TN.gov Newsroom

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -An inmate who escaped from TDOC custody on June 10, 2008 has been arrested. Yolanda Denise Barefield walked away from a work detail at the Rachel Jackson Building in downtown Nashville Monday evening. She was arrested by Metro Nashville Police Wednesday afternoon while walking along a Nashville street.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Department of Correction is asking for the public’s help in locating an inmate who escaped TDOC custody Monday evening.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The oldest inmate on Tennessee’s death row has died of apparent natural causes. Richard Austin was found dead in his cell at the DeBerry Special Needs Facility in Nashville on Saturday, June 7. 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -What may be the central reason most people commit crimes is also one of the more difficult problems to solve. Nearly two-thirds of the nation’s prison population can trace their criminal activity to drug and/or alcohol addiction.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - An effort to reduce recidivism and save taxpayer money is getting a boost in several Tennessee prisons this week.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -An inmate who escaped from the Department of Correction in 1994 is back in prison. Floyd J. Swayney was captured Wednesday, May 28 at a residence in Knoxville.

 TULLAHOMA, Tenn. - The Department of Correction will conduct an emergency management exercise at the Tennessee Correction Academy (TCA) in Tullahoma on Wednesday, May 7.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - What happens when an offender is released from prison depends greatly on how the public reacts to him or her.  Currently, more than 4,000 Tennesseans volunteer their time to work with inmates in state prisons.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - In an effort to improve the public safety of all Tennesseans, the Department of Correction has launched the first of its kind program to provide the skills offenders need to live successful, productive lives.  “There are many reasons ex-offenders end up returning to prison,” said TDOC Assistant Commissioner Jim Cosby.  “The problems they face upon release range from lack of access to housing and employment, angry and unwelcoming families and communities and the offender’s own pro-criminal attitude.” 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A partnership between the Department of Correction, Middle Tennessee State University and the Great Books Foundation is allowing inmates at three Tennessee prisons to take part in regular discussions of great books.  The program, entitled Great Books in Middle Tennessee Prisons, is currently underway at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution, the Lois M. DeBerry Special Needs Facility and the Tennessee Prison for Women.