How to Contact an Inmate at Lois M De Berry Facility, TN (TN)

Lois M. DeBerry Facility follows Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) phone rules. You cannot call an inmate directly. Instead, inmates place outgoing calls through ConnectNetwork (powered by GTL), the telephone platform used across TDOC facilities. Your job is to get your side set up so you can receive and pay for those calls when they come through.

There's one exception for urgent situations. In a family emergency, TDOC instructs families to contact the facility chaplain. The chaplain may facilitate a phone call for the inmate when necessary. Use this route when you can't wait for a regular outbound call.

Want face-to-face contact? Plan on getting approved before you show up. TDOC requires visitors to submit a Visitation Application (CR-2152) and receive approval before being admitted. There's an exception for immediate family visitors of newly committed inmates, but if you're not sure it applies to you, assume you need to apply first. Don't waste a trip.

Steps to Follow

• ✓ Plan for inmate-initiated calls only. TDOC does not permit inbound telephone calls to inmates.
• ✓ Use the correct platform. TDOC facilities use ConnectNetwork (powered by GTL) as the primary telephone system.
• ✓ Budget by the minute. The ConnectNetwork per-minute rate decreased to $0.075 (7.5 cents) effective July 1, 2024, so check the current rate before funding an account or expecting frequent, long calls.

1. Call the facility and ask for the chaplain. For family emergencies, TDOC’s guidance is to contact the facility chaplain.
2. Explain the emergency clearly. Share who you are, who the inmate is, and what has happened so staff can understand the urgency.
3. Request a facilitated call if needed. The chaplain may facilitate a phone call for the inmate when necessary.

• ✓ Submit the Visitation Application (CR-2152) and wait for approval before you go, unless you are immediate family visiting a newly committed inmate.
• ✓ Include a current photograph with your CR-2152. Applications are also subject to an NCIC background check.
• ✓ Renew as required. Approved visitation applications must be updated every 24 months.
• ✓ Expect multiple security screenings, including a body scanner.
• ✓ Bring only what is allowed into the visitation area: your photo ID and your car keys or key fob.
• ✓ Leave everything else secured in your vehicle, including phones, smart watches, wallets, and similar items.

Before you rely on a phone plan, confirm the current setup for Lois M. DeBerry Facility. TDOC's rule is clear: inbound calls to inmates are not permitted, and inmates use ConnectNetwork (powered by GTL) for outgoing calls. Still, verify the current per-minute rate and any day-to-day restrictions that might affect your loved one's ability to place calls. Pricing and operational details can change.

• ✓ Whether you must submit CR-2152 before visiting, or whether the immediate-family exception for newly committed inmates applies in your situation
• ✓ What counts as a “current photograph” for the CR-2152 application, so your paperwork is not delayed
• ✓ Confirmation that visitor applicants are subject to an NCIC background check, so you know what to expect
• ✓ When your approval expires and how the 24-month update rule is handled
• ✓ Exactly what you can carry into the visitation area (TDOC states photo ID and car keys/key fob only) and what must stay in your vehicle

Emergency procedures work best when you know who to call before you need to. If you think you may have to report a family emergency, verify the current process for reaching the facility chaplain ahead of time. Find out what information staff need from you so the chaplain can decide whether a facilitated call is appropriate.