Criminal Justice (Courts)

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 1177: Expunction - As introduced, authorizes court clerks in certain counties to implement an automatic expunction processing program that initiates processing the expunction of public records without petition by the person, certification of eligibility from the TBI, or court order in certain limited circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 32.

SB 1177 allows court clerks in Tennessee counties with over 366,200 residents (like Nashville) to automatically expunge eligible criminal records without requiring individuals to file petitions or obtain court orders. It applies specifically to people qualifying for expungement under certain categories (e.g., dismissed charges or specific misdemeanor convictions) without cost. Court clerks would process these expungements directly, and other agencies must treat their notice as equivalent to a court order. This reduces barriers for eligible individuals in large counties by eliminating the need for them to navigate the traditional petition process.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAutomates expungement for eligible records (dismissed charges/misdemeanors), reducing barriers to employment/housing and advancing criminal justice reform by promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2025

SB 944: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, requires the department of mental health and substance abuse services to establish a mental health evaluation process for a community mental health center or qualified mental health professional to evaluate a defendant convicted of domestic assault, child abuse, aggravated child abuse, cruelty to animals, aggravated cruelty to animals; requires a court in which a person is convicted of any such offense to order the offender to undergo a mental health evaluation prior to the sentencing hearing. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 944 requires courts to order mental health evaluations for defendants convicted of domestic assault, child abuse, aggravated child abuse, cruelty to animals, or aggravated cruelty to animals before sentencing. The evaluations must be conducted by community mental health centers or qualified professionals and are intended to inform sentencing decisions. This bill amends Tennessee law (Titles 33, 39, and 40) to establish this process, directly affecting individuals convicted of these specific offenses. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not change penalties for the underlying crimes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates mental health evaluations pre-sentencing for specific offenses to inform sentencing, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism - key criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing Violent Crime

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 24, 2025

SB 241: Mental Illness - As introduced, requires the chief officer of an inpatient mental health treatment resource to notify the committing court if a patient who was involuntarily committed for mental health treatment becomes eligible for discharge; permits the court to hold a hearing to determine whether to order the person's return to the hospital under the original commitment or order the person's release from involuntary commitment in accordance with the recommendations of the chief officer. - Amends TCA Title 33 and Title 52.

SB 241 requires inpatient mental health facilities in Tennessee to notify the court that ordered a patient's involuntary commitment when the patient becomes eligible for discharge. The court can then hold a hearing within 21 days to decide whether to release the patient or return them to the hospital based on the facility's recommendation. This bill directly affects patients under involuntary commitment, mental health facilities, and the courts handling these cases. The law, set to take effect July 1, 2025, modifies existing procedures in Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 33, and Title 52.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires court review for involuntary mental health discharge, protecting patient rights and ensuring due process within the justice system.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires court review for involuntary mental health discharge, ensuring patient rights and proper care transitions per facility recommendations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Hospitals

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 16, 2025

HJR 48: Constitutional Amendments - Proposes an amendment to Article I, Section 35 of the Constitution of Tennessee to expand the rights of victims of crimes. -

HJR 48 proposes a constitutional amendment to expand rights for crime victims in Tennessee. If approved by voters, it would guarantee victims specific protections including the right to receive notice of court proceedings, be present at trials, provide input during sentencing, receive restitution from offenders, and be informed of parole decisions. The amendment would require voter approval at the 2026 general election, as directed in the resolution. This is a proposed change to the state constitution, not an immediate law, and would not alter existing legal processes or create new lawsuits against the government.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands victims' rights in court proceedings, sentencing, and parole, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to protect victims.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Probation & Parole Victims' Rights

Track

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 30, 2025

SB 992: Courts, Juvenile - As enacted, requires the administrative office of the courts to maintain a criminal justice information services compliant centralized statewide juvenile case management system; requires all juvenile court clerks to adopt and convert to the new juvenile case management system on a schedule to be determined in consultation with the administrative office of the courts; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 16; Title 18 and Title 37.

