TN.gov Newsroom

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Correction will carry out capital punishment sentences at a new time beginning June 1, 2010.  In the past, sentences of death have been executed at 1:00 a.m. in order to give the department enough time to proceed on the scheduled date and to minimize interference with institutional operations.  For executions set on or after June 1, 2010, the process will begin at 10:00 p.m.

NASHVILLE -  Commissioner Gayle Ray will be available Monday afternoon to discuss modifications to the schedule for carrying out execution orders in Tennessee.

NASHVILLE - Warden David Mills has been named Deputy Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Correction.  Mills currently serves as Warden of the Morgan County Correctional Complex in Wartburg, Tennessee.

NASHVILLE - An email transmission that is being circulated with claims of recent gang activity cannot be supported by current Department of Correction intelligence.  The email appears to have been forwarded by a department employee but is not an official TDOC statement.  The email states that gang members are using a new method to target women that involves sitting a baby car seat on the side of a road and attacking women as they approach.

NASHVILLE - The death sentence of Cecil Johnson was executed by means of lethal injection on December 2, 2009 in accordance with the laws of the state of Tennessee.  The sentence was carried out at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville.  Johnson was pronounced dead by a physician at 1:34 a.m. CDT.

CLIFTON - Two Department of Correction inmates will face additional charges involving escape and burglary.  The inmates were housed at the Turney Center Industrial Complex-Annex in Clifton, Tennessee when they broke out of their cell and burglarized a local convenience store.  The inmates broke out a window in their cell on November 7, 2009 and stole cigarettes and tobacco products from the store.

WARTBURG - The death of an inmate at the Morgan County Correctional Complex is being investigated as an apparent suicide.  Inmate Michael Sean Allen was found dead in his cell at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, October 26. The official cause of death is pending the results of an autopsy.

NASHVILLE - In accordance with state law, the Department of Correction is now accepting applications from recognized news organizations to serve as statutorily required witnesses for the scheduled execution of death row inmate Cecil C. Johnson, Jr.  The execution is currently scheduled for 1 a.m. CST on December 2, 2009.

NASHVILLE - A group of inmates at the Tennessee Prison for Women are lending a hand in the fight against breast cancer.  More than 150 inmates will take part in a 5K walk to help raise money for the American Cancer Society.  The event, at the prison track, will coincide with the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk this Saturday at LP Field.

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Correction is taking steps to protect staff and inmates from spread of the H1N1 virus.  Each prison facility is on high alert for signs and symptoms of both the seasonal flu and H1N1.  Prison clinics are enforcing ongoing monitoring of the offender population and staff.  As vaccines become available, they will be provided to both groups.