Tennessee Department of Corrections

The Tennessee Department of Correction maintains a searchable public database of all of the inmates they have in custody.

In addition, the offender search contains information about prisoners, parolees, and probationers who are currently under supervision, and who have been discharged. It also contains those inmates who have absconded, or escaped.

The actual prison that an inmate is assigned to depends on factors such as security classification, remaining time of their sentence, gang affiliation, and location of their residence.

The Tennessee Department of Correction began in 1831, when the first state prison, Tennessee State Penitentiary, was built in Nashville.

Today the state of Tennessee's Prison System maintains 14 state correctional institutions.

With a staff of 6,400 correctional workers, as of the end of 2023 they oversee approximately 22,000 inmates, with another 60,000 under probation and 12,000 under parole.

The following will explain the instructions, tricks and hacks you can use to find any inmate in custody with the Tennessee Department of Correction.

Tennessee Department of Correction Inmate Search Instructions

The Tennessee Department of Correction provides a limited amount of information you may want to know about any inmate in their system, however they do list every inmate and offenders released. Inmates in custody have their crimes listed, as well as previous convictions. To look up an inmate (or parolee), you need the full last name.  

• You can also list any and all inmates or released inmate (or parolee) by just filling in the fields.
• You can also list all current or former inmates (or parolee) who share the same first letter of the last name.

The first set of results if you used the full last name (in this case we used the common name of 'Johnson') will list their Name, Mugshot, TDOC ID Number, Birth Date, Status and Location. Click on the linked TDOC ID# to get to the inmate's page.  

The inmate's page has more detailed information, and a larger version of the inmate's mugshot.

Tennessee Department of Corrections uses the services of JPAY for you to send money to an inmate's trust fund / commissary account. 



You can send money to an inmate/offender's commissary/spendable account through the Send Money page.
There are several ways to send money to an inmate/offender.

1. Online payments
2. Over the phone by calling 800-574-5729
3. MoneyGram
4. If you wish to send cash you can use MoneyGram. MoneyGram has many convenient locations nationwide.
   The following establishments will always have MoneyGram services:
   Walmart
   7-11
   CVS Pharmacy

You will need:
Inmate's Correctional ID number and last name
The facility name or receive code (6188).
You can visit the MoneyGram website to find locations near you.

        5. Money Order - Inmate's Name must be on the Money Order

All money orders must be sent with a deposit slip to:
JPay
P.O. Box 279010
Miramar, FL 33027 

Money order funds will be available to the offender within three business days of being received at the lockbox.

Money order deposits slips are available in English and Spanish.

        6. Lobby Kiosk
            You can use a debit or credit card in the lobby kiosk to send funds to an inmate/offender.

Tennessee Department of Corrections Inmate Visitation Information and Schedules

Step 1

Every visitor, adult and child, must have an approved visitor application on file.  You must be on the inmate's visitor list, a list that they have to fill out.

Instructions:   ADULTS    CHILDREN

Visitors must submit a completed application to the inmate's assigned institution.  Approval takes 30 days. 

It is the inmate's responsibility to advise the visitor of approval or denial.

Step 2

Visitation is by appointment only.  

Approved visitors must contact the facility where the inmate is housed to make an appointment.  

Visitation days are Saturdays, Sundays, and one evening per week for visitors unable to visit on weekends.  

Contact information for each facility can be found on this page.

Review the guidelines for visits; dress codes, rules, policies.

There are three Ways to Communicate with an Inmate in the Tennessee Department of Corrections by Phone in state run facilities - For Core Civicv private prisons, scroll down below the GTL content:

To get started you must first open an account with GTL Connect Network (aka Viapath Technologies)

• Advance Pay - This phone account allows you to prepay so that your inmate can call you (and only you) whenever he/she wants and the cost of each call is deducted from your balance. You can even be notified by text when your balance gets low. You still have the option of accepting or rejecting each call.
• Pin Debit  -  This option allows you to fund an inmate's commissary account and lets him pay for phone calls to you and others with the money. You will have no control over who your inmate calls.
• Voicemail  -  You can leave a secure voicemail without having to contact the facility. When you call the local phone number for a facility offering Inmate Voicemail (call Customer Service at 877-650-4249 to get the local voicemail number for Tennessee Department of Corrections, you will be informed of the cost for leaving a message. To leave your message, simply select the inmate by ID number. Then, record your voicemail.

How to deposit money for Inmate Communications:

• Online
• By phone by calling 877-650-4249
• Deposit by cash, visa or mc debit and credit cards in the Tennessee Department of Corrections lobby kiosk
• By mail... Check or Money Order made out to:
  AdvancePay Service Department
  P.O. Box 911722
  Denver, CO 80291-1722
• Cash deposits to ConnectNetwork are also available at 26,000 retail locations nationwide including Walmart, ACE, Kmart, Kroger, and more. You’ll start the payment process online in your ConnectNetwork account, then complete your transaction with cash at a participating local retail store. Plus, many of these stores are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Find a retail store near you.

