U.S. inmate mail guides

Tennessee inmate mail

Send a letter to an inmate in Tennessee

Confirm the Tennessee prison name and TDOC ID, then write online. PieterPost already has the official TextBehind address and prints, addresses, stamps, and mails your physical letter.

Write my Tennessee inmate letter
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Tennessee state-prison addresses

Use the Tennessee TextBehind address

Tennessee’s statewide TextBehind route took effect November 3, 2025. All routine personal letters share the Phoenix box, but the full current prison name is required as the first line.

Some special populations or mail categories may use another route. The current TDOC mail FAQ controls.

TDOC personal mail through TextBehind

[Full name of prison][Inmate first and last name]TDOC ID #[number]P.O. Box 247Phoenix, MD 21131
Start a letter

Three simple steps

How to send a letter to an inmate in Tennessee

Add the inmate's name and TDOC ID number. We already know the official statewide personal-mail address.

  1. 1Enter their name and TDOC ID number
  2. 2Write and review your message
  3. 3We print, stamp, and mail it

Current Tennessee guidance

Helpful inmate-mail rules

Letter length
No universal page limit is published; keep mail flat and scan-ready and check before an unusually long letter
Letter format
Use plain readable paper with the full prison name, recipient’s first and last name, and TDOC ID number
Envelope and address
Use the Phoenix processing box, include a full return name and address, and keep one recipient per envelope
How it arrives
TextBehind scans accepted mail for tablet delivery; a facility alternative may be used when tablet access is unavailable

Items that need another approved route

PieterPost is for ordinary written letters. To help avoid a mailroom rejection, do not add these items to the envelope:

  • Irreplaceable originals or material whose physical return is essential
  • Faint pages, glued layers, loose objects, or decorative additions
  • Oversized, musical, electronic, pop-up, padded, or layered cards
  • More than one recipient’s correspondence in the same envelope
Write my Tennessee inmate letter

PieterPost takes care of the rest

You only need to write your message

No printer, paper, envelope, stamp, or trip to the post office. We prepare and mail the physical letter for you.

  • Write your letter online from any device
  • Check the finished letter before paying
  • We format and print it for the facility
  • We address, stamp, and mail the envelope

Tennessee local jail directory

Looking for a county or city jail?

This guide covers people in Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) custody. County and city jails use their own addresses, which you can find on the map.

Is the person in federal prison?

Search the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator and continue with the federal letter flow.

Search federal inmates

Common questions

How do I send a letter to an inmate in Tennessee?

Confirm the TDOC ID number and full prison name, then use the TextBehind P.O. box in Phoenix, Maryland. Write online and PieterPost will format, print, add the envelope and postage, and mail your physical letter.

Which address should I use for Tennessee inmate mail?

Use P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131 for routine personal correspondence. Put the full prison name first, followed by the incarcerated person’s first and last name and the exact TDOC ID line.

How do I find the TDOC ID number and prison?

Use Tennessee’s Felony Offender Information Lookup to confirm the TDOC ID number and current prison. Spell out the complete facility name because every routine letter shares the same processor box.

How does Tennessee deliver a personal letter?

Since November 3, 2025, TextBehind has scanned approved mail for digital access on the recipient’s tablet. A facility alternative may be used without tablet access, but the physical original is not delivered.

Does this guide apply to local or federal facilities?

No. This guide covers adults in TDOC state prisons. County jails, federal facilities, juvenile custody, immigration detention, and special populations or mail categories can use different routes.