TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Jun 22, 2026

The Tennessee Department of Correction is proposing a two-year contract to continue the state's Community Corrections program while maintaining a 15% funding reduction, according to the Tennessee Lookout. The program, created by the General Assembly in 1985 as an alternative to incarceration, provides intensive probation services through 15 agencies across the state. Lawmakers last year directed the department to use a $14 million fund balance to help stabilize the program, but the department instead applied those funds to support operations for the upcoming fiscal year on a one-time basis. Sen. Ed Jackson, R-Jackson, said he plans to continue advocating for full funding, calling the program effective in reducing incarceration and helping participants overcome addiction and rebuild their lives. The department has indicated it intends to offer two-year contracts, though long-term funding beyond the next fiscal year remains uncertain.