Derrick Schofield, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of CorrectionsNASHVILLE — Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Derrick Schofield told lawmakers on Monday that the state’s prisons are safe despite staff vacancies and recent violence at two of its prisons.
Schofield’s appearance before the House State Government Committee came amid the department switching correctional officers from a traditional 40-hour work week to a 28-day schedule. The change is expected to save $1.4 million in overtime costs.
Critics say the change has caused staffers to leave, which has impacted prison safety. Last month, eight prisoners were injured in stabbings at the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, and the Northeast Correctional Complex in Mountain City was placed on lockdown after an incident that injured an officer.
Schofield acknowledged that vacancies do exist, but said they’re mainly at three correction facilities in West Tennessee and that some staffers simply left for private employment.
Regardless, he doesn’t believe the scheduled change is a factor and added that safety can be maintained with current staffing levels.