NASHVILLE – A “truth in sentencing” bill pressed by Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton would require adults convicted after July 1 on any of 14 specific felony offenses to serve 100% of the sentence with the punishment “undiminished” by any time-reduction credits prisoners earn for good behavior.
It’s one of two bills the Crossville Republican has introduced, working with trusted GOP colleagues to carry the legislation. The second is the “Transparency in Sentencing for Victims Act.” It requires that when a judge imposes a prison sentence, the court will announce publicly the estimated number of years and months a defendant is expected to serve before becoming eligible for release.
Both bills cleared the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee on Wednesday on voice votes. They are among several bills being pushed by lawmakers to amp up the amount of prison time using existing sentencing ranges.
In a Times Free Press interview in his office later Wednesday, Sexton said the bills are a follow-up to laws last year boosting sentences for crimes singling out women and children.
“This year, we are looking at the violent crimes, and we feel there are certain crimes out there that are so horrific and so violent that those crimes should be 100% of truth in sentencing. What they get is what they serve,” Sexton said.