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🏛 State Directory

Prisons and Jails in Tennessee.

Tennessee Department of Correction manages the Tennessee state correctional system. Tennessee DOC offender search allows searches by TDOC number or name. Tennessee has 95 counties - each operating its own jail. The state has a signifi
Search a specific facility
16
State facilities
100
County jails
1
Federal facilities
20K+
State inmates

Tennessee State Prisons

16 facilities

Federal Facilities in Tennessee

1 facility

Tennessee County Jails

100 facilities

Tennessee Department of Corrections

Tennessee DOC offender search allows searches by TDOC number or name. Tennessee has 95 counties - each operating its own jail. The state has a significant private prison presence - several facilities are operated by CoreCivic, which was founded in Nashville.

The official inmate search is available at foil.app.tn.gov/foil/search.htm. FCI Memphis and FCI Yazoo City serve Tennessee federal inmates.

Visitation in Tennessee Facilities

Tennessee DOC visitor approval requires a visitor registration form. Processing takes 2 - 4 weeks. Background checks for adult visitors. Tennessee's 95 county jails have their own visitor policies - contact county facilities directly.

Always confirm visiting schedules directly with the facility before traveling. Find specific visitation rules on each facility's page in our Tennessee prison directory.

Sending Mail to Tennessee Inmates

Tennessee DOC mail requires the TDOC number. Standard 4x6 photos accepted. Tennessee has been transitioning some facilities to electronic mail delivery - verify current policy for your specific facility.

InmateAid delivers letters and photos, postcards, and magazines to Tennessee facilities. Want to receive letters without sharing your home address? Our Letters From Inmates service scans and delivers inmate mail to your account.

Phone Calls from Tennessee Facilities

Tennessee is not currently among the states that offer free inmate phone calls. GTL/ViaPath holds the Tennessee DOC contract.

Following the FCC's Martha Wright-Reed Order (effective April 6, 2026), per-minute rates for inmate calls are now federally capped at state and federal facilities. Find current carrier and rate information on each facility's page in our Tennessee prison directory.

Sending Money to Tennessee Inmates

Commissary funds let inmates purchase approved items from the facility store. Primary money transfer options for Tennessee:

  • JPay (primary for TDOC)
  • Money orders at some facilities
  • Lobby kiosks

See our Send Money guide or navigate to the specific facility page for current provider information.

Reentry Resources in Tennessee

Planning for release is one of the most important things a family can do. These organizations provide support in Tennessee:

Frequently Asked Questions About Tennessee Prisons

What is CoreCivic and why is it connected to Tennessee?

CoreCivic - formerly Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) - is the largest private prison company in the United States, and it was founded in Nashville, Tennessee in 1983. The company was created with early political connections in Tennessee state government that helped secure its first contracts. CCA pioneered the modern private prison model and grew into a multibillion-dollar company. Several Tennessee TDOC facilities are currently operated by CoreCivic under state contract. Inmates in these facilities are still TDOC inmates with TDOC numbers - the difference is operational: day-to-day management, staffing, and some procedures are handled by CoreCivic rather than state employees.

What is the TDOC number?

Every Tennessee state inmate is assigned a unique TDOC number when they enter state custody. It must appear on all mail sent to TDOC facilities. Find it through the Tennessee DOC offender search at foil.app.tn.gov. County jail detainees have their own booking numbers that are separate from TDOC numbers. Once assigned at state intake, the TDOC number is permanent for the sentence regardless of facility transfers within the Tennessee system.

Does Tennessee have free prison phone calls?

No - Tennessee has not eliminated phone call fees. GTL/ViaPath holds the TDOC contract for most state facilities. The FCC's April 2026 rate caps apply to interstate calls from Tennessee state facilities, reducing costs from historical highs, but calls are not free. Tennessee's 95 county jails each contract separately for phone services, and county rates vary significantly. Set up a GTL ConnectNetwork account for state facility calls rather than accepting collect calls.

What is Riverbend Maximum Security Institution?

Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville houses Tennessee's death row and is where the state carries out executions. The facility is on the west side of Nashville along the Cumberland River. It holds Tennessee's most serious and long-term incarcerated individuals. Riverbend has received significant national attention related to Tennessee's execution schedule. Visiting death row inmates at Riverbend involves additional restrictions beyond standard TDOC requirements - typically non-contact visits only. Contact Riverbend at 615-350-3300 for current visiting procedures well before planning any visit.

How do I find someone in a Tennessee county jail?

Tennessee has 95 counties, each operating its own jail for pretrial detainees and sentences under a year. The TDOC offender search covers state prison inmates only. Contact the county sheriff's office directly for county detainees. Shelby County in Memphis, Davidson County in Nashville, Knox County in Knoxville, and Hamilton County in Chattanooga have the largest county detention facilities. Most Tennessee county sheriffs maintain online inmate rosters.

What is the difference between a TDOC facility and a privately operated one?

CoreCivic - formerly Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) - is the largest private prison company in the United States, and it was founded in Nashville, Tennessee in 1983. The company was created with early political connections in Tennessee state government that helped secure its first contracts. CCA pioneered the modern private prison model and grew into a multibillion-dollar company. Several Tennessee TDOC facilities are currently operated by CoreCivic under state contract. Inmates in these facilities are still TDOC inmates with TDOC numbers - the difference is operational: day-to-day management, staffing, and some procedures are handled by CoreCivic rather than state employees.

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