Gov. Bill Lee announces new efforts to help Tennessee prison inmates successfully re-enter society

In this Jan. 25, 2019, file photo, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, right, asks a question on the first day of budget hearings in Nashville, Tenn. Lee and the top two GOP state lawmakers say they support a push to ban abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, as early as six weeks into a woman's pregnancy. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File) In this Jan. 25, 2019, file photo, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, right, asks a question on the first day of budget hearings in Nashville, Tenn. Lee and the top two GOP state lawmakers say they support a push to ban abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, as early as six weeks into a woman's pregnancy. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

By Andy Sher February 28, 2019 4 min read

NASHVILLE – Gov. Bill Lee is unveiling what he’s calling a “comprehensive plan” to address criminal justice and public safety in advance of his first State of the State address on Monday.

“We must significantly improve public safety in our state and I believe that starts with our criminal justice system,” Lee said Thursday in a news release. “We will focus on helping individuals to ensure there is a pathway to a productive life beyond crime and ultimately make our state a safer place.”

His proposed initiatives include:

» Supplementing mental health efforts by expanding the recovery court system and recovery court programming.

» Eliminating the current $180 state fee now charged to clear criminal conviction records on certain charges.