Bill > HB2564

This bill establishes a pilot program in Tennessee counties with populations over 500,000 to inform victims about "restorative justice options," which are voluntary, victim-centered processes like facilitated communication or community repair agreements. The program, running for 24 months starting November 1, 2026, requires various entities, including court clerks and law enforcement, to provide victims with a standardized notice containing contact information for a "directory host" that maintains a list of available restorative justice programs. This notice will inform victims that participation is voluntary, does not affect their legal rights, and that their decision not to participate will not be held against them. The bill also specifies that juvenile court clerks in pilot counties must provide this notification in cases where a juvenile is eligible for serious youthful offender status or transfer to criminal court, without relieving criminal court clerks of their own notification duties.