Citing “security-related issues,” two federal judges last week ordered all federal inmates to be moved from the Silverdale Detention Center.
Judges Sandy Mattice and Travis McDonough issued the verbal order on Feb. 13, said David Jolley, U.S. marshal for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
All 52 federal inmates were removed the following day. Forty-four men were relocated to the Hamilton County Jail, and eight women were taken to the Bradley County Jail, authorities said.
It’s not clear exactly what is creating the concern, but Jolley said that no specific threats had been made against the federal detainees.
“They aren’t being targeted,” he said. “It’s specific to the facility. [The judges] have concerns about some security issues at the facility itself and didn’t want us to continue to house any of our federal detainees there.”