Bill > SB2137

This bill, effective July 1, 2026, mandates that individuals convicted of a violent offense on or after that date, who also have prior convictions for violent offenses that result in a total of three or more "strikes" (with at least two of those strikes being for specific serious violent offenses), will be sentenced to life imprisonment as a "repeat violent offender." The bill defines "prior conviction" to include offenses from other states or countries if they would be considered violent offenses in Tennessee, and clarifies that juvenile adjudications for violent offenses do not count unless the individual was tried and convicted as an adult. It also establishes a system for assigning "strikes" based on the severity of the violent offense, with more serious offenses receiving a full strike, less serious ones a half strike, and other felonies or misdemeanor attempts/facilitations a quarter strike, and allows for a deduction of half a strike for every three-year period without a criminal conviction. The bill also outlines how courts should determine sentencing when a defendant might qualify as a repeat violent offender under multiple statutes, prioritizing the statute that imposes the stricter sentence.

Justice

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB2137&ga=114