NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) â?? An association representing state employees in Tennessee wants the state to stop using private prisons.
The Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/2bBeIKn ) reports that Tennessee State Employee Association President Bryan Merritt is calling on the Tennessee Department of Correction to end the use of private prisons because he says state employees already do a great job managing prisons. He says private prisons provide an inferior product, lower levels of safety and security and debatable savings.
The move from the association comes after the U.S. Department of Justice announced last week that it would end its contracts with private prison operators.
Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Tony Parker says in a statement that the state is satisfied with the services provided by private prison operator Corrections Corporation of America