Latest news with #BoardofParole
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tennessee prosecutors blast governor's veto of expanding parole board authority
A state attorney generals' conference is slamming Gov. Bill Lee's veto of a measure giving more authority to parole boards. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) The Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference is denouncing Gov. Bill Lee's first veto and urging state lawmakers to override him on a bill giving the parole board more power. Passed overwhelmingly with little fanfare by the legislature this year, HB527/SB455 expands the Board of Parole's 'authority to deny early release when the severity of the offense demands it or where it sends a critical message that serious crimes carry serious consequences,' a DAs Conference letter from early May says. 'These are not abstract concepts —- they are the bedrock of public safety, justice for victims, and confidence in the rule of law,' the letter says. The state's prosecutors, led by Executive Director Steve Crump, further say ignoring the 'gravity and specific facts of an offender's crime when determining early release eligibility is not only irresponsible, it is dangerous' because it disregards victims' suffering and erodes trust in the criminal justice system. The letter grows harsher, saying some crimes are so 'egregious' the defendant should not receive 'early' release. Lee vetoed the bill May 5, calling it a 'step backwards' from the advances of the Reentry Success Action of 2021. That measure passed with strong support and led the state to record its lowest rate of return to prison in history, Lee said when he defended his position. Current statute allows the parole board — which is appointed by the governor — to deny parole based solely on the seriousness of the offense for 22 violent felonies. The bill seeks to broaden that authority beyond those crimes. Republican Rep. Rick Scarbrough of Oak Ridge, a former Clinton Police chief, and Republican Sen. Paul Rose of Covington sponsored the measure. Scarbrough said after the veto that the bill was designed to handle 'critical gaps' in the state's parole system to make sure serious offenses aren't 'minimized.' A spokesperson for the governor did not respond to questions immediately Tuesday. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Bill Lee's first veto is smart on crime, and courageous
Governor Bill Lee should be applauded for his courage in issuing his first veto on a small bill which could have had big consequences. The proposed law, if signed, would have allowed the Board of Parole to deny release for eligible inmates solely due to the 'seriousness of the crime' and regardless of their rehabilitation or risk of recidivism. This would have increased state spending for housing inmates with no demonstrated benefit to public safety. 'Seriousness of the crime' should only be considered at sentencing As an attorney, I have represented clients at parole hearings and in court when sentences are imposed. Most people expect that parole will be granted upon eligibility if they stay out of trouble and take whatever classes and programs they can while incarcerated. But the 'seriousness of the crime' factor allows the Parole Board to deny release regardless of how well the person has done in prison. Gov. Bill Lee speaks during a press conference on the last day of session at The Tennessee State Capitol building in Nashville , Tenn., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. This unfairly 'double counts' the facts of the underlying crime. After all, that information already informed the offender's sentence as well as any possible parole eligibility. Offenders become eligible for parole at a certain time because of the relative seriousness of the crime, not despite it. But when the 'seriousness of the crime' factor is part of the listed reasons parole can be denied, the Parole Board is bound to consider it. I have seen offenders denied parole even though they had no disciplinary issues since their last hearing, which is fully within the Parole Board's discretion when authorized. More: Parole increasingly rare in Tennessee as grant rate, number of hearings falls again The parole law previously allowed for the 'seriousness of the crime' to be considered in parole decisions for all convictions, including non-violent drug crimes. Under Governor Lee's leadership, the factor was appropriately limited by the Reentry Success Act of 2021 and allowed to apply only to the most heinous offenses, such as murder and human trafficking. The proposed amendment would have taken us backwards by removing that constraint. Denying parole to deserving inmates costs money and discourages rehabilitation If the legislature thinks some crimes are too serious to merit parole release after some number of years, they can change that through increasing sentence length or parole eligibility, or by denying eligibility altogether. They have done just that in recent years. We all want to see a decrease in crime and recidivism. It makes sense that rewarding good behavior in prison with early release will promote those goals, since most eligible offenders will all be released at some point anyway. By contrast, I have seen no evidence that offenders will be less likely to commit new crimes if they serve more time in prison based solely on past facts, and regardless of any demonstrated improvement. Through his veto, Governor Lee has again reflected his commitment to being 'smart on crime.' In his final years in office, I hope the legislature will work with him to further promote public safety. Ben Raybin, criminal defense, clemency, and civil rights law attorney Ben Raybin is an attorney at Raybin & Weissman, PC. He practices primarily in criminal defense, clemency, and civil rights law. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TN governor's first veto shows commitment to justice reform | Opinion
