TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Oct 17, 2025

Beginning Nov. 3, the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) will transition from physical mail to scanned, digitized personal mail for inmates at all department facilities. Mail from family and friends will be sent to an off-site facility, where it will be processed, scanned and delivered in digital format to inmates via their department-issued tablets. The new process aims to reduce contraband and increase security while providing faster, more reliable mail delivery to inmates, the Tennessee Tribune reports. Privileged mail from attorneys, court clerks, legal aid clinics, government officials or agencies will not be affected and will continue to be sent directly to the facility where the inmate is housed. Privileged mail sent to the scanning facility will be forwarded, and outgoing inmate mail will not be affected. TDOC implemented a pilot program of the new system in June at three facilities.