SB 992 requires Tennessee's juvenile courts to adopt a new centralized computer system for tracking juvenile cases. All juvenile court clerks must switch to this statewide system, which meets criminal justice standards, following a schedule set with the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). The system mandates monthly reporting of case data directly to the AOC, replacing older, fragmented record-keeping methods. This change applies to all juvenile courts across Tennessee and aims to improve data consistency and accessibility.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires statewide juvenile case management system compliant with criminal justice standards, improving data accuracy and oversight per bill's mandate.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 1184: Domestic Violence - As introduced, requires a person who is convicted of domestic assault or subject to an order of protection to dispossess any firearm in the person's possession by transferring the firearm to a law enforcement agency and to provide the court with an affidavit of dispossession of firearms and a receipt from the law enforcement agency. - Amends TCA Title 36; Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 1184 requires individuals convicted of domestic assault or subject to a court-ordered protection plan to surrender all firearms to a designated law enforcement agency within 48 hours. They must also submit a sworn affidavit of surrender and a receipt from the agency to the court within three business days. This applies to people under existing protection orders or those convicted of domestic violence offenses in Tennessee. The bill amends Tennessee Code sections related to domestic violence protection orders (Title 36), criminal sentencing (Title 39), and firearm possession laws (Title 40), creating a standardized process for firearm surrender and documentation.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires firearm surrender for domestic violence offenders to prevent further harm, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing recidivism and enhancing victim safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Firearms

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1350: Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, allows a court to issue an extreme risk protection order upon a finding by clear and convincing evidence that a person poses a significant danger of causing personal injury to the person or others if allowed to possess or purchase a firearm; authorizes a law enforcement officer or relative to file a petition for an extreme risk protection order; creates an offense to store or keep a firearm in any place unless the firearm is secured in a locked container, unloaded, and separate from ammunition except when the firearm is carried by or under the control of the owner or other lawfully authorized user; prohibits a gun dealer from delivering a firearm to a purchaser until 15 business days after the completion of certain requirements. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 38 and Title 39, Chapter 17.

SB 1350 proposes a new "extreme risk protection order" (ERPO) process in Tennessee, allowing courts to temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed a significant danger to themselves or others. Law enforcement officers or close relatives can file petitions with clear evidence of risk, leading to a court hearing within 14 days and potential 12-month orders. The bill also requires firearms to be stored unloaded and locked away from ammunition (except during lawful use) and adds a 15-business-day waiting period for gun purchases after background checks. These changes would directly affect firearm owners facing ERPO petitions or subject to storage rules. The bill is currently pending review by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIntroduces ERPOs to prevent firearm access for high-risk individuals, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing gun violence and enhancing public safety.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms Law Enforcement

Track

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 932: DUI Offenses - As enacted, creates a distance to drive program study committee to help determine the feasibility of implementing a distance to drive program that would facilitate reinstatement of suspended and revoked driver licenses for criminal defendants based on meeting the objectives set by the court and completing all the requirements set by the department of safety. - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55.

SB 932 creates a study committee to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a "distance to drive" program for individuals with suspended or revoked driver licenses due to DUI offenses. The program would allow license reinstatement if participants meet court-mandated objectives and complete all requirements set by the Department of Safety. This bill does not create the program itself but establishes a committee to study its potential implementation, directly affecting people convicted of DUI with license suspensions. The committee’s findings would inform future legislative decisions about the program, with no immediate policy changes enacted by this bill.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates study committee for DUI license reinstatement program, promoting rehabilitation and reducing barriers to reintegration for criminal defendants, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 846: Courts - As enacted, enacts the "Violent Criminal Court Act." - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 10; Title 16; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 41 and Title 55.

SB 846 requires the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to submit its annual report on narcotics investigations to the House criminal justice committee and Senate judiciary committee by February 15 each year, instead of the previous annual deadline. The bill amends specific Tennessee Code sections to update the submission timeline and committee references. This change affects the TBI’s narcotics division and the legislative committees overseeing criminal justice oversight. The bill focuses solely on adjusting the reporting schedule, with no new policy requirements or funding impacts.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates timely legislative oversight of TBI narcotics investigations, enhancing transparency and accountability in criminal justice operations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 1234: Civil Procedure - As introduced, revives causes of action based on a sexual assault that occurred when the injured party was 18 years of age or older and are time-barred because the applicable statute of limitations has expired; allows such actions to be commenced within a certain time period. - Amends TCA Title 28, Chapter 3; Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 1234 revives civil lawsuits for sexual assault that were previously time-barred under Tennessee law because the statute of limitations expired. It allows survivors who were 18 or older at the time of the assault to file new lawsuits between July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2027. The bill defines "sexual assault" to include specific offenses like rape, sexual battery, and incest under Tennessee Code. This provision applies only to cases dismissed before July 1, 2025, due to the time limit, not to new claims.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRevives civil lawsuits for sexual assault (criminal offense) time-barred under statute, aligning with criminal justice reform by expanding victim access to justice.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Violent Crime

Track