TN DOC - TPFW is a maximum state correctional facility in Nashville, TN, operated by the Tennessee Department of Corrections. Inmates here are serving sentences of one year or more under Tennessee law. This page was last verified August 2026.
"TN DOC - TPFW is a state correctional facility in Nashville, TN, operated by the Tennessee Department of Corrections."
InmateAid has been helping families navigate state prisons, county jails, and federal facilities since 2012. Our founder served 66 months in federal custody. We know what long-term incarceration looks like from the inside, and we built this resource so families do not have to figure it out alone. InmateAid holds a BBB A+ rating.
"My husband has been at a state prison for three years. InmateAid helped me figure out visits, calls, and how to support him through programs. It made an impossible situation manageable."
-- A spouse in Tennessee
Need help right now? Contact InmateAid - we are here.
If your family member has been transferred into Tennessee Department of Corrections custody, the Tennessee Department of Corrections maintains an online inmate search you can use to confirm their current location and assignment. You can also use InmateAid's inmate locator to search by name across Tennessee facilities.
State prison assignments can change - people are moved between facilities for classification, programming, disciplinary reasons, or population management. If they were recently transferred into DOC custody, give the system 24 to 48 hours to update before assuming results are wrong. You can also pull their arrest record and conviction details to confirm the case status. For direct questions, call TN DOC - TPFW at 615-741-1255.
Most people do not go directly from arrest to a state prison. After sentencing, your family member is transported from the county jail to a Tennessee Department of Corrections intake or reception facility where they are processed, evaluated, and assigned to a permanent institution. That process typically takes two to six weeks depending on the state and current facility capacity.
During the reception period communication is often limited and the facility assignment is temporary. Do not set up phone accounts or plan visits until you have confirmed the permanent assignment - it will almost certainly not be the reception facility. Once the permanent assignment is made, the Tennessee Department of Corrections inmate locator will update with the new location. That is the moment to set up calls, plan your first visit, and get money on the books. Read InmateAid's what to expect in prison guide for a full walkthrough of the intake and transfer process.
TN DOC - TPFW is a maximum security facility. Security level determines the level of supervision, freedom of movement, programs available, and the general daily experience for the people inside.
In most state systems: minimum security means lower supervision, more movement, and access to work programs and community activities. Medium security is the most common level - structured but not maximum restriction. Maximum or close custody means the highest supervision, most restricted movement, and most limited program access. Security levels can change based on behavior, new charges, or sentence stage - your family member's level may shift over time. Contact TN DOC - TPFW at 615-741-1255 or the Tennessee Department of Corrections directly for specific information about what maximum means at this facility.
"Contact TN DOC - TPFW at 615-741-1255 or the Tennessee Department of Corrections to confirm the security classification at this facility and what it means for daily life, programs, and visitation."
Your family member calls you - you cannot call them.
Calls from TN DOC - TPFW go through the facility's contracted phone provider. Visit InmateAid's prison calls page to find the current provider for this facility and get your account set up before the first call.
Regular phone contact is one of the most consistent factors in how well someone manages a long sentence. It matters more than most people on the outside realize.
State prison visitation requires advance registration in most Tennessee facilities. You cannot show up without being on the approved visitor list. Contact TN DOC - TPFW at 615-741-1255 or visit the Tennessee Department of Corrections website to begin the registration process - approval can take days to weeks, so start early.
Once approved, visitation hours and rules are set by the facility and can change. General rules across most Tennessee state prisons: dress conservatively, avoid colors or patterns that resemble inmate clothing, leave your phone and valuables in your car or facility lockers, bring valid government-issued ID, and follow the facility dress code strictly - violations mean a turned-away visit. Children require specific authorization in most state systems. Read InmateAid's prison visitation guide for a full checklist and Tennessee-specific registration guidance.
Visits are worth the effort. For someone serving years, a face-to-face visit is something they think about for weeks before and after. Do not let the process discourage you.
TN DOC - Tennessee Prison for Women (TPFW) - Visitation
VISITATION SCHEDULE
- FRIDAY: Visitation will open at 5:00 p.m. The cut off time for a visitor to sign in is 8:00 p.m. (visitors must be here before 8:00 p.m.).
