The number of recorded assaults on prison officers was down compared with a year ago, but critics said it's hard to accept any statistics from the Tennessee Department of Correction as fact.
According to reports, data from the correction department showed there have been 31 fewer assaults since July 1 compared with last fiscal year.
Governor Bill Haslam and department Commissioner Derrick Schofield have consistently said violence has been down in Tennessee prisons, but inmates and their families continued to tell lawmakers and the media that the prisons have been more violent than ever.
Tennessee House Democratic Chairman Mike Stewart said he’s skeptical about the statistics because multiple assaults have been previously misreported as lesser provocations.
Department officials said correctional officers have now been more accurately recording violent acts.
