Riverbend Maximum Security Institution

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Riverbend Maximum Security Institution
Riverbend Maximum Security Institution
Location Nashville, Tennessee
Coordinates 36°11′22″N86°54′14″W / 36.18944°N 86.90389°W / 36.18944; -86.90389
StatusOperational
Security classSupermax
Capacity714
Opened1989
Managed by Tennessee Department of Correction
Warden Zac Pounds

The Riverbend Maximum Security Institution (RMSI) 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. RMSI, which is made up by 20 different buildings, sits on 132 acres (0.53 km2) located off Cockrill Bend Boulevard in Nashville. Riverbend's designated capacity is 714 offenders. Of that number, 480 are classified as high risk.

Contents

The prison's overall mission is to ensure the safety of the public, departmental employees and inmates by managing high-risk male offenders. The Warden 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.

Male death row prisoners live at Riverbend. [1] The state's electric chair and lethal injection gurney are located at Riverbend.

Notable prisoners

Inmate NameRegister NumberStatusDetails
Michael Lee Cummins00595912 / 3559843Serving 8 life sentences without the possibility of parole.Perpetrator of the 2019 Sumner County murders in which he murdered 8 people, including his mother, father, and uncle. [2] [3] [4] A 9th victim, his grandmother, died of her injuries in 2022. [5]
Emanuel Kidega Samson00607982 / 03772211Serving a life sentence without parole plus 291 years.Perpetrator of the 2017 Burnette Chapel shooting in which he murdered churchgoer Melanie Crow and injured 7 others. [6] [7] [8] [9]

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References

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  3. Jiménez, Jesus (2023-08-16). "Man Admits to Murdering 8 and Is Sentenced to Life Without Parole". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2024-01-16.
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  5. "Only survivor of 2019 Westmoreland attacks dies". News Channel 5 Nashville (WTVF). 2022-02-17. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  6. "Suspect charged with first-degree murder in mass shooting at Tennessee church". NBC News. 2017-09-25. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  7. "Tennessee church shooter sentenced to life without parole". AP News. 2019-05-28. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  8. "Man convicted in Nashville church shooting sentenced to life without parole - National | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  9. "Detailed Results". apps.tn.gov.
  10. "Cobbins OK with attorney, still has issues with prison guards". www.knoxnews.com.
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