- Visitation is closed at 8:30 p.m. Only inmates that are unable to visit on Saturday or Sunday will be allowed to visit on Friday Evening.
- SATURDAY: Visitation will open at 8:30 a.m. (Visitors are not admitted until 8:30 a.m.)
- Visitation will close at 3:30 p.m. The cutoff time for a visitor to sign-in is at 3:00 p.m.
- SUNDAY: Visitation will open at 8:30 a.m. (Visitors are not admitted until 8:30 a.m.)
- Visitation will close at 3:30 p.m. The cutoff time for a visitor to sign-in is at 3:00 p.m.
NOTE: Checkpoint will open for the processing of visitation; at the following times on Saturday and Sunday. Visitors are not allowed to be at checkpoint other than times listed below.
- 8:30 a.m. thru 10:00 a.m.
- 11:30 a.m. thru 1:30 p,m,
- 2:30 p.m. thru 3:00 p. m.
Please keep in mind that a visitor must be here before the cut off time.
Friday Evenings
- Main Compound - 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm
- Annex Compound - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
- Unit 3 None
Saturday and Sunday
- Main Compound - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
- Annex Compound - 8:30 pm -3:30 pm
- Unit 3 - 8:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Holidays
- Main Compound 8:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
- Annex Compund - 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Unit 3 - 8:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Visitors who are denied admittance to the institution must leave state property immediately. No one is allowed to sit in automobiles on institutional grounds or in reception/checkpoint areas. All visitors must leave state property promptly after visitation hours are over.
There will be no movement between 1:45 pm. -2:15 p.m. A courtesy "call- out" announcement will be made at 1:30 p.m. for those that wish to leave. At 1:45 p.m., everyone will be required to remain in their respective visitation area until 2: 15 p.m.
During an institutional emergency, visitation may be canceled as deemed appropriate by the warden/designee.
NUMBER OF VISITORS ALLOWED - No more than four adults will be allowed per offender. Children under eighteen years of age may visit if they are accompanied by their parent, legal guardian, or guardian who is also on the inmates approved visiting list.
There will be no limit on children under the age of eighteen years of age provided that they are accompanied by their parent, legal guardian, or guardian who is also on the inmates approved visiting list. The escort must be on the notarized parental consent form. The only exception is if a visitor is under the age of eighteen (18) and legally married to the inmate they are visiting. Proof of marriage will be required.
Identification is not required for children under the age of 16 yews of 0.ge: however, a visitation application CR-2152 with a recent picture must be on file. The custodial parent or legal guardian must provide a completed and notarized Parental Consent/Release for Minor's Visitation Form (CR-2152, page 2). Which designates permission for the assigned visitors (as guardians) to accompany the child to visit and consent for the child to be searched.
ACCESS TO THE VISITATION AREA - All visitors will park in any available parking spot, except spots that are reserved for individuals. All automobiles parked on state property must be secured by rolling up all windows and locking all doors.
Neither the Tennessee Prison for Women nor the Tennessee Department of Correction will be responsible for visitor's automobiles or items/property left in a visitor's car. Parking is at the visitor's own risk. TPFW is not and will not be responsible for any vandalism or theft to the personal property of the visitor's vehicle.
Handicapped parking spaces are available for disabled visitors. The spaces are identified with a handicapped placard.
All visitors will need to proceed to the checkpoint area to be processed for visitation. Please note the times the checkpoint is open for processing in the Visitation Section of this handbook.
Upon reporting to the checkpoint area for processing, be prepared to give the visitation officer/checkpoint officer the inmate's full name and the inmates TDOC number.
The visitor will need to sign in the visitation ledger and provide acceptable identification at the checkpoint.
Upon completion of the identification/approval process, visitors will be issued a visitor identification tag. The tag is to be worn at all times on the outside of the visitors clothing. The visitor's left hand will be stamped with incandescent ink.
No items are allowed to be brought in for an inmate during visitation. Note: This does not include authorized picnic items.
