NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Tennessee lawmakers are pressing for body cameras at a privately run prison following a 2025 riot, despite objections from the state’s top corrections official over cost and privacy concerns.
The Senate State and Local Government Corrections Subcommittee voted Tuesday to recommend a pilot program requiring detention officers at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center, operated by CoreCivic, to wear body cameras. Supporters argue the technology would improve safety, deter misconduct, and strengthen criminal investigations at a facility that has faced repeated scrutiny.
Sen. Ed Jackson (R-Jackson) said prisons are inherently dangerous due to staffing shortages and argued body cameras would provide accountability for both officers and inmates. CoreCivic CEO Patrick Swindle estimated the hardware cost at about $350,000, though the company later clarified it has not agreed to fund the equipment and would instead work with the state on policy.
Correction Commissioner Frank Strada opposed broad deployment, citing an estimated $6 million for equipment statewide and $2 million annually to manage public records requests, including redaction and legal review. Strada said the department is instead investing in a centralized intelligence center using artificial intelligence, along with drones to curb contraband.
District Attorney Jason Lawson testified that body cameras would materially aid prosecutions, noting fixed cameras often fail to clearly identify suspects. Trousdale Turner has faced DOJ scrutiny since 2024 and was rocked by a riot in June 2025 that left an officer stabbed.
The Department of Correction is also seeking a contract increase that would raise CoreCivic’s total state contracts to $243 million.
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