The Justice Department announced today the initiation of an investigation into conditions at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center, a Tennessee Department of Correction facility managed by CoreCivic. Located approximately an hour outside Nashville, Trousdale Turner is Tennessee’s largest correctional facility.
Following an extensive review of publicly available information and data from stakeholders, the department identified significant grounds for this investigation. State audits have flagged issues such as dangerous understaffing and safety concerns since the facility opened in 2016. The investigation will assess whether Tennessee adequately protects those incarcerated at Trousdale Turner from harm, including physical violence and sexual abuse.
“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.”
State officials were notified earlier today about the investigation, with assurances from the department that it will work cooperatively with them to identify solutions to any uncovered problems.
No conclusions have yet been reached regarding these allegations. The investigation will be conducted under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), which authorizes investigations into systemic violations of individuals' rights in institutional settings like prisons.
The Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section is conducting this investigation jointly with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the department via phone at 888-392-7031 or by email at community.trousdaleturner@usdoj.gov.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division’s work regarding correctional facilities can be found on its website at www.justice.gov/crt/rights-persons-confined-jails-and-prisons.