8 prisoners stabbed amid gang tensions, staffing shortage

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TIPTONVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — 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.

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