Tennessee Department of Corrections uses IC Solutions for their inmate phone services in the Core Civic private prisons.

In order to communicate with your inmate by telephone you must register with IC Solutions and choose a 'type' of account.

There are two different types of phone accounts you can fund:
1.    Prepaid Accounts - With a prepaid account the funds belong to you. You control whether the inmate uses the funds by either ‘accepting’ or ‘rejecting’ each call to you by your inmate.
2.    Debit Telephone Accounts – With a Debit telephone account, the funds are transferred directly to your inmate. Your inmate can call any phone number unless it is blocked by Tennessee Department of Corrections.

How it works:
1.    First, you must register with IC Solutions:

• Register Online, or
• Register by Phone 888-506-8407 (available 24/7), or
• Register by Mail (see addresses and instructions below).

2.    Choose whether you are funding a Prepaid or a Debit account.
3.    Follow the prompts for choosing Tennessee Department of Corrections for a Debit account, or choosing an ‘inmate’ for a Prepaid account.
4.    Make payment.

Prepaid Account - More Information
- One Prepaid account per inmate/phone number. 

• If you have more than one inmate, you must open a separate account for each.
• If you have two numbers (cell and home), you must open a separate account for each.

- Use Prepaid Accounts if you want to have the ability to leave voicemail messages for your inmate. 
- Prepaid Accounts can be funded to allow for Remote Video Visits if they are available at the facility.
- Collect calls are allowed, but only to your landline. You will see the IC Solutions portion of the bill on your land line phone bill.
- Cost – Prepaid Accounts are charged $0.21 per minute. Rates are subject to change.
- All phone calls are recorded.
- Refunds of unused funds will be refunded to you.

Debit Telephone Accounts – More Information
- Your Inmate controls the funds and can call any phone number not restricted by Tennessee Department of Corrections.
- Cost – Debit Accounts are charged $0.21 per minute. Rates are subject to change.
- All phone calls are recorded.
- Refunds of unused funds are the property of your inmate.

Voicemail – More Information
- Voice mail messages cannot exceed 30 seconds in length.
- Voicemail messages can be left 24/7
- Your inmate will immediately be notified they have a message.
- Tennessee Department of Corrections will provide you with its own Inmate Voicemail Number for this service.

IC Solutions Contact Information
Contact Information
Phone 888-506-8407 (available 24/7)
Online contact form

Mail-in Purchases
Please allow for a delay in the use of IC Solutions Phone services when using Mail-in purchases.

ICSolutions
Customer Service
2200 Danbury Street
San Antonio, TX 78217

When purchasing PREPAID phone services through a mail-in purchase, please be sure to include with your payment, your:

• name, 
• address, and 
• the designated telephone number you wish to receive calls from.

When purchasing DEBIT phone services through a mail-in purchase, (Western Union, cashier's check, or money order only) please be sure to include with your payment, your:

• Inmate’s name and Inmate number
• Inmate’s Facility
   

Tennessee Department of Corrections Inmate Mail Guidelines

Postcards
The Tennessee Department of Corrections allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature. It is best to only use blue or black ink. Always include your name and return address.

Envelopes
The Tennessee Department of Corrections also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates. It is best to only use blue or black ink.

Postcards and envelopes MUST HAVE the sender's full name and return address on the envelope. 

Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate Name, Inmate TOMIS ID#
Confirm Mailing Address here

Legal Mail

Send all Legal Mail to this Address:

Inmate Name, Inmate TOMIS ID#
Confirm Mailing Address here

Newspapers
Newspapers may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher.

Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.

Books
The Tennessee Department of Corrections allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address noted.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Tennessee Department of Corrections standards will be disposed of. 
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.

All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:

Inmate Name, Inmate TOMIS ID#
Confirm Mailing Address here

Tennessee Department of Corrections contracts with Access Securepak for families to send pre-determined packages of commissary items to your inmate.

Access Securepak carries over 1,000 different items in the following categories:
- Food and Snacks
- Personal Hygiene Products
- Electronics
- Apparel

Registration Process:
1. Register here.
2. Select Tennessee.
3. Select Tennessee Department of Corrections.
4. Find your Inmate.
5. Deposit Funds.
6. Order Commissary Items.
Once you are logged in, you will receive instructions on how much (and what products) you can send your inmate.
Contact Information:
* If you have any questions, you can call Access Securepak at 800-546-6283.
* You can email My Care Pack at customerservice@securepak.net.
* You can write them at:
    Access Securepak
    10880 Linpage Place
    St. Louis, MO 63132

* You can Live Chat with a Representative online: (bottom left corner of page)
   Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.–11 p.m. CST, 
   and Saturdays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. CST.

