TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Kate Prince on Jan 26, 2023

A special ad-hoc legislative committee met yesterday to discuss the juvenile justice system and make recommendations for the state moving forward, the Tennessean reports. The committee recommended the state increase mental health services and some punitive measures at the state's Department of Children Services-run juvenile detention centers — in addition to calling for a unified courts system to help judges better share juvenile case information across jurisdictions. Additionally, the committee recommended lowering the age a teenager could be designated as "incorrigible" from 18 to 17, establishing a “step-down” housing pilot and increasing DCS salaries.