Tennessee Inmate Search

There are over 50,000 Tennesseans locked up in correctional facilities across the state. About 22,000 of these inmates are housed in adult facilities operated or managed by the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC), with another 26,000 held in local jails under the custody of county sheriff's offices. Shelby County accounts for approximately 15% of the state's incarcerated population, with Davidson and Knox Counties coming in second and third at approximately 10% and 8%, respectively.

Inmate searches generally provide information on individuals incarcerated in Tennessee, making them an essential resource for family members, legal representatives, and other interested parties who wish to locate an inmate or stay updated on their status. This, in turn, also helps maintain transparency and accountability within the state's correctional system.

What is Tennessee Inmate Lookup?

A Tennessee inmate lookup enables individuals to access information on people who are currently (or have been) in the custody of a correctional facility in the state. There are several tools available to perform this service, including the TDOC's Felony Offender Information Lookup (FOIL) tool and VINELink. These tools typically allow users to search for inmates by name or ID number; VINELink also offers notifications about significant updates on inmates, such as their release, transfer, or parole status.

Tennessee inmate lookup tools are particularly useful for maintaining contact with individuals who are currently under correctional or law enforcement custody and also for staying informed about changes in their status. These inmate search services also align with Tennessee's commitment to transparency in government operations by granting public access to correctional records, in line with the Tennessee Public Records Act.

What Information Can You Find in a Tennessee Inmate Search?

Some of the information that is typically available when you conduct an inmate search in Tennessee include:

• Inmate's full name and aliases (if any)
• Inmate's ID
• Inmate's date of birth
• Inmate's photo
• Inmate's physical characteristics (sex, height, weight, race, eye and hair color, complexion, etc.)
• Inmate's current status (incarcerated, probation, absconded, inactive, etc.)
• Inmate's current location
• Inmate's sentencing information
• Inmate's parole hearing and release eligibility dates

How Are Inmate Records in Tennessee Created and Stored?

Inmate records in Tennessee are created once an individual enters the justice system and subsequently updated at different intervals as the offender moves through this system. The paper trail begins when the person is arrested - the arresting officer usually fills out a RAP sheet containing their name, address, physical address, mugshots, and crime details. As the person progresses through the justice system, whether through court hearings, sentencing, or incarceration, every detail is meticulously documented and added to their file.

The Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) is the primary agency responsible for maintaining and storing inmate records in the state (other agencies, including county sheriff's offices and local courts, also keep inmate records). The TDOC consolidates all inmate data into an online database, and individuals looking to access this information may do so for free at any time and from any location using inmate lookup tools.

What Does Tennessee's Prison System Look Like?

Tennessee operates a multifaceted, but relatively straightforward prison system consisting of different types of facilities (and programs) designed to manage and rehabilitate offenders in the state. This system includes state-owned prisons, privately managed facilities (overseen by the state government, county jails, federal prisons, and juvenile detention centers.

The Tennessee Department of Correction runs the state-owned prisons and also oversees operations in the privately managed facilities - these state prisons primarily house individuals convicted of felony offenses who are serving long sentences (more than one year). On the other hand, the county jails typically hold individuals, awaiting trial, serving short-term sentences (usually for misdemeanors), or awaiting transfer to state facilities – these jails are operated by the county sheriff's office in the jurisdiction where they are sited.

Likewise, the Tennessee Department of Children's Services (DCS) handles the custody and rehabilitation of high-risk and delinquent youth and operates several facilities and programs to achieve this. Some counties also operate their own juvenile detention centers separate from the DCS. Lastly, the Federal Bureau of Prisons operates one prison facility in Tennessee – FCI Memphis; this facility houses individuals convicted of federal crimes.