All visitors for inmates housed at the Annex are to report to the checkpoint at the main compound to be processed in before going to the Annex to visit.
Visitors shall not be allowed to bring any items into the visitation area except:
1. ID (Government-issued photo)
2. One (1) car key (the one that opens the door). No electronic door controls are allowed unless it is part of the key.
3. Eyeglasses
4. Vending machine card (no wallet(s) or money)
5. Watch (1)
6. Wedding ring(s) and other ring (1)
7. Earring (s)
8. Baby items (2 diapers, baby wipes in clear plastic container, 1 clear plastic baby feeding bottle, powder baby formula or approved food in a clear plastic bag, not to exceed amount for two (2) feedings)
NOTE: Vending machine debit cards are required if you desire to purchase anything from the vending machines. You purchase the debit card for $5.00, which credits $3.00 to the card. After the card is purchased additional money can be added in increments of $1.00 up to $20.00 (bills only, no change). TPFW is not responsible for items or money lost in the vending machines. No inmate is permitted to have a vending machine debit card in her possession. This includes holding or using the card while in the visitation area.
The visitation officers are not allowed to accept or hold any unauthorized items. All items must be returned to the visitor's car. No items are allowed to be left at checkpoint by a visitor.
All visitors must clear the metal detector search. Anyone failing to clear a walk through the metal detector will be subjected to a closer screening by a handheld metal detector. Failure to pass the localized search will require the individual to produce or otherwise identify the item causing the metal detector to react.
All visitors will be frisk searched. All searches will be in accordance with TDOC policy 506.06.
Upon leaving the visitation gallery, all visitors will sign out of the visitation ledger and return the visitor identification tag.
Inmates who are transient status shall not be allowed any visitation for two weeks (attorneys and clergy are exempt). The Warden may allow special visits at the end of the two weeks, for immediate family members only.
VISITING IN MAIN VISITATION- GALLER. Y AND AT THE ANNEX
Visitors will be allowed a minimum of two (2) hours to visit within the scheduled visitation time. Once the visitation area is full, additional visitors will not be allowed access until those in the area have had at leas two (2) hours to visit. At that point, if visitors have
visited two (2) hours or more that visit will be terminated to allow someone else in to visit.
VISITING IN UNIT III - All inmates visiting in Unit III visitation area will have a Non-Contact visit that will be limited to one (1) hour. Only four (4) visitors total are allowed to visit. No more than three (3) inmates will be allowed to visit in this area per each officer available to monitor this visitation area.
CHILDREN'S PLAY AREA AND RULES - A Children's play area is located in the main and annex compound visitation lobbies. Parents/guardians are expected to stay with their children at all times.
MAIN COMPOUND
RESTROOMS - Visitors may utilize restrooms marked "VISITOR ONLY" in the visitation gallery. Offenders may, one at a time, utilize the restroom marked "INMATE ONLY" in the visitation gallery. Small children must be accompanied into the restroom by the visitor that brought chem. At no time are any inmates allowed to accompany anyone to the restroom.
ANNEX - Visitors are to utilize the restroom located in the P-Building (bldg. 12). Small children are to be escorted to the restroom by the visitor bringing the child. When on the picnic area visitors/inmates will have access to port-o-johns marked.
Note: Only one person is allowed in the restroom at a time. At no time are any inmates allowed to accompany anyone to the restroom.
DRESS CODE - Persons entering The Tennessee Prison for Women Facility should dress comfortably and in casual attire; however, they shall be expected to comply with the following basic dress requirements.
Clothing shall fit in an appropriate manner. Clothing appearing to be too large or ·oo small for the wearer, which creates obvious gaps or exposure, or would present a hazard to the wearer will not be allowed.
- Visitors must wear undergarments. (Samples of undergarments deemed inappropriate are thongs and water brassieres.) Underwear must not be exposed.
- Appropriate footwear to provide basic foot protection shall be required while on institutional grounds. Open toe shoes or sandals are permitted. Steel-toed shoes, shower shoes and flip-flops, are prohibited.
