8 prisoners stabbed amid gang tensions, staffing shortage; prison on lockdown
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Eight prisoners have been injured in stabbings at a prison in northwest Tennessee amid tensions between gangs and a shortage of correctional officers.
The Tennessean reports (http://tnne.ws/1LFyEJ7) the stabbings occurred Friday at Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville. The Tennessee Department of Correction-run prison has been put on lockdown.
The department says no prison staff was injured, but eight prisoners were transported to area hospitals.
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Several prison workers have said they are concerned about safety because of a severe manpower shortage. The shortage occurred after the state switched correctional officers from a traditional 40-hour-work week to a 28-day schedule to save $1.4 million in overtime costs.
Meanwhile, the state agency expanded executive positions at higher salaries at its central office.
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Information from: The Tennessean, http://www.tennessean.com