TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Apr 28, 2025

Gov. Bill Lee has signed a bill that will change how bail decisions are made in Tennessee. HB854/SB856 allows judges to consider “reliable hearsay” when determining whether a defendant should be granted bail. This could include documents such as police database printouts, rap sheets and probation violation reports, even if no witness is present to testify about them, Fox Chattanooga reports. Supporters say the bill gives judges more context to assess whether a defendant poses a risk to the community and could help prevent repeat offenders from being released too easily. Critics argue the measure could lead to unfair detentions, particularly for defendants without legal representation.