Tennessee legislators have passed a groundbreaking "blended sentencing" bill that awaits Governor Bill Lee's signature. The legislation is designed to address lenient punishments for serious juvenile offenders by implementing adult penalties once they age out of the juvenile system.
Under current law, the juvenile justice system loses jurisdiction over offenders when they turn 19. The new bill allows for serious offenders who meet specific criteria after aging out to receive three to five additional years in adult prison. Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, who sponsored the bill, highlighted the issue, stating, "If they're 17 or 18 years old, and they commit a violent crime, and they're not prosecuted as an adult, by the time they turn age 19, their record is wiped clean. They get a free pass."
Under the new legislation, juvenile suspects aged 16 or older found responsible for the equivalent of an adult class A, B, or C felony can face a "blended" sentence that includes adult punishment after turning 18. However, no blended sentence can extend beyond the offender's 25th birthday.
Sexton emphasized that young offenders will no longer escape accountability for violent crimes, such as carjacking, by serving less than two years. The bill sets stringent guidelines for serious offenses, requiring young criminals to demonstrate a commitment to rehabilitation to avoid adult prison time.
The legislation comes in response to a rise in juvenile carjackings during the COVID-19 pandemic and follows the state's successful "truth in sentencing" bill, which ended early prison release for violent criminals.
Governor Lee is expected to sign the bill into law following a series of high-profile crimes involving juveniles. Notably, Memphis Police Officer Joseph McKinney was killed in a shootout with two teen suspects, ages 17 and 18, one of whom had been released from custody just days before.
Critics of the bill raise concerns about potential constitutional challenges. However, Sexton stated that lawmakers consulted with various stakeholders, including prosecutors, law enforcement, mayors, and judges, before passing the bill.
Additionally, the state House is working on the Juvenile Prohibitor Bill, which would prevent violent juvenile offenders from legally purchasing a gun until they are 25 or older. State voters will also have the opportunity in 2026 to vote on a bail reform amendment to the Tennessee Constitution, expanding the list of charges for which a defendant can be held without bond.