Criminal Justice (Courts)

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 29, 2025

HB 580: Bail, Bail Bonds - As enacted, makes various changes regarding global positioning monitoring and the pretrial release of certain defendants. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55, Chapter 10.

HB 580 updates Tennessee's pretrial release rules for defendants using GPS monitoring. It requires counties to contract with "qualified" GPS service providers that offer 24/7 monitoring, maintain written court protocols, and notify emergency services if a defendant violates bond conditions. The bill also clarifies that victims must receive emergency contact information, limits liability for service providers, and creates a process where courts must hold hearings within 10 days if defendants fail to pay monitoring costs. This directly affects defendants on monitored pretrial release, victims, law enforcement, and GPS service providers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires 10-day court hearings for pretrial violations, enhancing oversight and defendant rights in bail process.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2025

SB 505: Montgomery County - As enacted, permits a court to transfer, upon motion by the defendant, a criminal case to the veterans treatment court program in Montgomery County if the veterans treatment court program would have jurisdiction over the case if the offense had been committed in Montgomery County, the defendant files with the court a written waiver of the right to be tried by an impartial jury of the county in which the crime was committed, and the district attorney general for Montgomery County agrees to accept transfer of the case. - Amends TCA Title 16 and Title 40.

SB 505 allows veterans facing criminal charges in Tennessee to request transferring their case to a veterans treatment court in a neighboring county (like Montgomery County, which has a population of 220,000-220,100 per census). It directly affects eligible veterans who qualify for veterans treatment court in the new county and must agree to waive their right to a jury trial in their original county. The transfer requires three conditions: the receiving court would have jurisdiction if the crime occurred there, the defendant signs a written waiver, and the district attorney general for the new county consents. This bill amends Tennessee law to expand access to veterans treatment courts across qualifying contiguous counties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables veterans treatment court transfers to prioritize rehabilitation over traditional prosecution, aligning with reform goals to reduce recidivism and address underlying issues for veterans.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEnables veterans facing criminal charges to access specialized treatment courts focused on rehabilitation rather than traditional prosecution, addressing underlying issues through targeted support programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SB 718: Courts, Juvenile - As enacted, requires a juvenile court conducting a child custody, detention, or adjudicatory proceeding to conduct the proceeding in a dedicated courtroom provided by the county that is closest in proximity to an approved detention center. - Amends TCA Title 37.

SB 718 requires Tennessee juvenile courts to hold child custody, detention, or legal hearings in a dedicated courtroom located as close as possible to the county's approved juvenile detention facility. This applies to courts that use a detention center approved by the Department of Children's Services for housing detained youth. The law aims to reduce the humiliation and unnecessary transportation of detained children by minimizing public exposure and restraints during court appearances. It does not change detention standards or confidentiality rules but mandates specific courtroom location practices for these proceedings. The bill became effective October 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReduces juvenile trauma by minimizing court transport/public exposure, aligning with reform goals to improve court procedures for detained youth.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SB 1097: DUI Offenses - As enacted, requires the state treasurer to deem a person ordered by a court to use a functioning ignition interlock device to be indigent and unable to pay the costs of the device if the person receives funds from the supplemental nutrition assistance, temporary assistance for needy families, or state medicaid program; removes the requirement that a court determine whether a person asserting inability to pay for a functioning ignition interlock device is indigent; revises other provisions relative to the electronic monitoring indigency fund. - Amends TCA Section 55-10-419.

SB 1097 changes Tennessee law for DUI offenders required to use ignition interlock devices (IIDs) by automatically deeming individuals receiving SNAP, TANF, or state Medicaid benefits as unable to pay for the device, eliminating the need for a court hearing to determine indigency. Under this bill, eligible individuals must pay $30 monthly toward device costs, with the state covering the remainder up to $170 per month from the electronic monitoring indigency fund. The law updates reimbursement procedures for device providers, requiring them to submit claims with court orders and proof of the person's benefit eligibility. This applies specifically to those ordered to use a functioning IID for DUI offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAutomatically deems SNAP/TANF/Medicaid recipients indigent for IID costs, removing court hearings and reducing financial barriers - aligns with criminal justice reform by protecting low-income defendants' rights and promoting fair compliance.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareUses Medicaid eligibility to waive IID costs, preventing financial barriers to healthcare access for beneficiaries.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Medicaid

