West Tennessee State Penitentiary (WTSP) is a maximum, medium, and minimum security prison located in Henning, Tennessee. The facility is operated by the Tennessee Department of Correction and has a capacity of 1,082 inmates. The prison is divided into two sites, with Site 1 housing the Women’s Therapeutic Residential Center and Site 2 functioning as a time-building prison.
WTSP is responsible for managing adult male offenders who have been classified as maximum, medium, and minimum custody. The prison’s mission is to serve the public by providing a safe, secure, and humane environment for both inmates and staff. The facility offers a variety of programs and services designed to help offenders successfully re-enter society upon their release, including educational and vocational training, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services.
The Women’s Therapeutic Residential Center, located at Site 1, is a highly structured environment that serves female offenders. The program is designed to provide a modified therapeutic residential community behavioral model that emphasizes peer interaction mediated through a variety of group processes as the medium for change.
The center offers a range of services, including substance abuse treatment, mental health services, vocational training, and educational programming, to help women offenders successfully transition back into their communities.
| Security | Mixed |
| Capacity | 1,082 |
| Physical Address | 480 Green Chapel Road Henning, Tennessee 38041-1150 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 1150 Henning, Tennessee 38041-1150 |
| Can You Send Gifts? | No |
| Visitation Hours | Monday: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Saturday and Sunday: 8:00 am – 3:00 pm |
| Dress Code | Yes |
| Phone Number | (731) 738-5044 |
| Jurisdiction | State |
Location
West Tennessee State Penitentiary is located in Henning, Tennessee, on Green Chapel Road in Lauderdale County. The prison’s physical address is 480 Green Chapel Road, Henning, Tennessee 38041-1150.
History
WTSP was established in 1990 and is one of the 14 state prisons operated by the Tennessee Department of Correction. The prison’s mission is to manage adult male offenders classified as maximum, medium, and minimum custody.
The location of WTSP was chosen due to its proximity to Memphis, which is a major city in Tennessee. The prison is situated on a 1,600-acre site and has a capacity of 1,082 inmates. The prison’s design is unique, with a central control tower and six housing units radiating out from it.
The prison is surrounded by a double fence, with razor wire on the top, to ensure maximum security. The perimeter is also equipped with electronic detection systems and a 24-hour armed patrol.
In conclusion, WTSP is located in Henning, Tennessee, on Green Chapel Road in Lauderdale County. The prison was established in 1990 and has a unique design with a central control tower and six housing units radiating out from it. The prison’s location was chosen due to its proximity to Memphis, and it has a capacity of approximately 2,400 inmates.
Facilities
West Tennessee State Penitentiary is a time-building prison with a mission to serve the public by managing adult male offenders classified as maximum, medium, and minimum custody. The facility provides a secure environment along with educational and vocational opportunities.
Security Levels
WTSP provides a Security Management Unit (SMU) program for close custody offenders. The facility also houses a Cold Creek Correctional Facility, a West Tennessee High-Security Facility, and a Women’s Therapeutic Center. The security levels range from minimum to maximum, with the latter being reserved for the most dangerous offenders.
Programs and Services
WTSP provides educational and vocational programs to help inmates prepare for life after release. These programs include HiSET, adult basic education, college correspondence courses, microcomputer technology class, HVAC, small engines, TRICOR operations, farming, and a textile plant. Additionally, the facility offers substance abuse treatment programs for inmates struggling with alcohol and drug addiction.
Visitation
Visitation at WTSP requires filling out a visitation form in its entirety to be placed on an offender’s list. Applications are processed on a regular basis at each facility, but at least quarterly. When visiting a TDOC prison, vehicles must be secured in the parking lot. Secured includes all doors locked and all windows rolled completely up.
Inmate Information
Inmate Search
Friends and family members of inmates at West Tennessee State Penitentiary can use the Tennessee Felony Offender Information website to search for information about an inmate. The website provides information such as the inmate’s current status, location, photo, and active sentences. To search for an inmate, visitors can enter the inmate’s name or TDOC number on the website’s search page. The website also offers a mobile application called MyTN that can be downloaded for free.
Inmate Correspondence
Inmates at West Tennessee State Penitentiary are allowed to receive mail from friends and family members. All incoming mail must be addressed to the inmate and include the inmate’s ID number. Inmates are not allowed to receive packages or envelopes that have been tampered with or contain contraband. Visitors are encouraged to review the facility’s mail rules before sending any mail to an inmate.
ID Number
Each inmate at West Tennessee State Penitentiary is assigned a unique ID number. This number is used to identify the inmate in all official records and communications. Visitors must include the inmate’s ID number in all correspondence and when using the Tennessee Felony Offender Information website to search for an inmate.
West Tennessee State Penitentiary is a time-building prison that manages adult male offenders classified as maximum, medium, and minimum custody. The facility provides a secure environment along with educational and vocational opportunities for inmates.