Maximum security (men) · State Prison · TDOC

Morgan County Correctional Complex

Wartburg, Morgan County, Tennessee

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (423) 346-1300 Info last verified: June 2026

A maximum-security prison for men in Wartburg, in East Tennessee — the complex expanded in 2009 and took on the population of the former Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary.

Statewide rules that apply at every Tennessee state prison

These rules are set by TDOC and apply at every unit. The full list — including all permitted and prohibited items and the approval process — is in Visiting in Tennessee.

Dress code

No spandex or transparent or translucent clothing; no sleeveless shirts or tops that expose the chest, midriff, or back; and no camouflage clothing or bandanas.
No flip-flops, shower shoes, or steel-toed shoes, and no excessive jewelry — dress in plain, modest clothing, since a visitor who arrives dressed out of code may be turned away.

ID: Every visitor, regardless of age, must have an approved visitor application on file before visiting — there is no walk-on visiting, and applications take about 30 days to process. Adult visitors must show a government-issued photo ID.
What to bring: Bring only a photo ID and your car keys or key fob inside — phones, wallets, purses, and smart watches stay in the vehicle. Baby items (diapers and sealed formula or food) are allowed in a clear plastic bag. Money for the person is sent only through JPay or ViaPath, never handed over at a visit.
Scheduling: Each prison sets its own visiting days, hours, and limits, and visits are arranged with the specific facility — Tennessee has no statewide online visit scheduler — so confirm the schedule before traveling. A newly sentenced person is held at a reception center (Bledsoe County for men, the Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center for women) until classification, then transfers to a permanent prison.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in Tennessee

Overview

Morgan County Correctional Complex, on Wayne Cotton Morgan Drive in Wartburg, is a maximum-security prison for men in East Tennessee; the complex spans minimum to maximum security and holds about 2,100 men. The site has operated since around 1980 (the exact year is approximate). The complex expanded in 2009, taking on the population of the former Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary when that prison closed. Because of its security level, visiting and movement at Morgan County can be more controlled than at lower-security prisons, and arrangements vary by housing unit.

What Makes Morgan County Different

It took on the population of the former Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary when the complex expanded in 2009 and that prison closed.
It is a maximum-security facility, so visiting, movement, and property are more restricted than at lower-security prisons, though the complex spans minimum to maximum security.
Visiting for men in maximum-security housing may differ from general population — confirm the person’s housing and visit type.
It is in Wartburg, in East Tennessee, in a rural area of Morgan County.

Visiting

The statewide TDOC rules above — the approved visitor list, the dress code, ID, and item limits — apply at the Morgan County Correctional Complex. The facility’s own arrangements:

The full approval process is in Visiting in Tennessee.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is in Wartburg, in Morgan County.

Distances are approximate, based on map routing. Visitor parking is on site.

Nearby Services

Wartburg has no in-town hospital. The nearest 24-hour emergency room is Roane Medical Center in Harriman, about 25 miles away. Oak Ridge and Knoxville, roughly 30 to 40 miles away, have the fuller range of gas, food, and lodging.

Mail

Personal mail does not go to the prison. Since November 2025, Tennessee routes incoming letters, cards, and photos to an off-site digital-mail center, where they are scanned and delivered to the person’s tablet; address them to [facility name], [person’s name], TDOC ID# [number], P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131, with “TDOC ID#” immediately before the number. Mail sent directly to the prison is returned. Legal mail still goes directly to the institution. Full rules are in Mail & Packages.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone in a Tennessee state prison:

Visiting in Tennessee — the approved list, dress code, and how visits are scheduled
Mail & Packages — the off-site digital-mail center and what still goes to the prison
Phone & Video Calls — ViaPath calls, tablets, and facility video visits
Sending Money — depositing through JPay or ViaPath
Medical & Mental Health — sick call, the co-pay, and grievances
Transfers & Finding Someone — reception, classification, and the locator

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.