The Tennessee Department of Correction frequently offers tours of  correctional facilities to various groups and organizations.

NOTE:  In case of inclement weather, tours will not be held.  

To schedule a tour, identify the institution you would like to visit, and refer to the guidelines and scheduling information for that facility.

---

 

WEST TN	MIDDLE TN	EAST TN

• Brushy Mountain Correctional Complex
  

Brushy Mountain Correctional Complex offers prison tours to members of local law enforcement, school groups and various other community organizations.  Historical buffs can also tour a small museum located in front of the century old prison.

The museum was established in 1996, the year the prison celebrated its' 100th birthday.  Although small in size, it offers curiosity seekers an opportunity to view old record books, photos and articles written about the prison over the years, including those detailing the brief escape of the notorious James Earl Ray.

For more information on how to obtain a tour of the facility or museum, call Rhonda Armes at (423) 324-4011.

Interesting Facts:

- Brushy Mountain was built with stones mined on the property.
- An underground creek flows beneath the prison.
- The prison once housed a deer.

Click here for more information on Brushy Mountain Correctional Complex.

 

• Charles Bass Correctional Complex and Annex

Charles Bass Correctional Complex offers tours to college groups of up to 30.  Students must be accompanied by a minimum of three chaperones/sponsors.

Guidelines:

1. Sponsors for each tour group will be responsible for submitting an alphabetized list of individuals who plan to visit.  The list should be mailed or faxed to the institution at least two days prior to the tour in order for individuals to be processed through the checkpoint quickly.

2. Personal items such as purses, money, phones, beepers, nail clippers, etc. will not be allowed into the prison.  Photo ID's and car keys are the exception to this rule.  A photo ID is not required to enter.

3. Individuals entering the institution must meet the dress code.  All midriffs and torsos must be covered.  Sagging pants will not be permitted.  Shirts must have sleeves.  Dresses, split skirts and shorts must extend to the top of the knee.  Any revealing attire made of spandex, translucent or transparent material is considered inappropriate.  Clothing containing picture logos, slogans or vulgarity with be prohibited.  Overalls, suspenders and tank tops are prohibited.  Shoes must be worn.  Processing officers will check all individuals for Security Threat Group items.

4. Individuals entering the institution must clear the metal detector.  Shoes or boots that contain metal will not clear the metal detector and will have to be removed.  Excessive jewelry will also set off the metal detector.  All the above items will slow down the process of clearing checkpoint, which will, unfortunately, shorten the length of the tour.

For more information on scheduling a tour at CBCX, contact Dan Haskins at (615) 350-3361, ext. 1453.

CBCX, Site #2, also offers a Community Outreach Program called PASACT, or Prisoners Against Substance Abuse, Alcohol and Crime Totally.)

A group of six minimum-security inmates selected by the warden participate in this program.  The group speaks to various community and college groups about what led to their incarceration.  The talks generally focus on good decision making.

For more information on PASACT, call Joe Kpana-Quamoh at (615) 350-3361, ext. 2226.

Click here for more information on Charles Bass Correctional Complex.

 

• Lois M. DeBerry Special Needs Facility

Prisons are a mystery to most people.  Very few citizens have had any exposure to a prison environment other than what they have seen regarding incarceration through the movies and television.  Lois M. DeBerry Special Needs Facility offers tours of the facility to groups and community organizations in an effort to better illustrate the consequences of criminal behavior

For further information, contact the office of the Warden at (615) 350-2700, ext. 2741.

Click here for more information on Lois M. DeBerry Special Needs Facility.

 

• Mark H. Luttrell Correctional Center

"Keeping it Real"

Mark H. Luttrell Correctional Center has a program called "Keeping It Real", which allows individuals and groups to tour the prison and get a feel for prison life.  The group gets a first-hand look at the consequences that could result from those poor decisions.

Inmates share personal stories about how they were led to a life of crime.  Staffers and inmates are available to answer questions following the program, allowing groups to open up about their perceptions of inmates.

Each tour will be customized to fit the needs of your individual group.  Those groups can range in size from 1-25.

For more information on how to obtain a tour of the facility, contact:

Charles Banks, Deputy Warden
Mark Luttrell Correctional Center
6000 State Road
Memphis, Tennessee  38134
(901) 531-1800

Click here for more information on Mark H. Luttrell Correctional Center.

 

• Morgan County Correctional Complex

Morgan County Correctional Complex is located on the Cumberland Plateau approximately 50 miles northwest of Knoxville.

MCCX opened in September 1980 and was built to house 400 low risk offenders.  In 1983, an annex designed to house 120 minimum custody inmates was constructed.  In 1992, the facility was changed from a medium/close institution to a minimum custody institution.

