A Nashville judge has ordered the Tennessee Department of Correction to take custody of nearly 150 incarcerated people currently housed in Davidson County’s jails.
Metro Nashville filed a complaint against TDOC this spring, arguing that it’s been forced to continue housing people whose sentences require a transfer to a state penitentiary. This created jail overcrowding, operational strains and financial burdens that cost taxpayers millions of dollars each year.
TDOC didn’t deny that it’s obligated to take custody of sentenced felons, but claimed that it has discretion to take some time in deciding where to house these individuals. Additionally, the department argued that it doesn’t have enough beds available at one time for the 149 people Metro sought to transfer.
In her ruling, Davidson County Court Chancellor Anne C. Martin rejected this claim, finding that TDOC failed to demonstrate it had an overcrowding issue, and, even if that were the case, the state has emergency funds to remedy the problem.
“I am pleased with the court’s decision today regarding the crisis of state inmates overcrowding our local jails,” Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall wrote in a statement. “This is an important step towards our correctional system, once again, being a national model. Work is underway to ensure Nashville has facilities that are safe and secure for both Davidson County Sheriff’s Office staff and inmates.”
Safety concerns and burden on taxpayers
The sheriff’s office generally houses people awaiting trial, as well as some who have been locally sentenced. Those with sentences of one year or more are transferred to TDOC.
Metro argued that state law requires TDOC to take custody of these individuals within 14 days of receiving sentencing documents but that the department takes months to accept physical custody. TDOC, however, interpreted the law to mean that the department had discretion to take custody at some point after those 14 days, once it determined placement.
According to court documents, failure to make this transfer in a timely manner has left Metro with overcrowded jails, as it’s been forced to house between 100 and 200 individuals that TDOC is obligated to accept.
Metro further noted that detention facilities should not exceed 95% capacity, but DSCO has one jail operating at 110% capacity and three others that are also overcrowded.
This led to the following operational issues:
- eroded safety conditions
- strained medical and mental-health resources
- increased assaults on correctional officers
- placing disruptive incarcerated individuals into general population rather than restrictive housing
- reduced movement space, creating unsanitary conditions
Additionally, Metro argued that overcrowded jails have steep financial consequences, costing Metro taxpayers approximately $18 million.
TDOC failed to prove overcrowding
The court acknowledged that both Metro and TDOC face difficulties in finding placements. However, the judge ultimately ruled that Metro has less financial resources to handle overcrowding and did a better job of showing how it negatively impacted their system.
TDOC, on the other hand, has the benefit of the governor’s emergency power to address overcrowding, so, the court decided that the department failed to show sufficient hardship preventing them from taking custody of the 149 individuals that Metro sought to transfer.
The court cited state law that says that “no county shall be required to house convicted felons” unless it entered into a contract with TDOC. It also relied on attorney general opinions that supported Metro’s position.
TDOC must complete the transfer within 10 days of the July 24 court order.
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