JOHNSON CITY – The Tennessee Department of Correction Day Reporting Center (DRC) in Johnson City held its ninth graduation last night, marking the completion of the program for four clients. The graduates have maintained their sobriety for over a year and have completed all three phases of the intensive, substance abuse treatment.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) Commissioner Tony Parker will travel to Washington, DC next month to take part in a meeting with officials from the Federal Communications Commission. This meeting is the result of a letter of congressional support regarding efforts to reduce contraband in penal facilities.

WARTBURG – Tennessee Department of Correction security staff at Morgan County Correctional Complex have uncovered an attempt to introduce contraband into the facility by inmate Robert Fusco #455473. While the investigation is ongoing, the Department has collected evidence that Fusco – who was a minimum security inmate - breached the secure perimeter of the facility.

HENNING – Monday afternoon Governor Bill Haslam announced a groundbreaking initiative aimed at combatting opioid abuse in Tennessee. This initiative, which is called TN Together, brings together all arms of the government and the community to help eradicate this substance abuse issue that is plaguing many communities throughout the state.

Knoxville – Female Offenders at the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex (BCCX) recently completed a project in support of an American Heart Association (AHA) program. The offenders donated over 200 hand-crocheted hats for newborn babies for the AHA’s Little Hats, Big Hearts initiative.

Cookeville – A sex offender attempting to flee the state was apprehended in Cookeville, TN thanks to the diligence of Probation Parole Officers with the Tennessee Department of Correction’s Program Specialized Unit (PSU) and the department’s strong partnerships with local law enforcement. The offender had made plans to flee Hawkins County, Tennessee for Salt Lake City, Utah.

Orlando, FL - The Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) is pleased to announce that two Tennessee facilities have received American Correctional Association (ACA) accreditation. The Mark Luttrell Transition Center in Memphis and the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex in Pikeville both earned ACA’s stamp of approval at the 2018 Winter Conference in Orlando.

NASHVILLE - It is with great pride and excitement the Tennessee Department of Correction announces that two correctional officers have been awarded the American Correctional Association’s 2018 Medal of Valor.

All of Riverbend Maximum Security Institution is back up & running with boiler-produced hot water and heat.

NASHVILLE - Nearly all of Riverbend Maximum Security Institution is back up and running with boiler-produced hot water and heat. The entire facility is expected to return to boiler-produced heat within the next 24 hours.

NASHVILLE - A portion of Riverbend Maximum Security Institution is back up and running with boiler-produced hot water and heat. The portable units will be taken offline as the boiler-produced heat takes over. At this time it appears that a valve malfunction was responsible for the loss of pressure. The Department expects that the entire facility will be back on boiler-produce in the next 48 hours.

NASHVILLE – Earlier this week, the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) held a Winter Commencement Ceremony for 23 inmates at the Lois M. DeBerry Special Needs Facility (DSNF) in Nashville, Tennessee.

HENNING- This week, staff and offenders from West Tennessee State Penitentiary (WTSP) in Henning worked together to bring some holiday spirit to several West Tennessee nursing homes. Offenders in the leatherwork program at WTSP hand crafted dozens of individual treat bags out of leather, which staff filled with candy and mints.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Correction’s Central Office staff took time out of their annual service awards program to spread a little holiday cheer to those in need. TDOC collected more than 500 canned goods and a monetary donation for the local nonprofit The Little Pantry That Could.

NASHVILLE – This morning the Tennessee Department of Correction had the opportunity to present the Department’s response to a recent audit before the Joint Subcommittee of Government Operations. We are pleased with the members’ decision to re-certify the Department and proud to share the excellent work of the more than 6,500 correctional professionals across the state.