| Location | Nashville, Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Status | Operational |
| Capacity | 736 |
| Opened | 1989 |
| Managed by | Tennessee Department of Correction |
| Director | Roland Colson, Warden |
Riverbend Maximum Security Institution is a prison in Nashville, Tennessee, operated by the Tennessee Department of Correction. The prison opened in 1989 and replaced its 100 year-old neighbor, the Tennessee State Penitentiary. Even today, it is billed as one of the state's most high-tech facilities. RMSI, which is made up by 20 different buildings, sits on 132 acres (0.53 km2) located off Cockrill Bend Boulevard in Nashville, TN. Riverbend's designated capacity is 736 offenders. Of that number, 480 are classified as high risk.
The prison's overall mission is to ensure the safety of the public, departmental employees and inmates by managing high-risk male offenders. Warden Colson oversees a staff of nearly 400 people, including administrative workers, correctional officers, unit managers and medical personnel.
Education programs at the prison include GED and Adult Basic Education. There are also vocational classes available for printing, commercial cleaning, industrial maintenance, cabinet making/millwork and computer information systems. TRICOR, the prison industry, also manages a data entry plant and print shop at the prison. Inmates not involved in academic vocation, or industry programs are required to work in support service roles throughout the facility.
Most male death row prisoners live at Riverbend.[1] The State's Electric Chair & Lethal Injection gurney are located at Riverbend. On September 12, 2007 at 1:00 am, Daryl Holton was executed in the Electric Chair. This was the first execution by the Electric Chair in Tennessee since 1960.