The Tennessee Department of Correction and Bell Construction broke ground on a 1,428 bed expansion of MCCX on December 16, 2005.  The construction phase is expected to last three years with completion targeted for January 2009.  This will bring the total population capacity of MCCX to 2,441 and the facility custody designation of maximum.

MCCX offers a "Straight Talk" program designed to educate the public.  This program consists of a tour of the facility and a meeting with a select panel of inmates.  The panel describes the reality of life in prison and attempts to identify issues that lead people in the wrong direction if corrective action is not taken.  The public is allowed to take part in a question and answer session where the inmate panel addresses the facts and the myths of prison life.

This program is open to community groups including college groups, civic groups and church groups.

For guidelines and scheduling information, please contact Linda Griffith at (423) 346-6641, ext. 203.

Click here for more information on Morgan County Correctional Complex.

 

• Northeast Correctional Complex

Northeast Correctional Complex offers as many as two tours per week to college classes, community interest groups, Board of Probation & Parole, etc.

Groups are given a narrated tour of the institution followed by a brief question and answer session with inmates housed at the facility.

Sponsors for each tour group will be responsible for submitting an alphabetized list of individuals who plan to visit.  The list should be mailed or faxed to the institution prior to the tour in order for individuals to be processed through the checkpoint quickly and efficiently.  Photo identification is required.

The following guidelines have been set to better benefit a visit to NECX:

1. Pockets must be empty.  No weapons, pocketknives, billfolds, purses, cell phones, pagers, money, gum, etc. will be allowed inside the prison.  ID's and car keys are the exception to this rule.


 
2. NECX is a tobacco free facility.  Use of tobacco products is prohibited on state property.  All tobacco products must remain in the vehicle.

 
3. All individuals must be dressed appropriately.  Undergarments must be worn.  All midriffs and torsos must be covered.  Shirts must have sleeves.  Pants will be pulled up to fit with a belt if needed.  Slips must be worn with dresses/skirts and the dress/skirt must extend to the top of the knee.  All attire that is revealing, spandex, or is translucent is considered inappropriate.  Clothing with logos that contain pictures, slogans, profanity, or vulgarity is prohibited.  This includes any item the checkpoint officer associates with any Security Threat Group.  Overalls, suspenders, tank tops, spaghetti straps, and shorts are not allowed.  Camouflage clothing or accessories of any pattern or color are prohibited.  No stripes of any kind on pants or jeans.  No excessive jewelry.  Shoes must be worn.

 
4. All individuals entering the institution must clear the metal detector at checkpoint.  Shoes or boots containing metal will not clear the metal detector and must be removed.  Excessive jewelry is not allowed, as it will set off the metal detector.

 
5. All above guidelines must be followed or the process will be slowed at checkpoint which will, unfortunately, shorten the length of the tour.

For more information on scheduling a tour of NECX, contact the office of David A. Sexton, Associate Warden of Operations at (423) 727-7387 extension 217.

Click here for more information on Northeast Correctional Complex.

 

• Northwest Correctional Complex

Northwest Correctional Complex offers tours to college groups of up to 25.  At the completion of the tour, a group of inmates selected by the prison will provide information about their criminal history and discuss lessons they've learned from their experience.

Guidelines:

• A list of students and sponsors must be faxed to the facility prior to the tour.

• Students must be accompanied by a minimum of two sponsors.

• Personal items such as money, purses, phones, beepers, etc. must be left in the vehicle.

• Individuals must be pat searched and clear the metal detector at checkpoint before entering.

• Individuals entering the institution must meet the dress code.  All midriffs and torsos must be covered.  Sagging pants will not be permitted.  Shirts must have sleeves.  Dresses, split skirts and shorts must extend to the top of the knee.  Any revealing attire made of spandex, translucent or transparent material is considered inappropriate.  Clothing containing picture logos, slogans or vulgarity will be prohibited.  Overalls, suspenders and tank tops are prohibited.  Shoes must be worn.

• NWCX is a tobacco-free facility.  Use of tobacco products is prohibited on state property.  All tobacco products must remain in the vehicle.

For more information on scheduling a tour, call Charles Chadwick at (731) 253-5000, ext. 2850.

Click here for more information on Northwest Correctional Complex.

 

• Riverbend Maximum Security Institution

The following is a list of RMSI rules and regulations for members of groups touring Riverbend.

GROUP SIZE

High school groups will be limited to 25 students, accompanied by a minimum of three chaperones/sponsors.  College classes will be limited to 35 individuals, not including the instructor.  Students must be at least 16 years of age and not be under jurisdiction of a juvenile court.

