Criminal Justice (Sentencing)

in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 12, 2025

HB 1363: Sentencing - As introduced, permits a person who is serving a sentence of incarceration of eight years or more for an offense committed prior to January 1, 2026, and who is a victim of domestic abuse subjected to substantial physical, sexual, or psychological abuse inflicted by a member of the same family or household as the person to submit to the sentencing court, a request to apply for resentencing. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 1363 allows individuals serving eight or more years in prison for a crime committed before January 1, 2026, to request a new sentencing hearing if they were victims of domestic abuse (physical, sexual, or psychological) by a family or household member at the time of the offense. To apply, they must submit documentation proving their sentence length, the crime's date, and the abuse, including two types of evidence (one from court records, police reports, or similar sources). If approved, the court may reduce their sentence, considering their prison behavior and participation in treatment programs, but not the original conviction. Requests can only be made starting January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows resentencing for domestic abuse victims to correct unjust sentences, promoting reform and protecting vulnerable individuals within sentencing framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Domestic Violence Sentencing

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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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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 9, 2025

HB 1165: Sentencing - As introduced, adds as an enhancement factor to be used in determining the sentence within the permissible range for a criminal offense that the defendant is an adult and committed the offense with a minor, regardless of whether the minor was convicted of the offense. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 1165 amends Tennessee sentencing laws to require judges to consider as a sentencing factor that an adult defendant committed a criminal offense with a minor, regardless of whether the minor was convicted. This change directly affects adult defendants in criminal cases where a minor was involved in the offense. The bill adds this factor to the list of considerations judges must weigh when determining a sentence within the legally permitted range. It applies to offenses committed on or after July 1, 2025, and would impact sentencing outcomes for such cases statewide.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds sentencing enhancement for adults involving minors, increasing severity of penalties per bill's explicit language.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · House May 13, 2025

HB 1204: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, revises present law concerning driving under the influence. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 55.

HB 1204 revises Tennessee's driving under the influence (DUI) laws. It allows law enforcement officers to assist qualified medical practitioners in using reasonable force to obtain blood samples from drivers suspected of DUI, and increases the maximum sentence for a first-time DUI conviction from one year to one year and six months. The blood sample provision takes effect immediately upon enactment, while the sentencing change will take effect on July 1, 2025. This bill directly affects drivers charged with DUI in Tennessee by altering evidence collection procedures and penalties.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases first-time DUI sentence max from 1 year to 18 months, expanding criminalization and harsher penalties per indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Sentencing

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signed · Tennessee · House May 27, 2025

HB 371: 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.

HB 371 requires individuals convicted of Class A or Class B misdemeanors in Tennessee to complete a behavioral training course as part of their sentencing. Offenders must pay for the course (capped at $100), provide proof of completion to the court within a court-specified timeframe, and face potential jail time (up to 10 days) for failing to comply. The course must be accessible online, offered in multiple languages, include human interaction, and be provided by certified vendors meeting specific standards. This law affects misdemeanor offenders directly and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates cognitive behavioral training for misdemeanor offenders to reduce recidivism, aligning with rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Sentencing

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 673: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, enacts the "Comprehensive Assault Crime Intervention Act." - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 673, the "Comprehensive Assault Crime Intervention Act," requires judges sentencing defendants for assault offenses to mandate completion of certified batterer's intervention programs (minimum 26 weeks, 3+ hours per session, max 6:1 counselor ratio) or drug/alcohol treatment as part of alternative sentencing. It directly affects individuals convicted of assault who receive alternative sentences, requiring them to complete these programs fully without shortening the term via plea agreements. The bill also adds new requirements for defendants in certain violations to attend violence-focused counseling and mandates 12+ hours yearly domestic violence training for judges and court staff. These provisions take effect July 1, 2025, and do not change assault definitions but alter sentencing conditions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates batterer's intervention and treatment programs for assault offenders, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through structured sentencing requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Sentencing Violent Crime

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 19, 2025

HB 1026: Expunction - As introduced, permits the expunction of a Class E felony conviction for official misconduct. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40, Chapter 32.

HB 1026 would allow individuals convicted of a Class E felony for official misconduct to have their court records permanently removed. This specifically affects people who committed such offenses while serving in public office or as government employees (e.g., police officers or public officials). The bill amends Tennessee law to create a new process for expunging these records, making them inaccessible to the public and most employers. It does not change sentencing or apply to other types of crimes. The bill is currently under review by the Judiciary Committee's Criminal Justice Subcommittee.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables expungement of official misconduct convictions, reducing barriers to employment and supporting rehabilitation - core criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Policing Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · House May 13, 2025

HB 1352: Sentencing - As enacted, provides that if the victim in an aggravated sexual battery was less than 18 or was mentally defective, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless, then such battery remains a Class B felony, and the defendant must be punished as a Range II offender; provides that the sentence imposed upon the defendant may, if appropriate, be within Range III but in no case lower than Range II. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 5.

HB 1352 changes Tennessee law to classify aggravated sexual battery as a Class A felony (a more serious offense) when the victim is under 18 years old or is mentally defective, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless - previously, it was a Class B felony. The bill mandates that defendants in these cases must be sentenced within Tennessee’s Range II sentencing range (the minimum for Class A felonies), though judges may impose a higher Range III sentence if appropriate. This affects all convictions for aggravated sexual battery meeting these victim criteria and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeUpgrades aggravated sexual battery to Class A felony with mandatory minimum Range II sentencing, increasing penalties for vulnerable victims' cases per bill language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 29, 2025

HB 579: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, adds the offense of robbery to the definition of crime of violence. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

HB 579 amends Tennessee law to explicitly include "robbery" in the legal definition of "crime of violence" under Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13. This change directly affects robbery cases by classifying them under the same sentencing framework as other violent crimes like murder, aggravated assault, and kidnapping. The bill updates the statutory definition to ensure robbery is treated as a crime of violence for legal and sentencing purposes. It takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeClassifies robbery as 'crime of violence' under sentencing framework, increasing penalties and expanding criminalization per bill's explicit amendment to TCA Title 39.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing Violent Crime

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 1111: 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.

HB 1111 requires local community corrections advisory boards in Tennessee counties to submit annual reports on the progress of community corrections programs to their county legislative bodies by February 1 each year. This bill directly affects county-level community corrections advisory boards and county legislative bodies by establishing a mandatory reporting timeline. The key provision is the February 1 deadline for these reports, which aims to increase transparency and oversight of community corrections initiatives. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee Code related to criminal sentencing to implement this requirement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates annual transparency reporting for community corrections programs, enhancing oversight and accountability per criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing

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