The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating alleged civil rights violations at Tennessee’s largest private, for-profit prison.
Trousdale Turner Correctional Center has the highest homicide rate of any prison in the country and is one of the most understaffed, according to data compiled by the DOJ. The prison, run by Brentwood-based CoreCivic, had amassed hundreds of civil rights complaints from incarcerated people, their loved ones and community members, DOJ attorneys said.
In 2021, Nashville’s chapter of the NAACP called for a federal investigation into the facility.
“Violence at Trousdale Turner reportedly has been endemic since it opened in 2016,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke.
Five people were stabbed at Trousdale Turner within a three-week period earlier this year, Clarke noted. Between July 2022 and June 2023, the facility reported at least 196 assaults, two murders and 15 deaths that the center classified as accidental.
Audits in 2017, 2020 and 2023 flagged problems with understaffing at the prison. The state fined CoreCivic more than $2 million in 2017 because its facilities were dangerously short-staffed.
“We want to know where the shortcomings are,” Gov. Bill Lee told reporters on Wednesday, following the announcement. “And we want to take steps moving forward. And I believe that we will see that we have taken steps moving forward. But it’s a never-ending process.”
Lee said CoreCivic has been hiring more correctional officers, and the state has been sending fewer people to Trousdale Turner. CoreCivic is among Lee’s top donors.
A recent audit found that Trousdale Turner had a 188% turnover rate for correctional officers. State auditors observed that a single staff member oversaw more than 300 people.
“When states choose to have private companies run their prisons, they remain liable for the conditions inside those facilities. Private prisons are not above the law. States and localities retain their constitutional duty to protect prisoners from violence and sexual abuse,” Clarke said. “People do not surrender their constitutional rights at the prison door.”
Conditions at the facility have also been the subject of lawsuits. The family of a man who was killed in Trousdal Turner sued CoreCivic, alleging that his death could have been prevented, if the for-profit corporation had invested more resources into keeping the prison safe.
United States Attorney Henry Leventis, whose district includes Trousdale Turner, said that the facility’s homicide rate has exceeded the national average for prisons when compared to the latest available numbers.
“Our decision to open an investigation into Trousdale was informed by a comprehensive review of years of publicly available information, as well as years of concerns expressed by members of this community — concerns about their family and their loved ones who have been incarcerated at Trousdale and the conditions they’re experiencing,” Leventis said.
A spokesperson for CoreCivic told WPLN News that the company is working closely with the Tennessee Department of Corrections to enhance safety and security.
“The safety and dignity of every person in our care is a top priority for our leadership and the staff at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center,” said Steven Owen, Vice President of Communications at CoreCivic. “We take this matter very seriously and are committed to working closely with both TDOC and USDOJ officials to address areas of concern.”
The Department of Justice said it has not reached any conclusions regarding the allegations, and officially notified state officials of the investigation on Tuesday. In an email to WPLN News, The Tennessee Department of Corrections said that it will cooperate fully.
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM