According to Governor Bill Lee, two new criminal justice reform policies will help reduce the burden of incarcerated individuals on taxpayers throughout the state. “Today marks a shift in the trajectory of criminal justice in TN. The legislation signed today will create generational change & transform lives while saving taxpayer dollars,” Lee said in a tweet…

One bill, the Re-entry Success Act, will create a mandatory supervision program for individuals who are recently released from prison and reduce the period of time between an individual’s parole hearings. Further, the act will allow former incarcerated individuals to apply for certifications with fewer restrictions.

The other bill, the Alternatives to Incarceration Act, will assist local governments in locating community-based alternatives to prison. In addition to capping the duration of probation for offenders, the legislation prevents a judge from revoking probation based on one instance of “technical violation.”..

(Excerpts from the Tennessee Star)