TTCC Inmate Reports “Major Gang War”

ON THANKSGIVING DAY?

by Sharon Rondeau

(Dec. 18, 2016) — Another inmate from the Trousdale Turner Correctional Complex (TTCC) has reported in a letter that “the entire facility is on lockdown due to a major gang war between the ‘Crips’ and the ‘Bloods.’ This is largely due to the understaffing and poor oversight at this prison. We have stayed on lockdown since August. Before Labor Day…”

A note received from an inmate’s relative on October 10 appears to confirm the “lockdown” claim.

A number of inmates have reported a major incident involving gangs on Thanksgiving Day which some inmates’ relatives have termed “a riot” and precipitated the renewed lockdown status.

Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) Communications Director Neysa Taylor has denied that there is chaos or “riot” activity at the prison, which is located in Hartsville, Trousdale County.

The facility has been the subject of dozens of inmate communications/complaints to this publication since early May.  Having opened only last January, there is an apparent short-staffing situation that does not appear to have improved.

At TTCC, “lockdown” refers to prisoners having to spend 23 hours daily in their cells without recreation and minimal, if any, access to the law library. A number of relatives have opined that the inmates are treated “worse than animals.”

Inmates have complained about substandard, cold food sometimes served hours after normal mealtimes; the non-dispensing of prescription medications; excessive use of force by prison guards; gang members roaming freely throughout the prison and even conducting nightly lockdown; a lack of protective custody; and severe shortstaffing.

A relative has said that TTCC is in a state of “medical chaos.”

Although the TDOC reportedly provides oversight at TTCC, the Hartsville facility is owned and operated by CoreCivic, formerly known as Corrections Corporation of America (CCA).

Another inmate reported that 11 prisoners were stabbed as a result of a violent Thanksgiving Day incident documented in an internal “CCA” memo dated December 2.

In another recent letter, an inmate described having been interviewed by a CoreCivic employee on the topics of prison safety, gang activity, helpfulness of the corrections staff and employment opportunities, the latter of which all of the inmates from whom we have heard say is virtually nonexistent.