*Note* Access Securepak will issue a refund for or replace broken, damaged, or missing products reported by Tennessee Department of Corrections staff. They will not honor reports of discrepancies from inmate's families or friends.
Access Securepak is the Tennessee Department of Corrections's outside vendor for Commissary Items. They have a very good mix of Chips, Snacks, Candy, Meat, Seafood, Hygiene products, Letter writing materials, Electronics and Apparel items for sale on their website.

Here is a sample of what you can purchase for your inmate:
Food

Hygiene

Apparel

Electronics

*NOTE* -- Once you are fully registered and have selected the inmate you wish to send commissary to, you will receive instructions on how much you can deposit, how much (and what) you can purchase for your inmate, and how often you can send commissary.

Tennessee Department of Corrections also uses the services of JPAY for you to send money to an inmate's trust fund / commissary account. 



You can send money to an inmate/offender's commissary/spendable account through the Send Money page.
There are several ways to send money to an inmate/offender.

1. Online payments
2. Over the phone by calling 800-574-5729
3. MoneyGram
4. If you wish to send cash you can use MoneyGram. MoneyGram has many convenient locations nationwide.
   The following establishments will always have MoneyGram services:
   Walmart
   7-11
   CVS Pharmacy

You will need:
Inmate's Correctional ID number and last name
The facility name or receive code (6188).
You can visit the MoneyGram website to find locations near you.

        5. Money Order - Inmate's Name must be on the Money Order

All money orders must be sent with a deposit slip to:
JPay
P.O. Box 279010
Miramar, FL 33027 

Money order funds will be available to the offender within three business days of being received at the lockbox.

Money order deposits slips are available in English and Spanish.

        6. Lobby Kiosk
            You can use a debit or credit card in the lobby kiosk to send funds to an inmate/offender.

Once an inmate is convicted and sentenced for a violation of that state’s felony laws (and their sentence is more than one year in length), they are moved from the City or County Jail and sent to a State Prison in Tennessee. If the violation they are convicted of is a federal crime, they will be sent to a Federal Prison, but will not necessarily be doing their time in Tennessee.

Tennessee State Prisons are operated and maintained by the state government and are used to confine and rehabilitate criminals. State prisons are funded by state tax money. The fund is used to provide food and clothes to inmates and to hire employees to keep the prison running. Inmates in state prison enjoy certain privileges such as TV use and recreation, both indoor and outdoor. The number of privileges allowed depends on the security level of the prison, the inmate and the overall needs of the prison on a specific day.

Tennessee has minimum, medium and maximum security prisons. The Corrections Department in Tennessee also maintains low (or no) security residential settings and camps where inmates assist in state property maintenance and duties such as fighting fires. Almost all prisons provide ‘jobs’ where an inmate can earn a small hourly wage and even learn a trade. Some prisons even contract with call centers and handle phone calls on issues related to their state government. Criminals who have committed a violent crime or killed someone are likely housed in a maximum security prison. If the inmate in these prisons behave, they are also eligible to recreate and/or work as well.

In Tennessee Prisons rehabilitation is the stated goal but the reality is that they exist to punish inmates for their crimes and keep them from hurting or harming innocent people on the outside who follow the laws and live and act responsibly. The fact is that most prison systems are underfunded, overcrowded and are not able to spend time and money rehabilitating offenders. This is not the fault of the people hired to work in prisons, they are just victims of the lack of resources due to budgeting constraints.

State Inmate

Most states have Department of Corrections websites that allow you to type in a felon's first and last name and pull up inmates in that state.

If you need to find a sentenced inmate serving time in a state other than Tennessee, go here. To find an inmate in Tennessee, just scroll to the top of the page and click on the Inmate Search button.

Once you locate them click next to the inmate's name or on the link provided and it will show you which prison the inmate is housed in. If the inmate is no longer incarcerated, but is on parole/probation or discharged, it will tell you that as well. In addition, many state prison inmate pages show recent mug shots.

Federal Inmate

The federal prison system has its own inmate locator called the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator.

Type in the inmate's name and it will tell you where he or she is incarcerated and their projected release date. It also lists released federal prison inmates and the date they were released.

Federal inmates who are moved from one prison to another will show as "No longer in federal custody" on the system until they reach their next federal prison destination. This movement can take a few days to several months to complete, so keep checking back to find out where the inmate was taken.

ICE Inmates

The ICE Detainee Lookup allows friends, family members and interested parties to locate illegal and/or undocumented immigrants that are in the United States without permission.

Has the Inmate been recently arrested?... Try a County Jail

In many cases, the person you are looking for has either not been convicted or sentenced or has been sentenced and is awaiting transport to a State or Federal Prison and is still incarcerated in a City or County Jail.

To locate that person, go here to first find the State, and then the County where they were originally arrested or have been transported to. From there you can begin your search in our databases that contain the names and information of millions of inmates.

Jailexchange.com has all information on every jail and prison in the United States.