Tennessee TDOC Inmate Search

Welcome. We are glad you are here. We will try our best to help you with your TDOC Inmate Search. This page aims to give you the facts you need for your search. We hope it is of great use to you.

If you need to start your TDOC Inmate Search right now, please go to https://tennesseeinmaterecords.com/tdoc-inmate-search/. This site can help you find the person you are looking for in the Tennessee system. It is a spot where you can start your quest for data. Make sure you have the full name. A date of birth can also help a lot.

How to Find a TDOC Inmate

To find a person in a TN jail, you have state tools. These tools are free for all to use. They can help you find out where a man or woman is. They can also tell you more facts.

Felony Offender Information Lookup (FOIL)

The main tool is the Felony Offender Information Lookup. Most people call it FOIL. You can find FOIL on the TN.gov website. This search lets you look by name. You can also use a TDOC ID if you know it. Or, you can use a State ID (SID) number. The FOIL system has data on those in TDOC care. This means it has data on people in jail now. It also has data on those who were in jail. The site shows things like their location. It shows a photo too. It lists their active sentence. You can find the FOIL search page here: Search - Tennessee Felony Offender Information.

The FOIL tool is kept by the state. They work hard to make sure the data is right. But, they say you should check with the original source if you need to be sure. This data comes from many parts of TN. It is a good first step.

MyTN Mobile App

There is also a free app for your phone. It is called MyTN. This app lets you get to many TN state web tools. One of these is the FOIL search. So, you can look for an inmate from your phone. You can get the MyTN app from your phone's app store. Once you have the app, look for Public Safety. FOIL is in that part. This makes it easy to check on the go. The app is free to download and use.

Understanding Inmate Information

When you use the TDOC Inmate Search, you will see some key facts. These facts tell you about the person. You will see their full name. Their TDOC ID number is key. This is a six-digit number just for them. You might see a State ID (SID) too. A birth date helps confirm it is the right person. Their race and sex will be there.

The search will show the jail where they are. It will list their crimes. It will say how long their time is. It may show a date they might get out. Or a date they can see the parole board. A booking photo is often part of the record. This helps you know you found the right one. All this data is from the TN Department of Correction. They try to keep it new and right. This is a lot of data. It can help you a lot.

Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) Contact Information

If you need to reach the TDOC, here are some ways. This can be for more help. Or for questions the website does not answer.

Main TDOC Contacts

The main office for the TDOC is in Nashville. Address: Rachel Jackson Building, 6th Floor 320 6th Avenue North Nashville, TN 37243

Main Phone: (615) 741-1000 Website: Tennessee Department of Correction

Specific Department Contacts

Many parts of TDOC have their own phone numbers.

• Felony Offender Information (FOIL): Use the online search at TN.gov FOIL Page.

• Records Management: (615) 253-8079 or email BI.tdocrmdrequests-archive@tn.gov (for old inmate records). You will need to give the full name, date of birth, TOMIS ID (if known), and why you need the files.

• Offender Location/Transfer: (615) 253-8207 (or use FOIL).

• Victim Services: (615) 253-8145 or email Victim.Notification@tn.gov.

• Human Resources - TDOC Recruiter: (615) 253-8029 or TDOC.Employment@tn.gov.

• Legal - Subpoenas: TDOC.Subpoenas@tn.gov.

This list is not all of them. More phone numbers are on the TDOC Central Office Directory. Please check that page for more help. Office hours are not listed on the website. So, it is best to call them during the day. Typical state office hours might be 8 AM to 4:30 PM Central Time. But call to be sure.

TDOC Correctional Facilities

Tennessee has many state prisons. Each one has its own address and phone. You need this if you want to mail or call a place. The TDOC website has a list of these. You can find it on the State Prisons List page. Click on a jail name there to see its own page. That page will have the street address. It will have the mail code. And it will have the phone number.

Here are a few examples. These are just some of the main jails.

• Riverbend Maximum Security Institution (RMSI)

  • Address: 7475 Cockrill Bend Blvd., Nashville, TN 37209

  • Phone: (615) 350-3400

• Morgan County Correctional Complex (MCCX)

  • Address: 541 Union St., Wartburg, TN 37887

  • Phone: (423) 346-1300

• Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center (DJRC) - (Formerly Tennessee Prison for Women)

  • Address: 3800 Cooper St., Nashville, TN 37208

  • Phone: (615) 741-1255

These are just three. There are more. Check the full list on the TDOC site. It is key to have the right jail. And the right mail code. This makes sure your mail gets to the right person. Always check the website for the most up-to-date facts. Jails can change. Phone numbers can change. It is smart to look it up each time.

Sending Mail to Inmates

You can send mail to a man or woman in a TDOC jail. There are rules you must keep. If you do not, they will send your mail back. Or, they may not give it to the person. It is key to know these rules. The TDOC has a policy on this. It is Policy 507.02 - Inmate Mail. You should read it.

How to Address Mail

You need the right facts on the front of your letter. Use this form: Inmate's Full Name (the name they had at the time of crime) TDOC ID Number Name of Prison P.O. Box or Street Address of Prison City, State, Zip Code

Example: Doe, John TDOC# 012345 Whiteville Correctional Facility P.O. Box 679 Whiteville, TN 38075

You must put your full name and home address on the mail too. If not, they will not give it. You can find the TOMIS ID and the name of the jail using the FOIL - Inmate Search. Then use the State Prisons List to get the jail's P.O. Box and full address.

