TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Nov 5, 2025

The Tennessee Department of Correction is requesting a $13 million contract increase for CoreCivic, the private prison company that operates four state facilities. According to the Moore County News, the increase — part of an $86 million budget request for fiscal year 2026-2027 — would raise the department’s total budget to $1.57 billion and CoreCivic’s contracts to $243 million. Correction Commissioner Frank Strada said the additional funding is needed to address inflation and maintain pay parity between CoreCivic and state-run facilities. CoreCivic has faced criticism for high staff turnover and inmate death rates, including at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center, which is under Department of Justice investigation following a riot this summer. The company has been penalized more than $45 million since 2022 for failing to meet staffing requirements.