Types of Correctional Facilities in Tennessee

Tennessee operates a comprehensive correctional system that includes state-run prisons and private (but state-overseen) facilities that house felons who have been sentenced to long terms, county jails that hold offenders serving short terms, juvenile detention centers, and community correctional facilities. The state also hosts a federal prison for individuals convicted of federal crimes. Additionally, there is a juvenile detention center overseen by the Tennessee Department of Children's Services (through its Office of Juvenile Justice), while each county has at least one jail that holds pretrial detainees, recently arrested suspects, and individuals serving short-term sentences (usually for misdemeanors).

Tennessee State Prisons

Tennessee has eleven state-run prisons that are overseen and managed by the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC). One of these facilities specifically caters to prisoners with serious physical or emotional needs, and another is designated to house female inmates only. The state also has four prison facilities managed privately by CoreCivic, but overseen by the TDOC. Here is a list of Tennessee's state prisons (state-operated and privately managed):

TDOC-operated State Prisons

• Bledsoe County Correctional Complex
• Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center
• Lois M. DeBerry Special Needs Facility
• Mark Luttrell Transition Center
• Morgan County Correctional Complex
• Northeast Correctional Complex
• Northwest Correctional Complex
• Riverbend Maximum Security Institution
• Turney Center Industrial Complex
• West Tennessee State Penitentiary
• Women's Therapeutic Residential Center

State Prison Facilities Privately Managed by CoreCivic

• Hardeman County Correctional Facility
• South Central Correctional Facility
• Trousdale Turner Correctional Center
• Whiteville Correctional Facility

Tennessee County Jails

Tennessee has 95 counties, and each of these counties operates at least one jail that houses offenders awaiting trial (pretrial detainees) and inmates serving short sentences or awaiting transfer to state facilities. Each of these jails is run by the Sheriff's Office in the county where they are located. These Sheriff's Offices generally offer inmate search tools that may be used to find inmates in their respective jails and access jail records online. Some major county jails in Tennessee include:

• Shelby County Jail
• Davidson County Jail
• Knox County Jail
• Hamilton County Jail
• Rutherford County Adult Detention Center
• Williamson County Criminal Justice Center
• Montgomery County Jail
• Sumner County Jail
• Wilson County Jail
• Sullivan County Jail
• Blount County Jail

Tennessee Juvenile Detention Centers

Tennessee has a secure-care youth development center that houses juvenile offenders (aged 13 to 18) who have been committed to state custody for a wide range of offenses. This center – the Wilder Youth Development Center – is run and managed by the Tennessee Department of Children's Services (DCS) through its Office of Juvenile Justice, and provides its inmates with rehabilitative resources aimed at helping them turn their lives around before they become adults. To this end, the Wilder Youth Development Center works off the following guiding principles:

• Community Safety
• Family-Centered/Community-Based Programs
• Therapeutic Approach
• Accountability
• Data-Driven
• Innovation

In addition to the Wilder Youth Development Center, the DCS has a network of community-based facilities and probation services for youth offenders. Several counties also operate local juvenile detention centers that house and rehabilitate youth offenders in their respective jurisdictions. Be aware that juvenile records are considered confidential in Tennessee; therefore, online juvenile inmate searches are usually not available in the state. Interested parties who wish to look up youth offenders typically have to contact the detention facility directly to access this information.

Tennessee Community Correctional Facilities

In addition to the state-operated and privately managed prisons, the Tennessee Department of Correction implements Day Reporting/Community Resource Centers that provide offenders with assistance in transitioning from incarceration to becoming productive members of society. These programs serve as alternatives to incarceration and are usually only available to offenders who meet specific eligibility criteria, such as having at least 18 months left on probation or parole supervision. There are currently eight TDOC-operated Day Reporting/Community Resource Centers in the state:

• Chattanooga Day Reporting/Community Resource Center
• Jackson Day Reporting Center/Community Resource Center
• Johnson City Day Reporting Center/Community Resource Center
• Knoxville Day Reporting Center/Community Resource Center
• Memphis Community Resource Center
• Memphis Day Reporting Center
• Murfreesboro Day Reporting Center/Community Resource Center
• Nashville Day Reporting Center/Community Resource Center

Why are People Incarcerated in Tennessee?

