NASHVILLE – Last night, 12 inmates graduated from the Highway Construction Technician Certification Program at DeBerry Special Needs Facility (DSNF). This program is the result of a partnership between the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).

NASHVILLE – Effective facility and staff supervision by Riverbend Maximum Security Institution Warden Tony Mays resulted in the arrest of a correctional officer. Officer Randall McLendon was arrested by the Metro Nashville Police Department for sexual exploitation of a minor.

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 - On Monday, January 1, 2018 Riverbend Maximum Security Institution lost hot water pressure causing the facility's boiler to go offline. Emergency procedures were put in place to maintain the living and work environment. These procedures include the distribution of additional blankets and the installation of portable/temporary heating units.

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.