Terry Deshawn Childress’ death marked the 17th homicide in a Tennessee prison in the past five years. All but three of those deaths occurred at private facilities, even though they house only about a third of the state’s prisoners.
COVID-19 Alone Doesn’t Account For More Deaths In Tennessee Prisons In 2020
Prison deaths in Tennessee increased by nearly 60% in 2020, compared to the prior year. But COVID-19 directly accounted for only about half of them.
Belmont University Students Hope Debate Attention Will Spur More Political Action On Campus
Last night’s presidential debate thrust Belmont University into the national spotlight. And as protesters crowded the sidewalks outside campus, many students took the opportunity to protest their own college. Some students say they want Belmont to take a stronger stand on social issues.
As Presidential Debate Puts Belmont University In The Spotlight, Students And Alumni Demand Break With Private Prisons
A group wants Belmont to divest from CoreCivic, a for-profit prison company with close ties to the school and the Republican Party. It plans to hold a demonstration near campus Thursday, before the presidential debate.
Targeted Testing Reveals Coronavirus Clusters At Several Tennessee Prisons
A new round of mass testing at Tennessee prisons has uncovered small outbreaks at several state-run facilities. The Department of Correction says about 400 people who were swabbed last week have come back positive so far.
Coronavirus Outbreak Sparks Another Round Of COVID-19 Testing In Tennessee Prisons
The Tennessee Department of Correction is launching another round of mass testing after more than 1,100 people tested positive at a private prison this week.
Massive Coronavirus Outbreak At CoreCivic Prison In Middle Tennessee Raises Questions
Another round of mass testing has uncovered nearly 1,000 cases of the coronavirus at a Tennessee prison, with more results coming. CoreCivic, which manages the facility, says nearly all are asymptomatic. But prisoners’ loved ones say they’re hearing a different story.
Metro Prison COVID-19 Outbreak Goes Unnoticed Due To Reporting Loophole
More than one-third of the 460 men and women at a private prison in Nashville have tested positive for the coronavirus in recent weeks. But the outbreak has not been publicized because a special agreement between the state, Metro and CoreCivic has left the facility in a sort of transparency limbo.
Nashville Sheriff Races To Get Ready To Take Over Prison From CoreCivic
In just over a month, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office will take over a local prison that’s been privately run since it was built nearly three decades ago. Under pressure from councilmembers and activists, CoreCivic decided to cut its contract short. Now, the sheriff is scrambling to get ready for some major changes.
COVID-19 Deaths Rising In Tennessee Prisons
Two Tennessee prisoners who tested positive for COVID-19 have died this week, bringing the state’s total number of incarcerated deaths since the start of the pandemic to eight.
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