There are approximately 55,000 people behind bars in Tennessee – about 22,000 of these individuals are in state prisons, another 26,000 in local jails, and the rest are spread across federal prisons, juvenile detention centers, and other correctional/commitment facilities. People are incarcerated in Tennessee for various offenses, which the state generally groups into four main types:

• People Crimes (commonly referred to as Violent Crimes). These include homicide, sex offenses, kidnapping, and assault.
• Property Crimes, such as burglary, arson, theft, and larceny.
• Society Crimes. These are further subcategorized into drug offenses (such as the manufacture, possession, and distribution of illegal drugs) and vehicular offenses.
• Other offenses, like weapons violations, disorderly conduct, and more.

Incarceration in Tennessee serves to protect the public, deter future crimes, and rehabilitate offenders. As such, sentences typically vary based on the severity of the crime, with violent crimes generally resulting in longer sentences than non-violent offenses. Some non-violent offenses may also be eligible for non-traditional incarceration options, such as diversion programs, probation, and community service. It is worth noting that homicides (including negligent manslaughter) and drug offenses collectively account for over 40 percent of incarcerations in Tennessee's state prisons, with assaults, sex offenses, and robbery also being the top causes of incarceration in the state.

Tennessee offers members of the public free access to inmate search tools, like VINELink and the TDOC's Felony Offender Information Lookup tool that may be used to access information on individuals incarcerated in the state. This includes their current location, reason(s) for incarceration, and sentencing information.

Tennessee's Incarceration Rate and Statistics

Tennessee has experienced steadily declining incarceration rates over the years, with the total number of individuals incarcerated in state prisons decreasing by 11.8 percent between 2016 and 2022 (inmate populations in local jails also reduced during this period).

The table below highlights Tennessee's incarceration rates from 2016 - 2022:

*figures extrapolated from average male and female population percentage

Life After Incarceration in Tennessee

Individuals who are released from prison in Tennessee typically return home to their family and friends upon their release. However, many of these former inmates often face significant challenges with securing employment, finding stable housing, and even rebuilding relationships, leading to the increased likelihood of their return to prison. As of 2021, it was estimated that nearly half of all individuals released from prison in Tennessee were likely to return within three years.

To combat this, the Tennessee Office of Reentry was established in July 2021 to help former inmates successfully transition from incarceration to being positive members of society. This office achieves its aim by collaborating with agencies and organizations, including the TDOC, to provide former inmates with services like employment assistance, housing support, education and skill building, and more. These efforts have proven successful, with recent reports indicating that recidivism rates in Tennessee have dropped to 29.6 percent, the lowest it has been in over a decade.

How Does Parole Work in Tennessee?

Parole is a privilege given only to inmates who do not pose a threat to society and who have behaved well in prison. The Tennessee Board of Parole oversees this process and typically considers several factors, including the prisoner's progress during their incarceration when making its decision on whether to grant parole. Note that parole is a supervisory program; as such, the parolee must regularly check in with a parole officer and comply with other conditions. Failure to do this will lead to the parole being revoked and the inmate returning to prison to complete their sentence. As of 2022, Tennessee had a total of 12,630 offenders on parole.

Tennessee Parole Population in 2022

How Does Someone Get Probation in Tennessee?

In some situations, a judge will sentence an offender to probation rather than sending them to prison. This typically happens with low-risk and/or first-time offenders. Similar to parole, probation is also a supervisory program where the probationer must follow all the court-ordered rules, including regular check-ins with their probation officer. Probation usually lasts a few months to a few years, and offenders who violate the rules/terms of their probation during this period are usually sent to prison to serve out the rest of their sentence. As of 2022, Tennessee had a total of 59,010 offenders on probation.

Tennessee Probation Population in 2022