NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Prison for Women (TPFW) will now be known as the Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center. Governor Bill Lee signed Executive Order No. 56 renaming the women’s facility in honor of the TDOC Correctional Administrator who was killed in the line of duty one year ago.

HENNING –He was once named one of the FBI’s “10 Most Wanted Fugitives.” Now, a former prison escapee is back in Tennessee to serve the remainder of his sentence. Lohman Ray Mays, Jr, an habitual offender who escaped from the Turney Center Industrial Prison 36 years ago, was recaptured in Wyoming in 1985 and has since been serving a federal sentence for bank robbery.

PIKEVILLE – Six people have been arrested after a special operation by the Tennessee Department of Correction’s Office of Investigations & Conduct (OIC). TDOC special agents began apprehending individuals indicted by the Bledsoe County Grand Jury last week.

Nashville – August 7, 2020 will mark a somber anniversary for the Tennessee Department of Correction. It was on this day, one year ago, that our beloved Correctional Administrator Debra Johnson was killed in the line of duty.

NASHVILLE – The Department of Correction has taken a unique approach to reaching out to inmates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because visitation at all state prisons has been suspended since March, TDOC has partnered with the 4th Purpose Foundation to bring visitation back--via video messaging.

HENNING – Offering offenders opportunities and access to a second chance is an important part of what we do in TDOC. At the Women’s Therapeutic Residential Center (WTRC), women enrolled in the cosmetology program are not only thriving, but they are also learning to navigate new challenges in the age of COVID-19.

NASHVILLE – In accordance with state law, representatives from the following news media agencies have been selected to witness the execution of inmate Harold Nichols #146457.

NASHVILLE - Thanks to an agreement reached with Tennessee State University, the Department of Correction is expanding its large network of agricultural programs. On Monday, July 6, Commissioner Tony Parker signed an agreement that will allow land near the old Charles Bass Correctional Complex to be used in TSU’s agricultural sciences program.

HENNING – An arrest has been made after an internal investigation into a Correctional Officer’s attempt to introduce contraband into the West Tennessee State Penitentiary (WTSP).

NASHVILLE – In accordance with state law, the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) is now accepting applications from recognized Tennessee news organizations to serve as statutorily required witnesses for the scheduled execution of death row inmate Harold Nichols #146457.

Many parts of Tennessee are adjusting to a new normal in the age of COVID-19 and TDOC is no exemption. On Tuesday, some of the inmate work crews from the Turney Center Industrial Complex Annex in Wayne County resumed work, all while practicing safe social distancing protocol.

STATEWIDE – As the world continues to deal with the COVID-19 virus, the Tennessee Department of Correction offender population has stepped up to do its part to help Tennesseans across the state.

WARTBURG – An arrest has been made after an internal investigation into a scheme to introduce contraband into the Morgan County Correctional Complex (MCCX).

HENNING – At the West Tennessee State Penitentiary (WTSP) something special is growing behind the walls- a vegetable garden of hope. In Unit 5, offenders who are military Veterans, as well as men who participate in rehabilitation programming as mentors and Peer Support Specialists have a special incentive to supplement their recovery programs, by tending to the garden and enjoying the fruits of their labor.

HENNING – Earlier today the Tennessee Department of Correction welcomed new correctional officers into our workforce. The ceremony consisted of six Correctional Officers who will be serving our locations in West Tennessee at Northwest Correctional Complex (NWCX) in Tiptonville and West Tennessee State Penitentiary (WTSP) and Women’s Therapeutic Residential Community (WTRC) in Henning.