Criminal Justice

in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 11, 2025

HB 1030: Probation and Parole - As introduced, enacts the "Parole Relief and Opportunity Act"; expands the definition of hardship for purposes of determining the ability of a parolee to contribute to the cost of the person's supervision and release. - Amends TCA Title 40 and Title 41.

HB 1030, the "Parole Relief and Opportunity Act," expands the definition of hardship for parolees who cannot afford supervision costs due to basic needs like food and housing, or lack of employment despite reasonable efforts. It requires the Department of Correction to waive certain fees (including supervision contributions) for parolees meeting this new hardship standard, as defined in Section 40-28-202(a)(8). The bill also prevents parole revocation for two months of non-payment if a parolee demonstrates hardship and requests reevaluation, waiving unpaid contributions until financial circumstances improve. This directly affects parolees struggling with poverty or family responsibilities who previously faced revocation for unpaid fees.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands hardship definition for parolees to include basic needs, waives fees for eligible individuals, and prevents revocation for non-payment - aligns with reform goals to reduce recidivism and ease reentry barriers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 1395: Criminal Procedure - As introduced, restores the right of suffrage for persons convicted of an infamous crime after expiration of the sentence imposed for the infamous crime; removes requirement that the person pay restitution and court costs and be current in all child support obligations before having the person's right of suffrage restored; permits a person to have the right of suffrage restored without having the person's full rights of citizenship restored. - Amends TCA Title 2 and Title 40.

HB 1395 restores voting rights for Tennessee residents convicted of an "infamous crime" once their sentence (including incarceration, probation, or parole) ends, without requiring them to pay restitution, court costs, or be current on child support. The bill removes previous barriers by automatically reinstating voting rights upon sentence completion, rather than requiring court approval or full citizenship restoration. It specifically affects individuals with such convictions who have served their sentences, clarifying that only voting rights - not full citizenship - are restored. The law updates voter registration forms and election codes to reflect this change, ensuring eligibility is determined solely by sentence completion. This policy change applies to convictions both before and after May 18, 1981.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores voting rights automatically after sentence completion without financial barriers, advancing criminal justice reform by protecting civil rights and reducing recidivism barriers for formerly incarcerated individuals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections Courts

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 971: Jails, Local Lock-ups - As introduced, exempts a prisoner of a county workhouse or jail who is released from custody on work release from wearing an electronic monitoring device if the prisoner was convicted of a non-violent crime and the sheriff has determined that the prisoner poses a low risk to the public and for escape. - Amends TCA Title 41, Chapter 2.

Senate Bill 971 would exempt certain county jail or workhouse prisoners on work release from wearing electronic monitoring devices. Specifically, it applies to individuals convicted of non-violent crimes who are determined by the sheriff to pose a low risk to public safety and for escape. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 41, Chapter 2, to remove the current requirement for electronic monitoring under these conditions. This change would directly affect eligible inmates in Tennessee county correctional facilities participating in work release programs.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExempts low-risk non-violent offenders from electronic monitoring, reducing unnecessary restrictions and supporting rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Violent Crime

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died · Tennessee · House Feb 12, 2025

HB 58: Law Enforcement - As introduced, requires an employing law enforcement agency to contact any prior law enforcement agency that employed the agency's officer or special deputy as part of the thorough investigation into the person's good moral character. - Amends TCA Title 38, Chapter 8.

HB 58 requires Tennessee law enforcement agencies to contact a job candidate's previous law enforcement employers as part of verifying their "good moral character" during hiring. This applies directly to police departments and sheriff's offices when vetting new officers or special deputies. The bill amends Tennessee law to mandate this specific step in the background check process. As a procedural change to hiring requirements, it does not alter substantive law or create new penalties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires prior employer contact for officer vetting, enhancing accountability in law enforcement hiring per bill's procedural change to background checks.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement Policing

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 979: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, creates a Class B misdemeanor offense for engaging in harassing behavior against a first responder engaged in official duties under certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 39.

