TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Mar 21, 2022

The cost of the “truth-in-sentencing” bill working its way through the Tennessee General Assembly depends on who you ask, according to the Commercial Appeal. In fact, the Tennessee General Assembly staff estimate the cost to be $40 million annually while the Tennessee Department of Corrections estimates it will cost the state $77 million annually 10 years after enacted. Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the bill, which would require certain felons to serve 100% of their sentence. David Raybin with the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers spoke against the bill saying it would effectively double or triple some sentences. The bill is backed by Senate leadership and has strong support among Republicans but Gov. Bill Lee has not endorsed it. His criminal justice reforms passed last year were designed to reduce sentences.