Criminal Justice (Sentencing)

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 2170: Jails, Local Lock-ups - As introduced, requires the monthly report of the warden of a county workhouse for each prisoner placed under a work release program to be filed with the judge by whom the prisoner was sentenced on or before the fifteenth day of the month immediately following the reporting period. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 40 and Title 41.

SB 2170 requires county workhouse wardens to submit monthly reports to the sentencing judge about prisoners in work release programs. The reports, due by the 15th of each month, must detail each prisoner's conduct and financial achievements during the previous month. This bill directly affects county workhouses, wardens, and judges who oversee criminal sentences, updating Tennessee law (TCA Titles 5, 40, and 41) to mandate this judicial reporting. The key provision shifts reporting responsibility from previous entities to the sentencing judge, enhancing direct oversight of work release participants.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates reporting on work release participants' conduct/financial achievements to oversee rehabilitation progress, aligning with improving rehabilitation programs and reducing recidivism.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Judges Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 2420: Sentencing - As introduced, reduces the time within which a sentencing hearing must be held from within 45 days after a finding of guilt to within 30 days after the finding of guilt. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 2420 (Tennessee) shortens the deadline for holding sentencing hearings in criminal cases from 45 days to 30 days after a guilty verdict. This change directly affects defendants convicted of crimes and the state court system, requiring faster scheduling of sentencing. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections in Titles 38, 39, and 40 to implement this timeline reduction. It takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeShortens sentencing hearing timeline from 45 to 30 days, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to reduce delays and improve system efficiency without restricting rights or increasing sentences.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 2468: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, makes revisions to law relative to offenses occurring at a house of worship. - Amends TCA Title 29 and Title 39.

SB 2468 requires Tennessee courts to impose a mandatory fine equal to at least twice the cost of property damage or restoration when vandalism occurs at a house of worship (like a church, synagogue, or mosque). This applies specifically to sentencing for vandalism offenses committed at these locations, directly affecting both the convicted individual and the affected house of worship. The bill amends Tennessee criminal code to add this penalty as part of the sentence, overriding standard sentencing guidelines for such cases. It takes effect July 1, 2026, if passed.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates doubled fines for vandalism at houses of worship, increasing sentencing severity per TCA amendments, aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 2229: Sentencing - As introduced, establishes parole criteria for certain persons convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to imprisonment for life; specifies that if a person is convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to imprisonment for life, then the sentence must automatically expire after the person has served 40 years. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13 and Title 40, Chapter 35.

HB 2229 establishes a parole pathway for individuals convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment between 1995 and 2020, directly affecting roughly 1,300 Tennessee inmates currently serving life terms. The bill allows parole eligibility after 25 years if inmates meet specific criteria: avoiding violent misconduct for 10 consecutive years (saving 10 years), avoiding drug violations for 10 years (saving 10 years), earning a college degree (saving 10 years), or completing five mandated correctional programs (saving 5 years). If parole isn’t granted, life sentences automatically expire after 40 years of incarceration. The law applies retroactively to eligible inmates as of July 2026, with parole decisions mandatory upon meeting all requirements.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes parole pathway after 25 years for life-sentence inmates meeting rehabilitation criteria (e.g., college degree, no misconduct), reducing long-term incarceration and promoting reform through structured rehabilitation pathways.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

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died · Tennessee · House May 27, 2026

HB 2428: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, increases the penalty for assaulting a first responder from a Class A misdemeanor with a mandatory fine of $5,000 and a mandatory minimum of 30 days incarceration to a Class E felony with a mandatory fine of $10,000 and a mandatory minimum of 60 days incarceration. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 2428 raises the penalty for assaulting a first responder (including law enforcement officers) in Tennessee from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. The bill mandates a $10,000 fine and a minimum 60-day jail sentence for such offenses, with no early release during the mandatory period. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39 (criminal law) and Title 40 (criminal justice), effective July 1, 2026. This change directly affects individuals convicted of assaulting first responders by increasing the severity of penalties for these crimes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory penalties for assaulting first responders, raising offense to felony with higher fines and longer mandatory jail time, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of stricter sentencing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · House May 27, 2026

HB 2309: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, makes revisions to law relative to offenses occurring at a house of worship. - Amends TCA Title 29 and Title 39.

