Latest news with #SB455
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
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
