TROUSDALE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The state is considering giving private prison operator CoreCivic a pay increase, despite safety issues at what's considered one of Tennessee's most violent prisons — Trousdale Turner Correctional Center.

"Trousdale has been having a higher death rate, [and] higher rate of individuals being assaulted," Sen. Mark Pody (R-Lebanon) said.

Last month, the District Attorney told News 2 that 201 people tied to Trousdale Turner have been charged with crimes since 2021, including employees. The violence also triggered a federal civil rights investigation in 2024. Then, in June, three correctional officers were held hostage. It has gotten the attention of some lawmakers.

"If the death rates continue at this kind of pace, we are going to be reducing funding there, and we are actually asking them to have a reduced population," Pody said.

On Tuesday, though, the Tennessee Department of Correction asked Gov. Bill Lee to give CoreCivic a $13 million pay increase.

"Sometimes if we are not performing in an area that we think they should be, giving more money might not be the answer," Pody said.

Pody explained that while staffing at Trousdale is up, a raise shouldn't come without accountability.

"I can understand the need for them wanting more money to do this, but I want to make sure that everything else falls in line," Pody said. "That the death rate goes down, that drugs can be stopped from going in all prisons before we just authorize more money."

He said that without that, the problem of security will only continue.

"They need to do their time, but they need to feel safe while they are in prison, not only in the private systems but also in the state systems," Pody added.

Pody went on to say the issues at Trousdale are just part of a larger need for the whole system to be held responsible.

"I think private systems like CoreCivic have got their place. I am not saying we should get rid of them, but I am saying that everyone needs to be held accountable," Pody explained. "If we have a system that isn't holding up their end of the bargain and they are already in a situation that they owe the state money, [it's] hard to say if we want to give them more money."

"We are going to look at the entire system, and let's get it fixed right now," Pody said.

In a statement to News 2, CoreCivic said:

"The safety, health and well-being of the individuals entrusted to our care and our dedicated staff is our top priority. This commitment is shared by our government partners at the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC).

Our facilities have trained emergency response teams who work to ensure that any individual in distress receives appropriate medical care, and we are deeply saddened by and take very seriously the passing of any individual in our care. Any death is immediately reported to our government partners and investigated thoroughly and transparently.

All of our Tennessee facilities are subject to multiple layers of oversight by TDOC and independent third parties like the American Correctional Association (ACA). TDOC employs full-time, on-site contract monitors at each of our facilities who work to ensure our full compliance with prescribed policies and procedures." 

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/push-increased-corecivic-payments-despite-safety-issues/