Tenn. recidivism among key topics during hearings
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The chairman of a legislative panel examining criminal justice reform in Tennessee says he will share information from hearings this week with a special task force the governor has appointed.
Republican Sen. Brian Kelsey of Germantown heads the Senate Judiciary Committee. It held two hearings this week to gather information from attorneys, law enforcement officials and criminal justice advocates. The hearings ended Tuesday.
Kelsey is also on the task force the governor formed to examine Tennessee’s sentencing structure and recidivism.
Many of the presenters during the hearings said the state’s sentencing structure, which has been in place for more than 20 years, needs to be reviewed.
They also said more programs are needed to help inmates while they’re incarcerated so they have a better chance of staying out of prison. Tennessee’s repeat offender rate is about 46 percent.