- Shorts or skirts are permitted provided the leg is covered to within three inches above the knee in a standing position with the garment worn in the position in which it is intended to be worn. No wrap around skirts or swimwear.
- No garments manufactured from spandex or spandex-type fabrics.
- No clothing that is transparent or translucent in nature.
- No sleeveless shirts and blouses.
- No dresses or clothing exposing a bare chest or midriff
- No camouflage attire.
- No worn or tattered clothing with holes.
- No clothing with logos that contain pictures, slogans, or vulgarity, or contain signs or symbols of security threat groups (STG), or any clothing determined by the processing officer to be associated with any STG.
- The association may be made by color combination, design, or logos, affixed to the clothing, or the manner in which the clothing is worn.
- Splits in dresses or skirts that extend three inches above the knee, or slits, which cause the entire dress or skirt to be above three inches above the knee, will not be permitted.
- No bandanas.
- Visitors may not wear excessive clothing such as two pairs of pants or an extra shirt under their top layer of clothing. This is necessary to prohibit the exchange of clothing between inmates and visitors.
- No unauthorized clothing item may be concealed beneath another item of clothing.
- Prostheses, artificial 1imbs (plastic or other substances), and cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators shall be allowed and the visitor may be required to present a current doctor's note.
- Handicapped visitors may bring their wheelchairs, walkers, canes, etc. All items will be subject to search.
- No medications will be permitted inside the institution, except nitroglycerin and asthma inhalers.
- No hats are to be taken into the visitation gallery unless it is religious headgear. Hats can be worn on the picnic area only. Hats are to be worn with the bill to the front.
- No sunglasses or shades unless prescription.
No jogging or sweat pants tliat button above the knee are allowed. Visitors are required to wear their identification cards a-: a:l times.
Inmate Dress
TDOC uniforms (blue shirts and pants) are the only clothing inmates will be allowed to wear to access the visitation area.
Only plain white T-shirts may be worn under the TDOC blue shirt. No grey t-shirts, thermal top or thermal bottoms are not to be ·worn to visitation.
No part of the TDOC uniform may be removed at any time during visitation. Inmates will not be allowed to bring coats into the visitation picnic area.
The white TDOC stripe must be clearly visible on the TDOC pants and no bleached out pants/shirts will be allowed.
All clothing must be in good repair with no holes, patches, or altern.ticns. All pants must be worn around the waist.
The commissary account - also called the trust account - gives your family member access to hygiene items, snacks, phone time, postage, and in some facilities tablets and email services. For a long sentence, keeping money on the books is one of the most sustained practical contributions you can make.
Steps to send money to TN DOC - TPFW:
1. Go to InmateAid's send money page to confirm the approved deposit method for this facility
2. Have your family member's full legal name and Tennessee Department of Corrections inmate number ready - not the old county booking number, the DOC number assigned at intake
3. Choose online deposit, phone deposit, or facility kiosk
4. Use the name and number exactly as they appear in the DOC system - any error will delay or reject the deposit
Mail is a lifeline for people serving long sentences. A letter written on a Tuesday arrives on a Friday and gets read multiple times. Do not underestimate it.
TN DOC - TPFW accepts incoming mail addressed to your family member at 3881 Stewarts Ln. Include their full legal name and Tennessee Department of Corrections inmate number on every piece - not the county booking number. Standard rules at most Tennessee state prisons: plain white paper only, no staples, no glitter, no stickers, no colored ink. Photos should be standard print size with nothing written on the back. State prisons tend to have stricter mail rules than county jails - when in doubt keep it simple or the mail will be rejected without notice.
InmateAid's send mail service prints and mails on approved stock from your phone or computer. Formatting rejection is not a risk.
Books and magazines must come new, ordered directly from the publisher or an online retailer. Order through Amazon or directly from the publisher - anything shipped from a personal address will be rejected.
Programs matter for two reasons: they make the time more bearable and in many states they affect parole eligibility and good-time credits. Encouraging your family member to participate is one of the best things you can do for their long-term outcome.
