NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The United States Justice Department (DOJ) has opened a civil rights investigation into the living conditions at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center, Tennessee's largest prison.
According to the DOJ, the investigation is based on an extensive review of publicly available information as well as information gathered from stakeholders. That information gave the justice department "significant justification" for the investigation, including state audits that have flagged dangerous understaffing and safety concerns since the prison opened in 2016.
The investigation will examine whether Tennessee protects those incarcerated at Trousdale Turner from harm, including physical violence and sexual abuse, the DOJ said in a release.
According to the DOJ the facility has been known for violence since it opened. They cited recent reported incidents included five individuals stabbed within a three week span earlier in 2024; at least 196 assaults, two murders and 15 deaths classified as "accidental" between July 2022 and June 2023; at least 90 incidents of sexual misconduct during the same timeframe; and larges amounts of contraband, including 97 knives found in June 2023 alone.
Audits of the facility from 2017, 2020 and 2023 flagged the understaffing concerns, as well as concerns from staff members for their own safety. One audit reportedly "explicitly cautioned that the Tennessee Department of Correction's inadequate monitoring of operations at Trousdale Turner 'could result in harm' to people housed there," according to the DOJ.
The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice has received almost 100 complaints from those incarcerated at the facility, community groups and concerned family members, the department said.
“People are incarcerated at Trousdale Turner as punishment for their crimes, but in our legal system, punishment does not and cannot include violence and sexual abuse,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is launching this comprehensive investigation to determine if there are systemic constitutional violations regarding the treatment of people in this privately-run correctional facility. We are committed to protecting the constitutional rights of people held inside jails and prisons across our country.”
“Publicly available information suggests that Trousdale Turner has been plagued by serious problems since it first opened its doors,” said United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis. “This includes reports of staffing shortages, physical and sexual assaults, murders, and a 188% turnover rate among prison guards just last year. Although CoreCivic owns and operates Trousdale, the State of Tennessee is ultimately responsible for the safety of the people incarcerated there. This investigation seeks to determine whether Tennessee is meeting its constitutional obligations.”
"In our country, people do not surrender their constitutional rights at the prison door," Clarke said in a Zoom announcement Tuesday morning. "Every person held in a jail or prison retains the fundamental right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. In our legal system, proper punishment does not and cannot include violence and sexual abuse."
She further stated the investigation should "send a clear message—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. "CoreCivic operates Trousdale Turner on behalf of Tennessee. But Tennessee remains obligated to ensure that the people are housed in conditions that satisfy the Constitution. This investigation will determine whether the state is meeting that responsibility."
Trousdale Turner Correctional Center is a Department of Correction facility operated by the private Tennessee corrections firm CoreCivic. It houses about 2,500 people.
The Justice Department notified state officials of the investigation earlier Tuesday and pledged that the department will work cooperatively with them in conducting the investigation and identifying solutions to any problems that are uncovered, according to the release.
The department has not reached any conclusions regarding the allegations in this matter, it said. The investigation will be conducted under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act. This statute gives the department the authority to investigate systemic violations of the rights of individuals in institutional settings, including prisons.
Individuals with relevant information about the prison or conditions inside it are encouraged to contact the department via phone at 888-392-7031 or by email at community.trousdaleturner@usdoj.gov.
CoreCivic Vice President of Communications Steven Owen issued the following statement provided to News 2:
"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. That's why we've worked closely with the Tennessee Department of Corrections to identify and implement policies and processes that enhance safety and security while providing meaningful programs and services geared towards helping the individuals in our care prepare for successful reentry. We take this matter very seriously and are committed to working closely with both TDOC and USDOJ officials to address areas of concern."
The investigation into the Tennessee prison is one of several concurrent investigations into correctional facilities in the South, according to Clarke. The DOJ is also investigating the Fulton County Jail in Georgia and men's prisons in Alabama. The DOJ also issued findings reports in April 2022 and February 2024 about four state prisons in Mississippi, she said.
A spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Correction said they were "aware of the investigation and TDOC will cooperate fully."