Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid (TennCare), making it one of 10 remaining non-expansion states. Most single adults returning from incarceration will not qualify for TennCare unless they are parents with dependent children at very low income, disabled, elderly, or pregnant. There is no TennCare pathway for most childless adults regardless of income.
Tennessee's voting rights restoration process is also more demanding than most states. Voting rights are not automatically restored upon release or completion of supervision. A Certificate of Restoration of Voting Rights must be obtained through the circuit court, and specific eligibility criteria apply based on conviction type and sentence completion.
Tennessee does have a dedicated statewide reentry agency -- the Tennessee Office of Reentry (TOOR) -- and TDOC pays for 60 days of transitional housing after release. Tennessee has no drug conviction SNAP ban.
Here is how the system works and what you need to do.
What TDOC Provides at Release
The Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC, tn.gov/correction) provides reentry programming through Reentry Specialists at each facility and through the statewide Tennessee Office of Reentry (TOOR). TDOC also pays for 60 days of transitional housing through approved providers for eligible releasing individuals. During this period, reentry providers assist with stable, affordable housing for after the 60 days ends.
Regarding ID documents before release: Ask your TDOC reentry specialist or case manager directly whether the facility provides assistance with state ID, driver's license, Social Security card, or birth certificate processing before release. Confirm the status of each document -- do not assume these have been initiated.
TDOC also provides cognitive behavioral programming, educational programming, vocational training, and substance abuse treatment inside facilities. Connect with the reentry specialist at your facility as early as possible to begin discharge planning.
Tennessee Office of Reentry (TOOR)
The Tennessee Office of Reentry (TOOR, tn.gov/workforce/reentrytn) was created in July 2021 under the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development with the goal of improving reentry efforts through a collaborative, strategic, and data-driven approach.
LEAP Program (Labor, Employment, and Apprenticeship Pathways): TOOR Reintegration Specialists enter TDOC facilities to deliver career-building and job-readiness training to individuals before release. LEAP equips participants with employment skills, connects them to workforce resources, and prepares them for community reintegration. This pre-release preparation is linked to post-release support.
Community Reentry Reinvestment Grant (CRRG): TOOR administers $1.2 million in grants to support community-based reentry programs connecting returning citizens to employment, education, and supportive services.
Context: Tennessee currently has approximately 30,000 people incarcerated in jail and 20,000 in prison. The recidivism rate (re-incarceration within three years) is approximately 46%. The unemployment rate for the formerly incarcerated in Tennessee is approximately 27%, compared to 3.5% statewide. TOOR's mission is to address these gaps through coordinated statewide effort.
Contact TOOR at tn.gov/workforce/reentrytn for resources, employer connections, and reintegration support.
Getting Your Tennessee State ID or Driver's License
Tennessee state IDs and driver's licenses are issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety Driver Services (tn.gov/safety).
If your ID was not processed before release, visit any Tennessee Driver Services location. You will need documents establishing your identity, Social Security number, and Tennessee residency. Standard documents include a birth certificate or passport, your Social Security card, and proof of a Tennessee address. Your TDOC release documentation serves as a supporting identity document.
Getting Your Social Security Card
If your Social Security card was not obtained before release, contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213, apply online at ssa.gov, or visit your nearest SSA office. Replacement cards are free. Bring your state ID and birth certificate.
Ask your TDOC case manager whether your facility has a prerelease SSA agreement allowing the card replacement and benefit application process to begin up to 90 days before release.
Getting Your Birth Certificate
If you were born in Tennessee, request a certified copy from the Tennessee Department of Health Vital Records at tn.gov/health or by calling (615) 741-1763. The fee is currently $15 per copy.
If you were born in another state, contact that state's vital records office. Start this process early -- out-of-state requests can take time and delay your ID process.
TennCare: Medicaid in Tennessee
Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Tennessee's Medicaid program, TennCare, is administered by the Bureau of TennCare (tn.gov/tenncare; 1-855-259-0701). Eligibility requires falling into a specific qualifying category -- income alone is not enough.
Categories eligible for TennCare:
Parents and caretaker relatives of minor children with household income up to 105% of the federal poverty level -- the highest threshold among all non-expansion states as of mid-2024.
Pregnant women and infants with household income up to 200% FPL (postpartum coverage extended to 12 months).
Low-income children.
Low-income individuals ages 65+ (with resource limits).
Low-income individuals with a qualifying disability.
Childless adults who are not disabled or elderly are generally not eligible for TennCare, regardless of how low their income is. There is a coverage gap in Tennessee.
CoverRx: For individuals in the coverage gap who need prescription medications, Tennessee offers CoverRx, which provides discounted access to more than 200 generic medications at pharmacies. Contact tn.gov/tenncare or call 1-855-259-0701 for CoverRx information.
For free and low-cost health care, Tennessee Primary Care Association (tnpca.org) lists community health centers statewide. FreeClinics.com also lists free and affordable health clinics in Tennessee.
Apply for TennCare at tenncareconnect.tn.gov or through your local Tennessee Department of Human Services office.
SNAP: Food Assistance
Tennessee has no drug conviction SNAP ban. People with drug felony convictions are eligible for SNAP in Tennessee subject to standard income and eligibility requirements.
Apply for SNAP through the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) at tn.gov/humanservices or by calling 1-866-311-4287.
Voting Rights in Tennessee
A felony conviction in Tennessee results in the loss of voting rights. Voting rights are NOT automatically restored upon release from prison or completion of supervision. Restoration requires a separate legal process.
To restore voting rights in Tennessee, you must:
Have completed your full sentence, including any period of probation or parole.
Not owe any outstanding restitution.
Not have been convicted of certain disqualifying offenses (murder, rape, treason, voter fraud, and other violent felonies carry permanent disenfranchisement unless a full pardon is granted).
Apply for a Certificate of Restoration of Voting Rights through the circuit court in the county where you reside.
Tennessee has a complex, multi-tiered voting rights restoration system that depends on the type of conviction and the year it occurred. The process is not simple and requires careful attention to your specific conviction type.
Contact Tennessee Legal Aid (tals.org) or the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee (las.org) for free assistance determining whether you are eligible and how to file. The Tennessee Secretary of State's office (sos.tn.gov) also provides information on the restoration process.
TDOC and Tennessee Reentry Resources
TDOC Reentry (tn.gov/correction/redirect-reentry.html): Reentry Specialists at each facility; 60 days TDOC-paid transitional housing; pre-release programming; cognitive behavioral, vocational, and SUD programming.
Tennessee Office of Reentry (TOOR, tn.gov/workforce/reentrytn): LEAP program (pre-release career and employment training by TOOR Reintegration Specialists); Community Reentry Reinvestment Grants ($1.2M); workforce connections; employer guide for hiring returning citizens.
Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry (TPOM, tpom.org): TDOC-approved transitional housing for men (16 beds) and women (20 beds) in Nashville; Memphis facility (10 beds, with HopeWorks); step-down unit for men; job readiness; over 90% of members find work within 10 days.
Project Return (Nashville, projectreturnmilwaukee.org): Full range of reentry supportive services focusing on housing and employment for Nashville-area returning citizens.
TennCare (tenncareconnect.tn.gov; tn.gov/tenncare; 1-855-259-0701): TennCare application; eligibility for parents, pregnant women, disabled, elderly. Not expanded for childless adults.
Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS, tn.gov/humanservices; 1-866-311-4287): SNAP and cash assistance applications.
CoverRx (tn.gov/tenncare): Discounted generic medications for individuals in the TennCare coverage gap.
Tennessee Department of Safety Driver Services (tn.gov/safety): State ID and driver's license.
Tennessee Department of Health Vital Records (tn.gov/health; 615-741-1763): Birth certificates; $15 per copy.
Tennessee Legal Aid (tals.org): Free civil legal assistance for eligible low-income Tennesseans statewide, including benefit access, voting rights restoration, housing, and reentry matters.
Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee (las.org): Free civil legal assistance in Middle Tennessee.
211 Tennessee (dial 211 or tn211.org): Statewide referrals to housing, food, health, and social services by county.
Social Security Administration (ssa.gov; 1-800-772-1213): SSI and SSDI applications; SSA Reentry Benefits at ssa.gov/reentry/benefits.htm.
Frequently asked questions
Does TDOC help with ID documents before release?
TDOC provides reentry programming through Reentry Specialists at each facility. For state ID, driver's license, Social Security card, and birth certificate assistance, ask your TDOC reentry specialist or case manager directly about what document processing is initiated before release and confirm the status of each document. TOOR Reintegration Specialists also enter facilities through the LEAP program to provide pre-release workforce preparation.
