 Green Chapel Road
Henning, Tennessee 38041
Telephone: (731)-738-5044
Inmate Mailing Address:
Inmate Name, ID Number
West Tennessee State Penitentiary
P.O. Box 1150
Henning, Tennessee 38041-1150
Whiteville Correctional Facility
Whiteville Correctional Facility
1440 Union Springs Road
Whiteville, Tennessee 38075
Telephone: (731)-254-9400
Inmate Mailing Address:
Inmate Name, ID Number
Whiteville Correctional Facility
P.O. Box 679
Whiteville, Tennessee 38075
