Helpful Services:

Tennessee State Prisons

  • Legal Editor
  • Contributor

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

Related Articles and Services…

Sponsors

Affiliate disclosure

GotTrouble.org is a one-stop free and open consumer information and expert resource.

Our information helps guide people through the complexity of life-changing legal, financial, and emotional challenges.

One way of doing this is by providing our visitors with a wide range of third-party resources. Some of which are affiliates.

Should you visit an affiliate, we will disclose this fact, and we may earn a commission. We ask that you use your independent judgment in deciding whether an offered service or product fits your needs and purposes.

If you have questions, please get in touch with us at inquiries@GotTrouble.org.