HB 2309 requires courts to impose a fine of at least twice the actual property damage or restoration costs when vandalism occurs at a house of worship, in addition to any other sentence. This applies specifically to offenses committed at religious buildings, directly affecting houses of worship that suffer damage and the courts sentencing offenders. The law amends Tennessee sentencing guidelines (TCA Title 39) to mandate this automatic double-fine calculation based on verified costs, overriding standard sentencing discretion for these cases. The bill would take effect on July 1, 2026, if passed.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates doubled fines for vandalism at houses of worship, increasing penalties under sentencing guidelines, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of stricter sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 2504: Sentencing - As introduced, requires a defendant to be sentenced to imprisonment for life as a repeat violent offender under certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 41.

HB 2504 requires courts to sentence defendants as "repeat violent offenders" to life imprisonment if they have three or more qualifying violent offenses committed on or after July 1, 2026. It directly affects individuals convicted of multiple serious violent crimes, including aggravated rape, kidnapping, child sexual abuse, or aggravated robbery. The bill establishes a "strikes" system where each qualifying offense counts toward the three required strikes, with at least two strikes needing to come from specific violent offenses listed in the bill (like aggravated rape or kidnapping). It applies only to offenses committed after July 1, 2026, and includes rules for counting prior convictions from other states or jurisdictions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates life sentences for repeat violent offenders, increasing mandatory penalties and reducing judicial discretion, opposing criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing Violent Crime

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 2285: Sentencing - As introduced, increases from one year to three years the amount of time a defendant receiving a split sentence of confinement and probation may be required to serve a portion of the sentence in continuous confinement in the local jail or workhouse; specifies that the state is responsible for all costs of incarceration after the first year. - Amends TCA Title 40 and Title 41.

HB 2285 changes Tennessee sentencing rules for defendants receiving split sentences (part jail time, part probation). It increases the maximum continuous jail time from one year to three years for such sentences, while requiring the state to cover all incarceration costs after the first year. This directly affects criminal defendants sentenced under these terms, particularly those serving split sentences in local jails or workhouses. The law amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 40-35-306 and 40-35-314, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory continuous jail time from 1 to 3 years for split sentences, expanding incarceration duration. State covers costs after first year but does not reduce sentence length, aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' oppose indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 2663: Sentencing - As introduced, increases from one year to three years the amount of time a defendant receiving a split sentence of confinement and probation may be required to serve a portion of the sentence in continuous confinement in the local jail or workhouse; specifies that the state is responsible for all costs of incarceration after the first year. - Amends TCA Title 40 and Title 41.

SB 2663 modifies Tennessee sentencing rules for defendants receiving split sentences (part jail time, part probation). It extends the mandatory continuous jail time from one year to three years for such cases, and requires the state to cover all incarceration costs after the first year. This directly affects individuals convicted of crimes who are sentenced to split confinement and probation. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 40-35-306 and 40-35-314, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory jail time from 1 to 3 years for split sentences, directly expanding punitive sentencing without reform elements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 2343: Sentencing - As introduced, establishes parole criteria for certain persons convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to imprisonment for life; specifies that if a person is convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to imprisonment for life, then the sentence must automatically expire after the person has served 40 years. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13 and Title 40, Chapter 35.

SB 2343 changes parole rules for individuals convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment between July 1, 1995, and June 30, 2020. It establishes a minimum 25-year sentence before parole eligibility, with up to 35 years reduced through specific criteria: 10 years for 10 years without violent misconduct, 10 years for 10 years drug-free, 10 years for completing an accredited degree, and 5 years for finishing required correctional programs. If parole criteria aren't met, the sentence automatically expires after 40 years of incarceration. The bill applies retroactively to eligible inmates already serving life sentences as of July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes rehabilitation incentives (education, drug-free, programs) for parole eligibility, reducing mandatory life sentences. Aligns with reform goals of reducing recidivism through rehabilitation-focused sentencing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

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