The U.S. Department of Justice announced this week that it is launching a federal investigation into possible civil rights violations at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center in Hartsville.
Since its opening in 2016, Trousdale Turner Correctional Center, which is operated by the nonprofit private prison company CoreCivic, has had public image and staffing issues, and, now, the 性视界APPDOJ is launching an investigation into safety concerns, including violence and sexual abuse.
鈥淧eople 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,鈥 said U.S. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department鈥檚 Civil Rights Division. 鈥淭he 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.鈥
The investigation into the alleged violations at Trousdale Turner falls under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, which was set in place in 1980 to protect the rights of people in prisons, nursing homes, mental health facilities, group homes, and institutions for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
鈥淚n our country, people do not surrender their constitutional rights at the prison door,鈥 said Clarke. 鈥淓very person held at a jail or prison retains the fundamental right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. In our legal system, proper punishment does not and cannot ever include violence and sexual abuse.鈥
The Justice Department indicated that the decision to move forward with the investigation was based on a thorough review of multiple state audits since the prison鈥檚 opening in 2016.
Nashville attorney Daniel Horwitz, who has been outspoken about the issues at Trousdale Turner, suggested that the actions against the prison are long overdue.
鈥淚 applaud the Department of Justice鈥檚 announcement that it is investigating Trousdale Turner Correctional Center for its chronic civil rights violations and investigating the Tennessee Department of Correction for knowingly permitting them,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he heinous abuses that occur with regularity at the chronically understaffed facility are unhidden, and they have been documented year after year in the dozens of wrongful death and other lawsuits that our firm and others have filed against CoreCivic and its employees over and over and over again as CoreCivic allowed the prisoners in its care to be murdered, raped and stabbed without intervention. It is long past time for this death factory to be shut down.鈥
In response to the pending investigation, CoreCivic Vice President of Communications Steven Owen said in a written statement, 鈥淭he safety and dignity of every person in our care is a top priority for our leadership and the staff at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center. That鈥檚 why we鈥檝e worked closely with the Tennessee Department of Corrections to identify and implement policies and processes that enhance safety and security while providing meaningful programs and services geared towards helping the individuals in our care prepare for successful reentry. We take this matter very seriously and are committed to working closely with both TDOC and 性视界APPDOJ officials to address areas of concern.鈥
The Tennessee Department of Corrections also responded by saying, 鈥淲e are aware of the investigation and TDOC will cooperate fully.鈥
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