Criminal Justice

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 4, 2025

SB 790: Law Enforcement Training Academy - As enacted, requires the peace officer standards and training commission to issue a certificate of compliance to a person appointed as a private special deputy on or after January 1, 2026, if the person meets the qualifications for employment as a police officer and satisfactorily completes an approved recruit training program; requires annual in-service training sessions to retain such certification. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 38 and Title 49.

SB 790 requires private special deputies in Tennessee (appointed on or after January 1, 2026) to obtain a certificate of compliance from the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission. To qualify, they must meet standard police officer requirements and complete an approved recruit training program. The bill also mandates annual in-service training sessions to maintain this certification. This law amends Tennessee Code to establish these training and certification standards for private special deputies.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates training and certification standards for private deputies, enhancing law enforcement accountability and professional standards per TCA amendments.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 1116: Treasurer, State - As introduced, creates within the state treasury a fund known as the crime stoppers trust fund to be used for the purpose of grant administration to fund crime stoppers programs within the state; requires an additional fine of $10 to be imposed on offenders convicted of a felony or misdemeanor offense to be deposited in the crime stoppers trust fund. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 67.

HB 1116 creates a "crime stoppers trust fund" in Tennessee's state treasury by requiring a $10 additional fine on individuals convicted of felony or misdemeanor offenses. Courts collect this fine (keeping $3 per fine as a service charge) and send the remaining $7 monthly to the fund, which supports local crime stoppers programs. The fund provides grants to eligible 501(c)(3) crime stoppers organizations for public awareness, rewards for tips leading to arrests or recoveries (e.g., stolen property, weapons), and limited administrative costs (capped at 25% of grant funds). Funds are distributed based on where fines were collected, with one grant per county to support programs that aid law enforcement through public tip reporting.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new $10 fine revenue stream to fund crime stoppers grants, directly advancing public safety program funding under state budget.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates crime stoppers trust fund via $10 fines to fund public awareness and tip rewards programs, directly supporting community crime prevention initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 813: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, reduces from a Class C felony to a Class B misdemeanor the offense of criminal exposure of another to HIV; creates a Class C felony for the criminal exposure of another to HIV if a person transmitted HIV to another person. - Amends TCA Title 39.

SB 813 changes Tennessee's penalties for criminal exposure to HIV. It reduces the offense of exposure without HIV transmission from a Class C felony to a Class B misdemeanor. The bill also creates a new Class C felony for cases where HIV is transmitted to another person. These changes will directly affect individuals charged with HIV exposure crimes under Tennessee law, with effective dates starting July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReduces penalties for non-transmission HIV exposure (felony to misdemeanor), aligning with criminal justice reform by lowering unnecessary harsh sentences.95% confidence

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

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 533: Jails, Local Lock-ups - As enacted, requires, if a prisoner is released for paid employment, the cost of the electronic monitoring device to be deducted from the prisoner's wages by the sheriff and paid directly to the electronic monitoring device provider by the county or state, as applicable; requires, if a prisoner is released for unpaid work, the entity utilizing the prisoner for work to pay the costs of the electronic monitoring device. - Amends TCA Title 41.

SB 533 changes who pays for electronic monitoring devices when prisoners are released for work in Tennessee. For unpaid work release, the organization employing the prisoner must cover the monitoring costs. For paid employment, the prisoner’s wages must be used to pay for the device, with the sheriff deducting the cost and paying the provider directly. This applies to county or state facilities under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 41, effective July 1, 2025. The bill removes a prior 2024 start date but otherwise modifies existing work release rules.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClarifies cost responsibility for electronic monitoring in work release, preventing financial burden on prisoners/employers and supporting rehabilitation programs aligned with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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

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signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SB 1055: Expunction - As enacted, reorganizes present statutes concerning expunction and specifies that facilitation, attempt, or solicitation of an offense that is presently eligible for expunction is also eligible for expunction. - Amends TCA Title 7; Title 16; Title 38; Title 40; Title 55 and Title 57.

SB 1055 expands Tennessee's expungement eligibility to include individuals who facilitated, attempted, or solicited crimes that were previously eligible for expungement. This change directly affects people with certain criminal records who could not previously clear related charges like planning or aiding a crime. The bill revises multiple Tennessee statutes (Titles 7, 16, 38, 40, 55, and 57) to add these scenarios to the list of eligible offenses for expungement. The law, effective April 24, 2025, simplifies the process by aligning statutory language to reflect this expanded eligibility.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands expungement eligibility to include facilitation/attempts of eligible offenses, directly advancing criminal justice reform by reducing barriers for individuals with certain records and promoting rehabilitation.95% confidence

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

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signed · Tennessee · House May 8, 2025

HB 1090: Correction, Dept. of - As enacted, requires the department to study the issues associated with constructing and operating a reentry facility that would house eligible inmates who are working toward return from incarceration into the community. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 40 and Title 41.

HB 1090 requires Tennessee's Department of Correction to study the challenges of building and operating reentry facilities for eligible inmates transitioning back into the community. The bill mandates that the department submit an annual report by February 1st detailing its findings. This law directly affects the Department of Correction, which must now conduct this study and report its results each year, without creating new facilities or changing inmate eligibility.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates study of reentry facilities to aid inmate community transition, directly supporting criminal justice reform by focusing on reducing recidivism through rehabilitation pathways.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole