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Trousdale Turner Correctional Center is a private, for profit, prison for men, located in Hartsville. The facility is owned and operated by Core Civic under contract with the TDOC. The facility opened in 2016.

Since then, the prison has struggled with severe understaffing, rampant gang violence and smuggling of drugs and contraband, high rates of inmate deaths (due to homicides, accidental deaths, stabbings and assaults). All of which has led the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct a civil rights investigation of the facility.

Prior to the prison riot last June, residents of the county have voiced concerns over the strain the prison takes on the county’s emergency response teams and services and community safety.

Following the riot, a Prison Advisory Committee was formed to provide suggestions for the Trousdale County government to consider with the upcoming contract renewals with TDOC and Core Civic.

Prison Advisory Committee members, Mark Beeler, Melissa Schelah, Jason Lawson, Toby Woodmore and Zach Taylor, submitted separate recommendations regarding the two contracts to the county attorney and commissioners in February.

In Monday night’s work session, Trousdale County Attorney Branden Bellar clarified that the immediate priority for the county is the pending TDOC contract, keeping it separate from ongoing negotiations with Core Civic.

Bellar reached out to the TDOC in writing earlier this year regarding the upcoming contract, and those requests went unanswered.

“I did not get a response prior to today,” said Bellar.

He indicated with an additional follow up that he was able to have “a very good and frank conversation” about the TDOC contract with Elizabeth Foy, TDOC Chief of Staff.

Bellar referred to the contract as a “fairly standard form contract, something that you see that’s handed down from the state, and of course, there are some somewhat glaring edits that need to be made before signing.”

Bellar highlighted operational changes at TTCC that have taken place such as decreasing inmate population and transitioning to an elderly demographic to disrupt and dissipate gang activity in the facility. He also cited a potential pilot program at TTCC where staff would be provided with body cams during their shifts.

“I reiterated to her (Foy) our concerns with our primary purpose is to make sure that our citizens are safe and to minimize any risk that we may have,” said Bellar.

“Next week this item is on the agenda, and it’s a really simple issue notwithstanding some corrections that need to be made and that can be worked through with some of the two legal departments,” he said. “The question is whether or not you’re going to authorize your chief financial officer to execute this TDOC contract.”

Addressing the commission during public comment, Schelah clarified that she was speaking solely as a resident, not as a representative of the Prison Advisory Committee.

“I am her to speak about the proposed renewal of the TDOC contract and also about the Core Civic contract, because we all know those two things are tied together,” said Schelah.

According to Schelah, Bellar first requested the contract for reviewing purpose from the TDOC in September 2025. She didn’t receive it until late May. Schelah referred to the TDOC’s delayed actions as pressure tactics, not negotiations.

“I reviewed the contract, all 469 pages of it and what I saw was alarming,” said Schelah. “Not one single item that the Prison Advisory Committee presented (for the contract) was addressed in the contract. This contract does not include the real protections, requirements, transparency, safety provision or accountability measures that the commission has requested. I am also very concerned that the contract references important areas such as classification and case management but does not actually include the full policies in the contract. Would you sign a contract that had missing pages?

“Let’s be honest about the money. TDOC will be paying, or let’s just say it, funneling almost $80 million in the first year, and over $95 million by the end of the five-year contract period. And what does Trousdale County get directly from TDOC? Zero dollars. We get no direct benefit, no real control, and no meaningful protection, while our county’s name, resources, reputation, emergency services and safety are all on the line.”

If the county signs the TDOC contract as is, Schelah is concerned that Core Civic will also refuse to negotiate with the county.

“The Core Civic contract with the county is a very small, weak, 13-page contract (compared to 469-page document from TDOC) that we have had since 2014 that runs concurrently with the TDOC contract,” she said. “Core Civic is running the clock. They have not accepted the county’s requests, agreed to a new administration fee, no real assurances, real protections or accountability.”

Schelah said she believes that some are afraid of not agreeing to TDOC contracts for fear of making the State mad or losing potential funding in other areas because of its stance with the prison.

Schelah reminded commissioners that the property taxes paid by Core Civic for TTCC are not a favor to the county but rather a legal obligation as property owners.

Two commissioners, Chris Gregory, 7th District, and David Thomas, 9th District, asked Bellar what might happen if the contract was not signed by June 30. Bellar agreed to look into the matter. Gregory also requested that Bellar contact the commission with his findings before the full commission meeting on Monday, June 22 if possible.

Schelah encourages others who have concerns with the TDOC contract and Core Civic to let their voices be heard as soon as possible by reaching out to their Commissioners, the Mayor’s office and to plan to attend Monday night’s meeting to address the commission during public comment.

In other news at next Monday’s meeting, the commissioners will hold a public hearing and the third reading of Ordinance #344-2026-06, an ordinance to levy a county-wide motor vehicle tax (wheel tax) that if passed by a super-majority, will apply 100% of the funds collected to Capital Outlay Revenue, Fund 171, and restrict the fund to the construction of the county’s state-mandated jail project and the repayment of any debt incurred for that purpose until successful payoff of any debt.

A public hearing and second reading will also be held on the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Ordinances and 2026 Tax Rates. The third reading of the ordinances will also be held on Monday night if approved to proceed by a super-majority or 2/3 vote.

The Commission will also vote on Resolution #2026-08-842 to support participation in the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Tennessee Downtowns Program.

Approval of this resolution does not obligate the county to make any financial commitment, and there is no cost associated with the application. Participation will maintain and restore the county’s eligibility to apply for future TNECD Downtown Improvement Grants and other downtown revitalization funding opportunities.

The full commission meeting on June 22 will be held at the Hartsville-Trousdale County Courthouse, 200 E. Main Street beginning at 7 p.m. Meetings are open to the public.

The work session may be viewed on the county’s website at .