Tennessee’s Private Prison Dilemma: A $6.8 Million Request Amidst Rising Penalties

In a perplexing turn of events, Tennessee’s Department of Correction has requested a $6.8 million increase to its annual contract with CoreCivic, a private prison operator, despite imposing $44.78 million in penalties on the company since 2022. This request comes against a backdrop of significant operational challenges at the Trousdale Turner Correctional Center, which is currently under civil rights investigation by the Department of Justice. The facility’s staffing struggles, turnover rates, and ongoing safety concerns raise questions about the effectiveness and accountability of the state’s partnership with CoreCivic.

Senator Jeff Yarbro, a Democrat from Nashville, expressed disbelief at the state’s decision to increase funding while simultaneously penalizing CoreCivic for failing to meet contractual obligations. “None of this makes sense where the state is increasing the amount it’s paying CoreCivic every year but also penalizing CoreCivic for not meeting the terms of the contract,” he stated during a recent budget hearing. With a staggering 33.7% vacancy rate for prison officers at Trousdale Turner—compared to 26% at state-run facilities—Yarbro emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in the contracting process.

This transparency issue is amplified by CoreCivic’s refusal to disclose its officer pay rates, which have been a significant point of contention. In instances of staff shortages, the company has resorted to bringing in officers from other states, raising further concerns about the adequacy of its staffing strategies. Yarbro noted that Tennessee had increased prison officer pay by 35% two years ago, suggesting that CoreCivic has the resources to enhance compensation to attract and retain staff.

Correction Commissioner Frank Strada defended CoreCivic, labeling the company as a “partner” to the state. He asserted that CoreCivic has made progress in reducing violent incidents and contraband within its facilities, although he provided no concrete data to support this claim. Strada’s remarks came after the Senate State and Local Government Committee approved the budget request, which could see Tennessee’s overall prison budget rise to $1.4 billion.

Despite the challenges, Strada claimed that the Department of Correction is holding CoreCivic accountable for its shortcomings. He pointed out that the company has addressed 90% of the findings from a state audit conducted over two years ago. However, this assertion is overshadowed by alarming statistics regarding inmate deaths and drug-related incidents within CoreCivic facilities. From 2019 to 2022, there were 221 deaths in CoreCivic prisons, accounting for more than a third of the total deaths in the state’s entire prison system, which includes 14 facilities.

The situation at Trousdale Turner has been particularly dire, with multiple reports of inmate overdoses and a lawsuit alleging that an inmate died from a drug overdose linked to understaffing and a drug ring operating within the facility. In the three years leading up to the lawsuit, there were 418 calls for help concerning overdoses, highlighting the severe implications of understaffing and operational inefficiencies.

The state’s ongoing relationship with CoreCivic raises crucial questions about the effectiveness of privatization in the corrections system. Tennessee law dating back to the 1980s effectively limits the state to one privately-run prison. CoreCivic navigates this restriction by contracting with counties where its facilities are located. This arrangement has led to vast lobbying efforts—amounting to $3.7 million since 2009—underscoring the company’s vested interest in maintaining its operations within the state.

As the Tennessee Department of Correction seeks to increase funding for a contract plagued by penalties and operational failures, the state’s commitment to reforming its correctional facilities remains in question. The request for a $6.8 million increase, juxtaposed with a significant history of fines and unsettling statistics, calls for a critical reevaluation of the current approach to private prison management. Lawmakers and citizens alike must grapple with the implications of this funding decision and advocate for a corrections system that prioritizes accountability, transparency, and the safety of both inmates and staff.