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Tennessee Department of Correction

COVID-19 Amplifies Dire Staffing Shortages At Tennessee Prisons

The head of Tennessee’s prison system says the number of unfilled correctional officer positions has reached an “all-time high.” Many facilities were already severely understaffed. Now, officials say the pandemic has made recruitment even harder.

Rural Tennessee County Becomes A National COVID-19 Hot Spot As Prison Grapples With Deadly Outbreak

Most Tennessee prisons are currently reporting few or no active cases of COVID-19. Three have even opened back up for visitation this month. But an outbreak at a facility in northeast Tennessee has become one of the deadliest.

COVID-19 Clusters In Nashville Prisons Drive Increase In Local Cases

Nashville has seen an uptick in the transmission rate and percentage of people testing positive for the coronavirus, and health officials say outbreaks at prisons located in Davidson County are partially to blame.

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.

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.

New Coronavirus Cases At Tennessee Prison Prompt Another Round Of Mass Testing

All but a handful of the more than 2,600 Tennessee inmates who tested positive for the coronavirus have since recovered, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Correction. But four new cases — including one hospitalization — at the Northwest Correctional Complex have prompted another round of mass testing. All inmates and staff at […]

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