SB 979 creates a Class B misdemeanor offense for intentionally approaching within 25 feet of a first responder (including police, firefighters, EMTs, or corrections officers) during official duties after being verbally warned not to, when the intent is to impede their work, threaten them, or cause emotional distress. The law directly affects individuals who harass first responders in these specific circumstances while they are performing their duties. Key provisions require a prior verbal warning, define "harass" as causing substantial emotional distress with no legitimate purpose, and specify the three prohibited intents. This bill aims to protect first responders from disruptive or threatening behavior during emergency operations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates Class B misdemeanor for harassing first responders during duties, strengthening law enforcement protection within criminal justice framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 661: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, enacts the "Comprehensive Assault Crime Intervention Act." - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 661, the "Comprehensive Assault Crime Intervention Act," requires judges to mandate counseling for individuals convicted of assault offenses. It specifies that defendants must complete certified batterer's intervention programs (minimum 26 weeks, 3 hours per session, with a 6:1 participant-to-counselor ratio) or substance abuse treatment as part of sentencing. The bill also mandates annual 12+ hour domestic violence training for judges and court staff. These provisions directly affect assault defendants and court personnel, focusing on rehabilitation and consistent judicial handling of domestic violence-related cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates batterer's intervention programs and domestic violence training to promote rehabilitation, reduce recidivism, and strengthen judicial oversight in assault cases.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates substance abuse treatment and batterer's intervention counseling as sentencing requirements, advancing healthcare access for offenders through court-ordered services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Violent Crime Substance Abuse

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 547: Criminal Procedure - As enacted, requires the clerk of every court having jurisdiction of criminal offenses to include a $12.50 charge in every cost bill, to be remitted to the county government to provide support services for the purpose of promoting public safety at the sole discretion of the district attorney general; takes effect upon two-thirds vote of the county legislative body; requires a district attorney general receiving funding to submit an annual report. - Amends TCA Title 40.

SB 547 requires Tennessee court clerks to add a $12.50 fee to every misdemeanor and felony cost bill, sending the collected funds to county governments (or district attorney offices in multi-county districts) for public safety support services. These funds must be used at the sole discretion of the district attorney general for public safety purposes, with no requirement for specific programs. Counties must approve the fee via a two-thirds vote of their legislative body, and district attorneys must submit annual reports detailing how the funds were spent. The fee does not apply to traffic violations or affect existing restitution or criminal injury compensation payments.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds $12.50 fee to fund public safety services at DA's discretion, explicitly advancing public safety support within criminal justice system.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Victims' Rights

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 1182: Sentencing - As introduced, requires a local community corrections advisory board to provide its annual report to the county legislative body on the progress of community corrections programs by February 1 of each year. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 16; Title 37; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 41.

SB 1182 requires local community corrections advisory boards in Tennessee to submit an annual report to their county legislative body by February 1 each year, detailing progress on community corrections programs. This bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law (Titles 8, 16, 37, 39, 40, and 41) to establish this reporting requirement. The bill directly affects community corrections advisory boards and county legislative bodies by mandating a standardized annual update on program effectiveness. It does not change sentencing laws or program content, only the reporting process.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates annual reporting on community corrections program progress, enhancing transparency and accountability in sentencing/rehabilitation efforts per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2025

SB 300: Sentencing - As enacted, generally requires a person convicted of a Class A misdemeanor in general sessions court to pay for and complete a cognitive behavioral training course; requires the offender to provide proof of course completion to the court or the court’s designee within the time period specified by the court. - Amends TCA Section 40-35-302.

SB 300 requires individuals convicted of a Class A or Class B misdemeanor in Tennessee general sessions court to complete a cognitive behavioral training course. Offenders must pay for the course (capped at $100), provide proof of completion to the court within a court-specified timeframe, and face up to 10 days in jail for willful failure to comply. The course must be accessible online, multilingual, include human interaction, and provide a completion certificate within 72 hours. This bill directly affects misdemeanor offenders and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires cognitive behavioral training for misdemeanants to reduce recidivism, aligns with rehabilitation-focused reform, and mandates accessible program design.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 29, 2025

HB 1257: 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.

HB 1257 expands expungement eligibility in Tennessee to include individuals who facilitated, attempted, or solicited offenses that were already eligible for expungement under existing law. It modifies multiple criminal justice statutes (Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 7, 16, 38, 40, 55, and 57) to clarify this expanded eligibility, directly affecting people seeking to clear certain criminal records. The bill also requires expungement forms to be publicly accessible on court websites. This law took effect in April 2025 after becoming Public Chapter 268.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands expungement eligibility to include facilitation/attempt of eligible offenses, reducing barriers for record clearance and aligning with criminal justice reform goals like reducing recidivism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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