Can I get TennCare Medicaid after prison in Tennessee?
For most returning adults without dependent children, no. Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid and is one of approximately 10 non-expansion states as of 2025. Eligibility requires fitting a specific qualifying category: parents with dependent children (up to 105% FPL), pregnant women (up to 200% FPL), elderly (65+), or individuals with a qualifying disability. Childless adults are generally not eligible regardless of income. Apply at tenncareconnect.tn.gov or call 1-855-259-0701. For free medication access in the coverage gap, ask about CoverRx at tn.gov/tenncare.
What is the Tennessee Office of Reentry LEAP program?
LEAP (Labor, Employment, and Apprenticeship Pathways) is a program administered by the Tennessee Office of Reentry (TOOR) in which TOOR Reintegration Specialists enter TDOC facilities before release to deliver career-building and job-readiness training. LEAP connects participants to workforce resources, builds employment skills, and links pre-release preparation to post-release support. TOOR also administers $1.2 million in Community Reentry Reinvestment Grants for community-based reentry programs statewide. Contact TOOR at tn.gov/workforce/reentrytn.
Can I get SNAP benefits after prison in Tennessee?
Yes. Tennessee has no drug conviction SNAP ban. People with drug felony convictions are eligible for SNAP subject to standard income and eligibility requirements. Apply through Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) at tn.gov/humanservices or by calling 1-866-311-4287.
Can I vote after prison in Tennessee?
Not automatically. A felony conviction in Tennessee results in loss of voting rights. Voting rights are not automatically restored upon release or completion of supervision. You must apply for a Certificate of Restoration of Voting Rights through the circuit court in your county. Certain offenses (murder, rape, treason, voter fraud, and other violent felonies) may permanently bar restoration without a full pardon. The process depends on your specific conviction type.
How do I restore my voting rights in Tennessee?
You must complete your full sentence (including parole and probation), have no outstanding restitution, and not have a permanently disqualifying conviction. After those conditions are met, you apply for a Certificate of Restoration of Voting Rights through the circuit court in the county where you live. Tennessee's restoration system is complex and multi-tiered depending on conviction type and year. Contact Tennessee Legal Aid (tals.org) or the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee (las.org) for free assistance with the restoration process. The Tennessee Secretary of State's office (sos.tn.gov) also provides guidance.
How do I get my birth certificate in Tennessee?
If you were born in Tennessee, request a certified copy from the Tennessee Department of Health Vital Records at tn.gov/health or by calling (615) 741-1763. The current fee is $15 per copy. Ask your TDOC reentry specialist whether the facility can assist with this before release. If you were born in another state, contact that state's vital records office early -- out-of-state requests take time.
How do I replace my Social Security card in Tennessee?
Contact SSA at 1-800-772-1213, apply online at ssa.gov, or visit your nearest SSA office. Replacement cards are free. Bring your state ID and birth certificate. Ask your TDOC case manager whether your facility has a prerelease SSA agreement allowing this to begin up to 90 days before release. SSA reentry benefits information is at ssa.gov/reentry/benefits.htm.
What benefits can I apply for after release in TN?
TennCare (Medicaid) at tenncareconnect.tn.gov (1-855-259-0701) for parents with dependent children (up to 105% FPL), pregnant women, elderly, or disabled -- not expanded for childless adults. CoverRx (tn.gov/tenncare) for discounted generic medications in the coverage gap. SNAP (food assistance) through TDHS (tn.gov/humanservices; 1-866-311-4287) -- no drug conviction ban. SSI or SSDI through SSA (1-800-772-1213) if you qualify through age or disability. Veterans' benefits through the VA if applicable. 211 Tennessee (dial 211 or tn211.org) for county referrals.
What reentry resources does TDOC provide?
TDOC (tn.gov/correction) provides Reentry Specialists at each facility; 60 days of TDOC-paid transitional housing for eligible releasing individuals; cognitive behavioral, vocational, and SUD programming. Tennessee Office of Reentry (TOOR, tn.gov/workforce/reentrytn) provides the LEAP pre-release employment training program, $1.2M in Community Reentry Reinvestment Grants, and workforce connections. Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry (tpom.org) provides TDOC-approved transitional housing in Nashville and Memphis. Project Return provides Nashville housing and employment support. Tennessee Legal Aid (tals.org) provides free legal help including voting rights restoration. 211 TN (dial 211) provides county referrals. ---
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