CoreCivic to Fund Body Cameras at Trousdale Turner Prison, but Transparency Limits Raise Concerns
Guards at Trousdale Turner Correctional Facility will be equipped with body cameras funded by CoreCivic, but much of the footage won’t be publicly accessible under state law.
HARTSVILLE, TENNESSEE — Private prison company CoreCivic has agreed to pay approximately $350,000 for body cameras and related equipment at Trousdale Turner Correctional Facility. However, a delayed rollout and restrictions on public access to the footage are drawing scrutiny from lawmakers and transparency advocates.
State Sen. Tom Hatcher, a Maryville Republican who chairs the Senate Corrections Subcommittee, confirmed the agreement with Brentwood-based CoreCivic. Hatcher also said the body camera pilot program, which state law required to begin July 1, will not launch on time because the company is still waiting on equipment deliveries.
Hatcher said he gave CoreCivic until September 1 to bring the program online. Due to that delay, he plans to amend Senate Bill 1820 to extend the program’s end date through December 31, 2027, ensuring the state collects a full year of data to be provided to the committee chairman.
Footage May Be Shielded from Public Records Law
A significant portion of the video recorded under the pilot program will not be subject to Tennessee’s Public Records Act, according to reporting by the Tennessee Lookout. The arrangement raises questions about accountability at a facility that has faced repeated scrutiny over safety and civil rights conditions.
Trousdale Turner, located in Trousdale County, has been under a federal civil rights investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice over prisoner deaths and other issues. The facility gained national attention last year after a riot in which inmates took control of an outdoor yard, destroyed property, and refused orders from staff. Three inmates suffered minor injuries during the incident, and a staff member was stabbed.
Correction Commissioner Opposed Body Camera Mandate
Department of Correction Commissioner Frank Strada opposed the requirement to equip guards with body cameras, citing privacy concerns. Despite his objections, lawmakers moved forward with the legislation requiring the pilot program at the facility CoreCivic operates under contract with the state.
CoreCivic is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, and operates Trousdale Turner as a privately managed state correctional facility. The body camera program is structured as a one-year pilot, with the amended timeline now running through the end of 2027 to account for the delayed start.
The Tennessee Lookout first reported the details of the program’s funding, timeline, and public records limitations.
