The United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, Henry C. Leventis, and Assistant Attorney General Kristin Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced an investigation into the conditions at Tennessee’s Trousdale Turner Correctional Center. This facility, operated by CoreCivic, is the state’s largest correctional center and is located approximately an hour outside of Nashville.
The decision to initiate this investigation stems from a thorough review of publicly available data and stakeholder feedback. Key concerns include state audits highlighting dangerous understaffing and safety issues that have persisted since the facility’s opening in 2016. The scope of the investigation will focus on whether the state of Tennessee effectively protects inmates from harm, including physical violence and sexual abuse.
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“Publicly available information suggests that Trousdale Turner has been plagued by serious problems since it first opened its doors,” said U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis. He noted issues such as staffing shortages, physical and sexual assaults, murders, and a 188% turnover rate among prison guards in the past year. Leventis emphasized that although CoreCivic operates the facility, the state of Tennessee holds ultimate responsibility for inmate safety. The investigation aims to evaluate if Tennessee is upholding its constitutional obligations.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke added, “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.” She stated that the Justice Department is committed to investigating potential systemic constitutional violations within this privately-run correctional facility.
State officials were informed of the investigation earlier today, and the Justice Department has committed to working cooperatively with them to identify and address any issues uncovered during the investigation. No conclusions have been drawn regarding the allegations at this stage.
The investigation is being conducted under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, which permits the department to investigate systemic violations of individual rights in institutional settings, such as prisons. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee is partnering with the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section for this investigation. Those with relevant information are encouraged to contact the department at 888-392-7031 or via email at community.trousdaleturner@usdoj.gov.
Further details about the Civil Rights Division’s work related to correctional facilities can be found on its website at www.justice.gov/crt/rights-persons-confined-jails-and-prisons.
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