Maximum security (men) — Tennessee's death row for men and the state execution chamber · State Prison · TDOC

Riverbend Maximum Security Institution

Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (615) 350-3100 Info last verified: June 2026

Tennessee's maximum-security prison for men, in Nashville — it houses the state's death row for men and the execution chamber, alongside a general-population maximum-security population.

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

Riverbend Maximum Security Institution, on Cockrill Bend Boulevard in Nashville, is a maximum-security prison for men. It houses Tennessee’s death row for men and the state’s execution chamber, alongside a general-population maximum-security population. It opened in 1989 and holds about 786 men. Because of its security level and mission, visiting and movement at Riverbend can be more controlled than at lower-security prisons, and arrangements vary by housing unit.

What Makes Riverbend Different

It houses Tennessee’s death row for men and the state’s execution chamber.
It is a maximum-security facility, so visiting, movement, and property are more restricted than at lower-security prisons.
Some housing has non-contact visits, which differ from general-population contact visits — confirm the person’s housing and visit type.
It is in the Cockrill Bend area of west Nashville, near the state’s other Nashville prisons.

Visiting

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

The full approval process is in Visiting in Tennessee.

Getting There and Parking

The prison is on Cockrill Bend Boulevard in west Nashville.

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

Nearby Services

Nashville has the full range of gas, food, and lodging. The nearest 24-hour emergency rooms are Nashville General Hospital and TriStar Skyline Medical Center, both within the Nashville metro; Ascension Saint Thomas West is another option.

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.