What You Can Send

You can send letters. You can send some photos. No Polaroid photos. You can send clips from things like a newspaper. You can send checks or money orders that are from a bank. No cash. No personal checks. They will not take them. Do not send things like stamps. Or blank paper. Or food. Or things that have metal. The full list of what you can and cannot send is in the mail policy. Read it with care. Some things can be a crime to send to a jail. You do not want to get in trouble. Stick to the rules for safe mail.

Photographs must be from 4 inches by 6 inches up to 8 ½ inches by 11 inches. There is a limit of 10 photos per mail. Greeting cards are ok if they are from a store. They must be made of paper. No cards with batteries. No cards with things stuck on them. No cards that fold out too much. Cards can be no more than 5 inches by 7 inches. Do not use crayon. Or markers. Or glitter. Or perfume on your mail. This is a very strict rule. They will check all mail for drugs or other things not let in.

Sending Money to Inmates

People in TDOC jails have trust fund accounts. This is like a bank account in jail. They can use this money to buy things. Like stamps or snacks from the jail store. You can send money to a person in jail. TDOC uses an outside firm to deal with money. You cannot send money right to the jail. Or give it to them when you visit.

You must use JPay or ViaPath. These are the only ways. Do not use any other way. If someone asks you to send money a different way, tell TDOC. You can call the TDOC TIPS Hotline at 1-844-TDC-FIND. This is for the safety of all. More facts on how to send money are on the TDOC Frequently Asked Questions page. Look for "How do I send money to an offenders' trust fund account?"

You can also put money on an inmate's phone account. This is done through a site called ConnectNetwork. This lets them call people on their list. There are fees for this. All these ways to send money are safe. They post the funds fast. The inmate gets a note when they get money. This is a good way to help them.

Visitation Information

The TDOC thinks visits are good. They help people in jail keep ties with family and friends. This can help them do better when they get out. But visiting is a privilege, not a right. There are strict rules. You must know them and keep them. If not, you may not get to visit. Or they may stop your visit. Or you may lose your right to visit for good.

Application Process

All who want to visit must fill out a form. This is true for kids too. No one can visit if their form is not sent in and approved. You send the form to the jail where the person is. They should say yes or no in 30 days. The person in jail will be told if you are on the list or not. It is their job to tell you. You can find the Visitation Application (PDF) on the TDOC website. There are guides there too. They help you fill out the form for an adult. And for a child.

Scheduling a Visit

You cannot just show up. All visits are by appointment only. Once you are on the list, you call the jail. You ask to make a time to visit. Jails have visits on Saturday and Sunday. They also have one night in the week. This is for people who cannot come on the weekend. Each jail sets its own hours. The Warden makes these rules. Check the State Prison Visitation page for rules and links to jail contacts.

What to Expect During a Visit

There are many rules for when you are at the jail. These are for safety.

• No smoking or vaping on state land.

• No guns, knives, drugs, or alcohol.

• They may search your car.

• You must pass a scanner. This is like at an airport.

• You can only bring your ID and car keys in. For a baby, you can bring things like diapers and food. These must be in a clear bag.

• Leave your phone and wallet in your car. Lock your car.

• There are food machines in most visit rooms. They use a card you buy in the lobby.

• You must dress right. No bare skin on your chest or middle. No see-through clothes. No short skirts or shorts. No tank tops. No camouflage clothes. No shoes like flip-flops or shower shoes. No steel-toe boots. Each jail can have more rules on dress.

• Anything not allowed in is contraband. This is a big deal. If you try to bring it in, you can be put in jail. You could lose your right to visit for good.

Be sure to read the full TDOC visitation policy. It has all the rules. Know them so your visit goes well. It is good to check the jail's own web page or call them too. Sometimes, visits are put on hold. This can be for safety or health needs. It is wise to check right before you go.

Victim Services and Notification

If you are a victim of a crime, TN has help for you. You have rights. You can get word when things change with the person who hurt you. The TDOC Victim Services can help. Their phone is (615) 253-8145. Their email is Victim.Notification@tn.gov.

TN SAVIN (Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification)

One key tool is TN SAVIN. This is a free and secret way to get news. You can call them at (888) TNVINE1. That is (888) 868-4631. Or you can go to www.vinelink.com. This lets you check if a person is in jail. You can sign up to get a call or an email. This will tell you if the person:

• Dies in jail.

• Gets out of jail.

• Is moved to a new jail.

• Escapes from jail.

• Is put in a work release place.

This is for victims. But others can sign up too if they want to know. It works 24 hours a day, all year. This can give peace of mind to those who need it. Some counties also have their own VINE or SAVIN links. For example, Davidson County has info on their Sheriff's site at Victim Information Notification Service – Davidson County Sheriff. Shelby County also has a link for Victim Information & Notification Service.

Tennessee Public Records Act

The laws in TN say that most state, county, and town records are open to people. This is the Tennessee Public Records Act (Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503 et seq.). This means you can ask to see them. And you can ask for a copy. Public records are things like papers, maps, photos, and files on a computer. They are made or received by a state group as part of their job.

Only TN citizens have a right by law to ask for these. But a state group can choose to share with non-citizens too. You may need to show an ID with your address on it. Each state group must have rules for how you ask. The TDOC is a state group. So, its records are part of this law. But, some records are not open. The law says some things must be kept private. This can be for safety. Or for health care. Or if it is part of a case that is still in court. If you want old inmate files, you ask TDOC Records Management. Their phone is (615) 253-8079. They will tell you how to ask. You need to be clear about what you want. They do not have to sort through lots of files for you if your ask is too broad.