Each group touring the institution should submit an alphabetized list of individuals who will be attending.  This will assist in processing the students through checkpoint.  The list should be mailed or faxed to (615) 350-3400 prior to the tour.  Picture ID's or social security numbers are not required.

The sponsor(s) of the tour will be responsible for providing each individual with a copy of the guidelines and individuals will be held responsible for adherence to the guidelines.

PERSONAL PROPERTY

A picture ID (driver's license, school ID, etc.) and car keys (if applicable) are the only personal property allowed to be brought into the institution.  All other personal items (purses, money, medications, billfolds, phones, beepers, gum, etc.) are restricted from entry.  Be advised that no drugs, alcohol or weapons are allowed on state property.  Vehicles are subject to search at any time.

DRESS CODE

All individuals entering the institution must be dressed appropriately.  Undergarments must be worn.  Midriffs and torsos must be covered.  Shirts must have sleeves.  Dresses, split skirts, and shorts must extend to the top of the knee.  Attire that is revealing, made of spandex, or is transparent or translucent is considered to be inappropriate.  Clothing with logos that contain pictures, slogans, or vulgarity, and any clothing determined by the processing officer to be associated with any Security Threat Group is inappropriate.  (Association may be made by color combination, designs, or logos affixed to the clothing or how the clothing is being worn.)  Camouflage attire, overalls, suspenders and tank tops are inappropriate.  Shoes must be worn.  NO FLIP FLOPS.

METAL DETECTOR

All individuals entering the institution must clear the metal detector at checkpoint.  Shoes or boots that contain metal will not clear the detector and will have to be removed.  Excessive metal jewelry may set off the detector.  Although these items are not prohibited, it is suggested that they not be worn because the time required for removing and replacing them will shorten your tour.

If you are interested in scheduling a tour, call Mary Dennis at (615) 350-3100, extension 3117.

Click here for more information on Riverbend Maximum Security Institution.

 

• Southeastern Tennessee State Regional Correctional Facility

STSRCF provides institutional tours for select school groups focusing on criminal justice, history and government issues.  An average tour begins with a briefing on what to expect during the tour, followed by a routine search.  The students are then divided into groups of 8-10 students, plus a chaperone.  An institutional tour guide will accompany each group during their stay at the prison.

The groups will visit selected areas of the institution including the education wing, prison industry, the dining hall and a housing unit.  Once the tour is completed, students return to the program area where they'll have an opportunity to ask questions of inmates being housed at the facility.

The tours average around three hours in length.  Currently, the facility offers roughly a dozen tours per year.

"Look at Me"

STSRCF also conducts the "Look at Me" program, which specifically targets area school students who have demonstrated poor behavior.  The program involves candid discussions with inmates and volunteers who can hopefully deter youths from continuing to display bad behavior.  This program lasts about two hours and is conducted approximately six times per year as requested by the school officials.

For information on how to schedule a tour, call (423) 881-3251.

Click here for more information on Southeastern Tennessee State Regional Correctional Facility.

 

• Tennessee Prison for Women

GROUP SIZE

The Tennessee Prison for Women offers tours to high school and college groups, not to exceed 25 people. Tours are offered Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Students must be at least 16 years old and accompanied by at least two chaperones.

A list of participants must be faxed to the facility (615) 253-5390 at least a week prior to the tour.

PERSONAL PROPERTY

All persons entering the facility shall be subject to search. State law prohibits weapons, alcohol, drugs and illegal contraband on state property (including the parking areas). Tour participants shall leave all personal items in their vehicles, with the exception of vehicle keys and one form of photo ID (preferred but not required for minors). No money, cell phones, pagers, etc., are allowed.

DRESS CODE

All persons, including minors, must be properly dressed. Anyone deemed to be inappropriately attired shall not be allowed to enter the facility. The following are general dress guidelines and may not cover all issues related to appropriate attire:

• Clothes shall fit well, and be neither extremely loose or snug.


• Shoes must be worn. Thongs, flip flops, and slides are not allowed.


• Shorts, skirts, and dresses must be no more than 3 inches above the knee. Any slits or splits in these garments must likewise be no more than 3 inches above the knee. Pants, shorts, etc., must be worn in the position intended (i.e., waistband at the waist).


• Spandex or other similar material, transparent/sheer materials, camouflage designs and gang symbols are not allowed.


• Shirts must have sleeves, be buttoned (if have buttons), and the shirt tail must come below the waist (may be tucked into pants). No chest or midriff/stomach exposure is allowed.


• Undergarments appropriate to gender must be worn.


• Tour participants may not wear excessive clothing, such as two pair of pants or an extra shirt under their top layer of clothing. A jacket or coat in cold weather is allowed.

For more information on scheduling a tour at TPFW, call Chantal Falavel Bishop at (615) 741-1255, extention 7289.