Putnam County TN Jail

The Putnam County Justice Center, opened in 1993, is a 133,795-square-foot facility that incorporates the Courthouse, Sheriff’s Office, and Putnam County Jail. The jail has a capacity of 500 beds, including approximately 32 beds for female inmates. Currently, it houses both sentenced and pretrial inmates arrested by local and state authorities, with an average inmate population of 400. Due to space constraints, additional female inmates are housed in other counties. The jail population is managed through indirect supervision.

The Jail operates under the direction of Major Tim Nash, Jail Administrator, and Capt. Phil Arms, Assistant Jail Administrator, with a total staff of 114 corrections and workhouse deputies. The facility houses an average of 100 state inmates, with the remainder of the population consisting of pretrial and sentenced county inmates. Inmates are processed by various local law enforcement agencies, including the City of Cookeville, Algood Police Department, Baxter Police Department, Monterey Police Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol, and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency within Putnam County.

Revenue for the facility is generated from housing state inmates and juvenile offenders, the inmate phone system, commissary sales, and a medical co-pay system, which help offset the budget. All persons arrested and processed at the Putnam County Jail are fingerprinted using a LiveScan Fingerprint system, which produces forensic-quality fingerprint records by electronically scanning and capturing live fingerprints. This system consistently produces clear, classifiable fingerprints of higher quality than traditional inked prints, which are subject to smudging, smearing, and over or under-inking during the rolling process.

Following the intake process, which includes property inventory, medical screening, and booking, inmates are assigned to the general population. Housing assignments are based on the classification of their charges, whether felony or misdemeanor, to ensure proper management and safety within the facility.

After processing, inmates are assigned to a housing area based on classification. Compliance with jail rules typically results in a lower classification and more privileges, while rule violations or additional charges lead to a higher classification and fewer privileges. Inmates serving as trustees within the jail undertake various tasks, including cooking, laundry, and commissary management, often receiving minimal compensation or sentence reduction for their services.

The jail offers a phone program for outbound calls only, with inmates unable to receive incoming calls. Accepting collect calls can be expensive, sometimes exceeding $10 per call. Alternatively, setting up an account through a third-party phone company may entail high fees per minute of usage. Click here for discounts on inmate calls, especially if the communication with your inmate is frequent. It's important to remember that all phone calls are recorded, and discussing sensitive legal matters over these lines is discouraged.

Books and magazines ordered for inmates must come directly from the publisher. This policy ensures that the items are new, untampered, and comply with the facility's regulations. The Jail enforces this rule to prevent the introduction of contraband or prohibited materials. By restricting orders to publishers, the facility can better maintain security and control over the content entering the institution. Any books or magazines not received directly from the publisher will be rejected and not delivered to the inmate. You may, however, send letters and selfies to inmates with this easy-to-use app, packages starting at only $8.00.

The Putnam County Jail offers a variety of programs to support inmate rehabilitation and development. These programs include the Trustees Program, which provides work crews for both male and female inmates, and the GED Program, which offers educational opportunities for inmates to earn their General Education Development (GED) certificate. Additionally, God's Jail Ministry, a faith-based group comprised of members from local area churches, is available to inmates. The Celebrate Recovery program teaches life skills and coping mechanisms for life outside of jail. Furthermore, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous treatment programs support inmates in overcoming substance abuse issues. Lastly, parenting classes provided through Tennessee Voices for Children aim to help inmates develop better parenting skills.

Inmate workers are chosen based on conduct and cooperation with staff. Participation in the community service program can sometimes reduce sentences. Commissary is available weekly, with orders submitted via kiosk two days in advance. On holidays, there may be increased spending limits. Upon receiving commissary items, inmates must present their ID, check their order, and sign for it in the presence of the commissary employee. Indigent inmates are provided with all essential basic hygiene items including USPS stamps and writing materials.