The Tennessee state government has been scrutinizing CoreCivic, a private prison company that operates four prisons in the state.
The state pays over $200 million annually for these services but retains the right to withhold payments if CoreCivic violates operational standards.
Since 2022, Tennessee has reclaimed nearly $30 million due to violations, with the main issue being severe understaffing.
Trousdale Turner Correctional Facility, a CoreCivic-run prison, is at the center of a federal Department of Justice DOJ investigation for endemic violence and chronic understaffing.
This facility has one of the highest homicide rates in the U.S. and was the site of a recent attack where three staff members were injured by an inmate.
Despite these issues and fines, the state legislature increased CoreCivic’s budget by $7 million this year.
The DOJ’s investigation underscores the challenges in privately managed prisons, highlighting the tension between cost-cutting measures and maintaining safety and operational standards.