No one could've predicted what happened at the Turney Center Industrial Complex when 16 inmates, unprovoked and without warning attacked three prison guards.
Officer Jesse Shockley was taken hostage for the better part of three hours, the other two officers were stabbed multiple times. All three have since been released from the hospital.
Department of Corrections Commissioner Tony Parker has made it a top priority to address concerns within prison walls state wide.
Yet, documents show Sunday's incident was not the first at the Turney Center in Hickman County.
In an incident report from June 6, 2015, one officer reported being punched by an inmate, receiving injuries to his face.
Another incident took place in a dining hall in August of 2015 when an officer tried to stop an inmate from getting a second tray of food. He too was punched in the face.
On September 5th, 2015, an officer reported being hit, kicked and dragged, he received serious injuries according to incident reports.
At the Turney Center Industrial Complex, the ratio of correctional officers to inmates is one to 128. It's a staggering statistic that is also the nationwide norm.
On Friday, TDOC released this statement:
As Commissioner Parker said on Monday, the safety and security of our brave team of correctional professionals is our top priority. There are inherent risks to working in any correctional environment; the Department of Correction is charged with supervising individuals who have been deemed by the courts to be too dangerous to walk free in society. TDOC has training, policies and procedures in place to reduce those risks. Any assault on our officers will not be tolerated and will be thoroughly investigated and referred to the district attorney for prosecution.
