Latest news with #HB527
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
Tennessee governor issues first veto on parole authority expansion
Gov. Bill Lee, pictured March 20, 2025, issued his first veto in his six-plus years in office on May 5, 2025. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee issued the first veto of his six-plus years Monday against a measure that would have expanded authority of the state Probation and Parole Board. Lee sent a veto letter to the speakers of the House and Senate saying he is returning SB455/HB527 because the new bill would be a 'step backwards' from the advances of the Reentry Success Act of 2021. That measure passed overwhelmingly with a single no vote 'because we all know we cannot tackle crime without tackling recidivism. 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. The governor said two years after the Reentry Success Act passed, the state recorded its lowest recidivism rate in history, the rate for which convicts return to prison, 'meaning fewer crimes and fewer victims.' Lee added he is 'confident' the board and other 'safeguards' can make sure parole is 'awarded appropriately.' 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 and Republican Sen. Paul Rose of Covington passed the bill with little debate along party lines, 75-16 in the House and 22-4 in the Senate. Scarbrough, former police chief of Clinton in East Tennessee, issued a statement saying he had dedicated his career to protecting his community and in January 2026 would work to override the veto, which takes a simple majority of the House and Senate. 'While I have deep respect for Gov. Lee, I am both surprised and disappointed by his decision to veto this bill,' Scarbrough said. 'This legislation addresses critical gaps in our parole system while strengthening public safety and confidence, ensuring that serious offenses aren't minimized.' The law currently allows the parole board's finding to be the sole basis for denial for offenses including murder, voluntary manslaughter, vehicular homicide, kidnapping, human trafficking, especially aggravated robbery, rape of a child and sexual battery. The bill increases the number of offenses for which the board would be able to revoke parole and probation, including aggravated assault resulting in death, fentanyl delivering resulting in death or injury, reckless homicide, carjacking, aggravated robbery, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a first responder, reckless endangerment and several other offenses such as money laundering, financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult, terrorism offenses, abuse of a corpse and official misconduct/oppression. In a March Senate Judiciary Committee meeting, Rose said the bill allows the parole board to have 'more discretion in granting or denying parole' in situations where 'releasing the inmate might erode public confidence in the legal system and signal that certain crimes aren't taken seriously.' The bill gained support from the Tennessee District Attorney 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,' Executive Director Stephen Crump said at the hearing. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