06-05-2025
- Politics
Tennessee's governor vetoes easier denial of parole bill, his first since taking office
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has vetoed his first bill since taking office in 2019, nixing a measure that would make it easier for a state board to deny parole. The Republican's veto Monday eliminates the bill, though the GOP-supermajority Tennessee Legislature can override a veto with the same number of votes that were required to originally pass the bill. In his veto letter, Lee wrote that the legislation unwinds a key component of a 2021 law aimed at reducing recidivism named the Reentry Success Act. He said removing that provision would be a 'step backwards from safer Tennessee communities.' That older bill, which Lee pushed for, only received one 'no' vote 'because we all know we cannot tackle crime without tackling recidivism," he wrote. 'I am confident that the Board of Parole and other safeguards ensure parole is awarded appropriately,' Lee wrote. Currently, the Board of Parole can deny a felony inmate's application based solely on the seriousness of the crime for more than 20 specific offenses, ranging from first-degree murder to aggravated child abuse. The bill would have allowed such rejections regardless of the type of crime. With Tennessee's weak veto authority, Lee had previously only shown his displeasure with bills by working to get them changed or defeated in the committee process, or, in rarer instances, letting them go into law without signing them. But vetoes like the one exercised Monday that are timed when lawmakers are out of session can delay a bill from become law for months, since lawmakers don't return until January. Vetoes can also leverage the political weight of the governor's office in hopes of convincing lawmakers not to override. One prominent example where Lee wouldn't sign a bill was the 2019 legislation that paved the way for online sports betting in the state, which Lee disliked because it expanded gambling in a state that doesn't allow casinos. Lee also notably declined to sign a 2022 bill that requires serving entire sentences for various felonies and at least 85% of sentences on other offenses. Lee, who ran in 2018 on criminal justice reform, said the data did not support the premise of the law. Lee's first veto likewise scrutinized a toughened approach to criminal justice. Rep. Rick Scarbrough, the Republican bill sponsor from Oak Ridge, said he plans to seek a veto override in January. The legislation passed 75-16 in the House and 22-4 in the Senate, with Democrats casting the only 'no' votes. A few House Democrats voted for it. 'While I have deep respect for Governor Lee, I am both surprised and disappointed by his decision to veto this bill,' Scarbrough said in a statement. 'This legislation addresses critical gaps in our parole system while strengthening public safety and confidence, ensuring that serious offenses are not minimized.' The bill was backed by the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference. Its executive director, former district attorney Stephen Crump, told a panel of senators in March that there are some 'very significant offenses' that are not part of the current law, and he argued that the parole board needs greater discretion in its decision making.
Winnipeg Free Press
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Tennessee's governor vetoes easier denial of parole bill, his first since taking office
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has vetoed his first bill since taking office in 2019, nixing a measure that would make it easier for a state board to deny parole. The Republican's veto Monday eliminates the bill, though the GOP-supermajority Tennessee Legislature can override a veto with the same number of votes that were required to originally pass the bill. In his veto letter, Lee wrote that the legislation unwinds a key component of a 2021 law aimed at reducing recidivism named the Reentry Success Act. He said removing that provision would be a 'step backwards from safer Tennessee communities.' That older bill, which Lee pushed for, only received one 'no' vote 'because we all know we cannot tackle crime without tackling recidivism,' he wrote. FILE - Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee delivers his inaugural address in War Memorial Auditorium, on Jan. 19, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File) 'I am confident that the Board of Parole and other safeguards ensure parole is awarded appropriately,' Lee wrote. Currently, the Board of Parole can deny a felony inmate's application based solely on the seriousness of the crime for more than 20 specific offenses, ranging from first-degree murder to aggravated child abuse. The bill would have allowed such rejections regardless of the type of crime. With Tennessee's weak veto authority, Lee had previously only shown his displeasure with bills by working to get them changed or defeated in the committee process, or, in rarer instances, letting them go into law without signing them. But vetoes like the one exercised Monday that are timed when lawmakers are out of session can delay a bill from become law for months, since lawmakers don't return until January. Vetoes can also leverage the political weight of the governor's office in hopes of convincing lawmakers not to override. One prominent example where Lee wouldn't sign a bill was the 2019 legislation that paved the way for online sports betting in the state, which Lee disliked because it expanded gambling in a state that doesn't allow casinos. Lee also notably declined to sign a 2022 bill that requires serving entire sentences for various felonies and at least 85% of sentences on other offenses. Lee, who ran in 2018 on criminal justice reform, said the data did not support the premise of the law. Lee's first veto likewise scrutinized a toughened approach to criminal justice. Rep. Rick Scarbrough, the Republican bill sponsor from Oak Ridge, said he plans to seek a veto override in January. The legislation passed 75-16 in the House and 22-4 in the Senate, with Democrats casting the only 'no' votes. A few House Democrats voted for it. 