TOPIC: TENNESSEE PRISONS
by Sharon Rondeau
(Nov. 9, 2017) — Following The Post & Email’s appearance on the “Nooganomics” radio show on Thursday, host David Tulis informed us that State Rep. John Ray Clemmons will be in his studio on Friday morning to answer questions about Tennessee’s prison system on the air.
Tulis hosts the show Monday through Friday from 9 to 11 AM ET, with Clemmons to appear Friday between 10:00 and 10:30.
Following the show on Thursday, Tulis invited Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) spokeswoman Neysa Taylor to call in during the Clemmons segment in order to represent the views of TDOC Commissioner Tony Parker. “Please call the studio line during the 10-10:30 segment (eastern time) to give the commissioner’s position about our reporting, and offer any corrections or clarifications,” Tulis wrote to Taylor.
Late last week, Taylor denied Tulis’s request to interview Parker to discuss numerous allegations of inadequate medical care, threats from gang members and other violations of policy and procedure expressed by inmates and their relatives to The Post & Email, WSMV in Nashville, and Tulis himself.
In his Thursday email to Taylor, Tulis mentioned the “perilous situation” about which he became aware through correspondence with TDOC inmate Grenda Ray Harmer, #88710, on November 1, 2017 wherein Harmer reported that a gang member already known to be “incompatible” with Harmer based on a previous threat has been moved to a nearby cell and permitted to take his recreation hour in the same area as Harmer.
The Post & Email has thus far not received a letter from Harmer this week, which is highly unusual, particularly given that his letter, sent to Tulis late last month and arriving on November 1, indicates that a copy was sent to us.
To our knowledge, Harmer continues to be housed in protective custody, which is solitary confinement due to safety concerns, at the Morgan County Correctional Complex (MCCX), having been placed on that status since the confrontation with the Crips gang member in late July.
Tulis has also reached out to State Rep. Barbara Cooper, whose office has not responded as of press time.
A video podcast of The Post & Email’s Thursday segment can be accessed here: https://www.facebook.com/hotnews1240/videos/1509389929128198/
Nooga Radio’s YouTube channel is here.