Skip to main content
Thursday, November 12, 2026Nov 12

Longer sentences for gang members are unconstitutional, DA says after court ruling

court-ruling-makes-longer-sentences-gang-members-u
court-ruling-makes-longer-sentences-gang-members-u court-ruling-makes-longer-sentences-gang-members-u

A Tennessee appeals court struck down two sections of Tennessee law that allowed for longer sentences for gang members on Thursday.

The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that the gang enhancement statues allow defendants to be punished for the activity of others and for crimes in which they weren’t involved.

That, the court said, violates the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, and is therefore unconstitutional.