Why is Letalvis Cobbins in medium security?

Letalvis Cobbins has now been moved from the Charles Bass Correctional Complex to the prison in Whiteville, Tennessee, to serve his life sentence in medium security prison. That's prompted some questions as to how that decision is made. 

Tennessee Department of Correction spokesperson Dorinda Carter explained the decision-making process.

Cobbins was sent to medium security at the Hardeman County Correctional Facility, near Whiteville in the opposite end of the state.

Carter said DoC does consider where a crime occurred in placing an inmate. Because Cobbins was involved in a high-profile crime in East Tennessee, he will service his sentence in West Tennessee. Carter said the DoC tries to relocate inmates in high-profile cases away from where they committed the crime, with an eye toward safety issues.

As for why Cobbins was placed in medium security, Carter said every inmate is given a custody assessment when they are first brought into the system. In Cobbins' assessment at the Charles Bass Correctional Complex, he was rated at medium on the incarceration level.

Most inmates are initially given a medium classification when entering the system.

Maximum is reserved for death row and inmates who have an assaultive or escape-prone past during incarceration.

Due to Cobbins' felony murder conviction, he will never be dropped to a minimum security level, meaning he will never be allowed outside the fence.

He will be reassessed on a monthly basis. Should he get into trouble, he could be reclassified to a maximum security level.

Medium security prisoners are required to work or attend classes. When working, they make about $0.17 an hour.

Cobbins will be able to move from his cell to the cafeteria for meals and to his prison job and/or classes. His movement will be monitored.

Maximum security prisoners spend almost the entirety of their day within their cells.

Cobbins was moved Friday.