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Tennessee's newest prison halts admissions after problems

cca.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's newest prison has had to halt new admissions after just four months of full operation.

A memorandum from a state prison official about the privately run Trousdale Turner Correctional Facility says guards there do not have control of the housing units, aren't counting inmates correctly, and are sending them to solitary confinement for no documented reason.

Tennessee Department of Correction Assistant Commissioner Tony Parker says the decision to temporarily suspend admissions was made in concert with prison contractor Corrections Corporation of America and began two weeks ago.

He says the state is holding off on sending more prisoners until CCA can increase recruiting efforts and staffing.

CCA refused to provide any documentation of staffing levels at the facility. However, a spokesman says Trousdale is fully staffed.