NASHVILLE - The more than 5,000 Department of Correction employees who work in the state's prisons are being honored for helping to maintain public safety.

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam has proclaimed May 6-12, 2012 as Correctional Professionals Week in Tennessee.  By maintaining custody and control of more than 20,000 inmates, Tennessee's correctional professionals are required to co-exist and work with inmates, while encouraging them to develop the necessary skills to become productive citizens.

NASHVILLE - The Department of Correction is investigating an incident at the Turney Center Industrial Prison in Hickman County in which two officers and two inmates were injured.

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Correction have foiled a plan to break the lone female death row inmate out of the Tennessee Prison for Women and arrested the individuals involved in the escape plot.  Today, 36-year-old Christa Gail Pike remains behind bars and two others have been charged with planning her escape from prison.

MEMPHIS - An attempt to smuggle contraband into a state prison has been foiled by the Department of Correction's Office of Investigations and Compliance.  Two Memphis residents have been arrested after trying to mail cell phones, drugs and tobacco into the Hardeman County Correctional Facility in Whiteville.  The contraband items were intercepted at the prison's sally port.

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Correction will hold a series of career fairs this month in anticipation of the January 2013 opening of the new Bledsoe County Correctional Complex.  More than 400 employees are needed to fill positions including teacher, correctional officer, maintenance, food service, counselor, medical and clerical. 

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) is committed to serving the interests of crime victims while promoting public safety.  As a reminder, victims of crime or their families can register with the TDOC if they want to be notified of changes in an offender's status.

Multi-year action plan resulting from collaboration of 11 state agencies

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced a comprehensive, multi-year action plan designed to improve public safety statewide. 

The Governor’s Public Safety Subcabinet Working Group, which includes commissioners and representatives from 11 state agencies, submitted the plan after months of meetings with more than 300 public safety professionals and stakeholders across the state.

WARTBURG - Commissioner Derrick Schofield has announced the appointment of John "Tony" Howerton to the position of Warden at the Morgan County Correctional Complex, effective January 9, 2012.

NASHVILLE - Correctional Professionals from around the world will gather in Nashville next week for the International Association of Correctional Training Personnel Conference (IACTP).  The event will bring more than 60 trainers, training administrators and educators representing all aspects of adult and juvenile justice to Tennessee.

NASHVILLE - Commissioner Derrick Schofield announced today the closure of the Charles Bass Correctional Complex - Annex.  While the decision to close the facility happened quickly, the planning for this contingency has been well underway as part of the agency's top to bottom review.