State prison programs vary by facility and security level but commonly include GED and high school equivalency courses, vocational and trade certification, substance abuse treatment, cognitive behavioral programs, religious programming, and work assignments. Contact TN DOC - TPFW at 615-741-1255 to ask specifically which programs are available at this facility and what the enrollment process looks like. Program availability changes based on funding and staffing - what was offered last year may not be offered now.
Most people in Tennessee state prisons will be eligible for parole consideration before completing their full sentence, depending on the offense and sentencing structure. Parole is not automatic - it requires a hearing, a parole plan, and in most states a review of institutional behavior, program participation, and victim input.
Families play a real role in the parole process. A stable release address, demonstrated family support, and a documented reentry plan all strengthen a parole application. Start thinking about this early - not the week before the hearing but as soon as your family member is assigned to their permanent facility. InmateAid's parole and probation guide covers the process in Tennessee including how hearings work, what the board looks for, and what families can do to support a successful outcome.
Note on sentencing structure: parole eligibility varies significantly by state and offense type. Some Tennessee sentences are determinate - meaning the release date is fixed and parole as traditionally understood does not apply. Contact the Tennessee Department of Corrections or a Tennessee-licensed attorney for guidance specific to your family member's sentence structure.
People in state prison retain specific legal rights even while incarcerated - the right to medical care, the right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment, the right to access the courts, and protections against excessive force. If your family member experiences a serious problem at TN DOC - TPFW, there are channels to address it.
The Tennessee Department of Corrections has a formal grievance process your family member can initiate from inside. If the internal process does not resolve the issue, outside advocacy organizations, legal aid, and in serious cases federal civil rights complaints are available. InmateAid's inmate rights guide explains what rights are protected, how the grievance process works in Tennessee, and when to involve outside help.
The Tennessee Department of Corrections system is its own world - policies, programs, visitation rules, phone vendors, and what happens at release all vary in ways that matter to your family. InmateAid's Tennessee prison resources hub covers all of it in one place, written specifically for families navigating the Tennessee system.
Have a specific question from someone who has been through it? Browse real questions and answers at InmateAid Tennessee Q&A.
Frequently Asked Questions about TN DOC - TPFW
How long does the DOC intake process take after sentencing?
After sentencing most people spend two to six weeks at a Tennessee Department of Corrections reception facility before being assigned to a permanent institution. During that period they are evaluated for security level, programming needs, and facility placement. Location will change - do not set up phone accounts or plan visits until the permanent assignment is confirmed in the DOC inmate locator.
What is the difference between state prison and county jail?
County jail is a short-term facility operated by the county sheriff, typically holding people awaiting trial or serving sentences under one year. State prison is operated by the Tennessee Department of Corrections for sentences of one year or more after conviction. TN DOC - TPFW is a state prison - your family member has been convicted and sentenced, and their case has moved past the pretrial stage.
How do I find my family member's DOC inmate number?
The Tennessee Department of Corrections assigns a unique inmate number at reception intake. This number - not the county booking number - is what you need for phone accounts, money deposits, and mail. Find it through the Tennessee Department of Corrections inmate search online or by calling TN DOC - TPFW at 615-741-1255.
Can my family member earn early release through good behavior or programs?
Most Tennessee sentences carry some form of good time credit or program credit that can reduce time served before parole eligibility. The specific rules depend on the offense, sentence structure, and Tennessee Department of Corrections policy. Contact TN DOC - TPFW or the Tennessee Department of Corrections directly for information on your family member's specific situation.
What should I do if I am concerned about my family member's safety inside?
Contact TN DOC - TPFW at 615-741-1255 immediately if you have a specific credible safety concern. If you do not receive a satisfactory response, escalate to the Tennessee Department of Corrections central office. For serious concerns involving threats, assault, or retaliation, InmateAid's inmate rights guide covers the escalation process and outside advocacy options.
Long sentences change everything - the rhythms of family life, the way you plan, what you hope for and when. The families who do best are the ones who stay connected consistently over time, not just in the first months. Calls, letters, visits when possible, money on the books. And knowing that when something goes wrong inside, there are people on the outside paying attention.
InmateAid was built for the long road. We are not going anywhere either.