'While I have deep respect for Governor Lee, I am both surprised and disappointed by his decision to veto this bill,' Scarbrough said in a statement. 'This legislation addresses critical gaps in our parole system while strengthening public safety and confidence, ensuring that serious offenses are not minimized.' The bill was backed by the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference. Its executive director, former district attorney Stephen Crump, told a panel of senators in March that there are some 'very significant offenses' that are not part of the current law, and he argued that the parole board needs greater discretion in its decision making.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee issues first-ever veto, blocking bill giving parole board more power
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee vetoed the first bill of his administration, knocking back a piece of legislation that would have given the state parole board more discretion to deny parole to state prisoners. The legislation would have allowed the Board of Parole to reject parole requests based solely on the crime the person committed, without considering other factors such as behavior during incarceration or the completion of education programs. Currently, the board can only reject parole based on the seriousness of the crime for certain violent and sexual offenses. In a letter to GOP leaders, Lee said Senate Bill 455 would unwind a "meaningful part" of a 2021 criminal justice reform act that received bipartisan support in the legislature. "Together we recognized that the vast majority of offenders will return to our communities, and their successful reentry impacts the safety of every neighborhood for the better," Lee said in a May 5 letter notifying the Senate and House speakers of his veto decision. "Two years later, Tennessee achieved the lowest recidivism rate in state history, meaning fewer crimes and fewer victims. And I am confident that the Board of Parole and other safeguards ensure parole is awarded appropriately. (SB 455) unwinds a meaningful part of the Reentry Success Act, which is a step backwards from safer Tennessee communities." The veto was a surprising move for Lee, who has previously resisted striking down any legislation in the first six years since he took office in 2019. The historic veto also came on a bill that passed quietly and quickly through the General Assembly this year. Lee's veto puts him at odds with the Republican supermajority in both chambers, who voted in favor of the legislation and now have the power to override his veto. Lawmakers could call themselves back into session to override the veto or move to do so at the beginning of the 2026 legislative session, which would be Lee's last as governor. In Tennessee, lawmakers can override a gubernatorial veto by simple majority. Though surprising given his reticence to use the veto prior, Lee's actions align with some criminal justice reform he sought earlier in his administration to divert people away from prison and expand support for people leaving custody. Lee has sometimes clashed with GOP lawmakers in the past over this reform legislation, particularly over measures that might increase prison populations or decrease incentives designed for rehabilitation. After passing the 2021 reform legislation, Lee locked heads with General Assembly leadership in 2022 over a controversial "truth in sentencing" bill, which effectively lengthened some prison sentences in the state. The governor declined to sign the legislation, allowing it to take effect without his signature. Senate Bill 455 moved quickly through the General Assembly this year and passed both chambers with no floor debates, which typically happen on controversial legislation. Votes fell along party lines, with most Democrats voting against the bill. Sen. Paul Rose, R-Sparta, said in March he sponsored the bill at the request of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference. "The parole board should be given the greatest discretion to determine which among those inmates deserve to be kept from among us and those which can be released back into society," District Attorney General Conference executive director Stephen Crump said in a March committee hearing. Crump said some "significant offenses" were not included in the current statute, including reckless homicide, carjacking and continuous sexual abuse of a child. In the Senate Judiciary Committee, some senators expressed concern with allowing the parole board to block parole without considering other factors. Sen. Kerry Roberts, R-Springfield, said the sentencing structure is "designed to dangle carrots in front of inmates, so they'll behave to get out." "We're trying to incentivize people to behave, to rehabilitate themselves, to learn a skill, whatever the thing might be to get out," Roberts said. "I'm struggling with why are we giving the parole board more discretion to say no to people, instead of less." This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TN Gov. Bill Lee issues first-ever veto, blocking parole board bill