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 29, 2025

HB 1343: DUI Offenses - As enacted, requires the state treasurer to deem a person ordered by a court to use a functioning ignition interlock device to be indigent and unable to pay the costs of the device if the person receives funds from the supplemental nutrition assistance, temporary assistance for needy families, or state medicaid program; removes the requirement that a court determine whether a person asserting inability to pay for a functioning ignition interlock device is indigent; revises other provisions relative to the electronic monitoring indigency fund. - Amends TCA Section 55-10-419.

HB 1343 automates indigency determination for DUI offenders required to use ignition interlock devices. It directs the state treasurer to automatically deem individuals receiving SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid benefits as indigent for device cost coverage, eliminating the need for courts to hold separate hearings to assess financial status. The bill revises Tennessee Code § 55-10-419 to streamline reimbursement from the electronic monitoring indigency fund, requiring providers to submit claims with court orders and proof of program eligibility. This directly affects low-income DUI offenders enrolled in federal/state assistance programs, ensuring they pay only $30 monthly toward device costs while the fund covers the remainder (up to $170). The policy change removes administrative hurdles for qualifying individuals while maintaining cost-sharing requirements.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAutomates indigency determination for DUI offenders on SNAP/TANF/Medicaid, eliminating court hearings to access device cost coverage - streamlines access to justice for low-income defendants.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 1038: 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.

HB 1038 requires all Tennessee juvenile court clerks to adopt a single, secure statewide system for managing juvenile case records. The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) must maintain this system and set adoption timelines for courts. Juvenile courts must report case data monthly through this system, replacing older record-keeping methods. This affects every juvenile court clerk and the state’s court administration across all counties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires centralized juvenile case management system to improve data tracking and court efficiency, advancing transparency and reform in juvenile justice administration.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice

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died · Tennessee · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 635: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, removes the killing of another committed in the perpetration of, or attempt to perpetrate, certain crimes from the elements of first degree murder; deletes the offense of criminal responsibility for conduct of another; deletes the offense of criminal responsibility for the facilitation of a felony. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 11; Title 39, Chapter 12; Title 39, Chapter 13; Title 39, Chapter 14; Title 40, Chapter 24; Title 40, Chapter 35 and Title 40, Chapter 39.

SB 635 removes specific legal provisions from Tennessee's criminal code. It deletes the rule that killing during certain crimes (like robbery) automatically qualifies as first-degree murder, and eliminates sections defining criminal responsibility for another person's actions or "facilitation" of felonies. These changes affect how murder charges are classified and defended in court, specifically removing three existing legal elements from the law. The bill does not create new policies but deletes existing provisions in Tennessee Code sections related to murder and criminal responsibility.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves automatic first-degree murder classification for certain crimes and deletes broad criminal responsibility provisions, reducing mandatory harsh sentencing and aligning with reform efforts.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Violent Crime

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 2, 2025

SB 304: Evidence - As enacted, permits the introduction into evidence of a video recording of a child victim being interviewed by a forensic interviewer regarding sexual or physically violent contact with the child if the forensic interviewer confirms the accuracy of the recording and the child is available for cross examination; makes other changes relative to forensic interviews. - Amends TCA Title 24, Chapter 7.

SB 304 allows video recordings of children's interviews with forensic interviewers to be used as evidence in court for cases involving sexual or physical violence against children. The bill requires either the child or the forensic interviewer to swear under oath that the recording is accurate, and the child must be available for cross-examination. It also clarifies that interviews conducted by qualified professionals - such as those employed by accredited child advocacy centers or federal agencies - meet admissibility standards. This change directly affects child victims in criminal cases, streamlining evidence presentation while maintaining judicial safeguards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables admissible child victim interview videos as evidence with safeguards (sworn accuracy, cross-examination), reducing trauma while strengthening evidence handling in sexual/physical violence cases, aligning with victim-centered criminal ...90% confidence

Sub-Topics 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

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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

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