Tennessee

Bills affecting TN justice system passed in 2024: Prison time, bail rules, mental health

Published

2 years ago

May 6, 2024

Bills affecting TN justice system passed in 2024: Prison time, bail rules, mental health

While debates over the governor’s controversial private school voucher program and gun control often took center stage during the Tennessee General Assembly’s 2024 legislative session, lawmakers were spending much of their time from January to late April making changes to Tennessee’s criminal justice system.

The GOP-controlled supermajority kept up its tough-on-crime attitude by lengthening sentences, allowing more juveniles to be tried as adults and trying to expand when the death penalty can be imposed. In the wake of recent tragedies, lawmakers also passed measures aimed at protecting victims of domestic violence and requiring mental health treatment for some mentally incompetent defendants.

Here are some of the bills affecting the justice system, from arrest to sentencing, that the Assembly passed in 2024:

Jillian’s Law requires treatment for mentally incompetent defendants

Named in remembrance of Belmont University student Jillian Ludwig, who was killed by a stray bullet while on a walk in November, Jillian’s Law requires that people who are found mentally incompetent to stand trial for a felony be committed to a mental health facility for treatment. The man charged with firing the bullet that killed Ludwig had been arrested many times before and found by a court to be mentally incompetent.

The law also prohibits those who are committed to a mental health institution under the law from owning or possessing a firearm.

The bill received unanimous support in both chambers, although some lawmakers questioned whether the state has enough facilities to treat all the individuals required to be committed under the law.

Changes to prison sentences

Prison sentences will not be getting shorter in Tennessee.

As of now, people incarcerated in Tennessee prisons can earn credits called “good time” that can reduce the length of their sentences by up to 15%. Under a new law going into effect July 1, those serving a sentence of two years or more can earn good time, but it will only shorten when they can first go up for parole, leaving the full length of their sentence unchanged.

Another law allows judges to order people convicted of misdemeanors to serve 100% of their sentences in a correctional facility, up from the prior 75% maximum.

Those convicted of child rape could be sentenced to death

A bill on Gov. Bill Lee’s desk would allow juries to impose the death penalty when an adult is convicted of aggravated rape of a child under 12.

The bill passed through both GOP-controlled houses of the General Assembly mostly along party lines.

Supporters plan to use the bill to challenge a 2008 U.S. Supreme Court decision that prohibits capital punishment in cases where the victim did not die.

Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, worried that victims may be hesitant to report sexual assault knowing that it may result in an execution, particularly if the offense was perpetrated by a family member. Lee has indefinitely paused executions in Tennessee after a report found several issues with how the state puts the condemned to death.

Children in the justice system: Trying teens as adults, fining parents and recording interrogations

Lawmakers pushed through bills that change how juveniles interact with the justice system, including provisions that allow children above age 16 to receive both a juvenile sentence and a sentence of adult probation.

Under the bill, which awaits Lee’s signature, when someone age 16 or above is convicted of a crime that would be a class A, B or C felony if it was committed by an adult, then a judge can impose a period of probation to begin after they turn 18 and end at some point before they turn 25. Another law, already signed by Lee, will allow courts to try minors 15 and up as adults when they are of accused of organized retail crime or firearm theft.

Another bill on Lee’s desk called the Parental Accountability Act would impose a fine of $1,000 against the parents of a child who commits a second or subsequent offense. If the family can’t pay, a judge can require the parent or guardian to perform community service.

In July, a new law will go into effect requiring that interrogations of children accused of crimes be recorded by audio or video unless there is a technical issue with the recording equipment.

Wheels in motion to expand when bail can be denied

An effort to let judges deny bail in more cases made it through the first part of a multiyear process.

The General Assembly passed a resolution for an amendment to the Tennessee Constitution that would allow judges to deny bail to people charged with terrorism, murder, aggravated rape of a child, aggravated rape and grave torture. Under current law, judges can deny bail only in first-degree murder cases.

The measure was introduced to curb crime committed by defendants out on bail for other charges.

The proposed amendment will next have to be approved in 2025 or 2026 by a two-thirds vote of the legislature before going to voters. It would need 50% approval by popular vote in the 2026 gubernatorial election.

Law bars local traffic stop reform

A direct rebuke of reforms in Memphis in the wake of Tyre Nichols’ death, the legislature passed a law preventing local governments from enacting policies that limit what types of traffic stops police can make.

Nichols, a 29-year-old Black motorist, was fatally beaten by Memphis police officers during a traffic stop that police claimed was for reckless driving, although the city’s police chief later said she could not find any evidence of probable cause for the traffic stop.

In response, the Memphis City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting “pretextual” traffic stops — ones in which police use the pretense of a minor infraction like a broken taillight to search for evidence of other crimes without probable cause.

Police must tell feds if someone lacks legal immigration status

A new law requires law enforcement to communicate with the federal government if they learn that someone is in the country without legal status, and it also mandates that they cooperate with federal officials in the identification, apprehension, detention or removal of undocumented immigrants.

The law goes into effect July 1.

Officers have been only “authorized” to communicate with federal immigration authorities once learning of a defendant’s immigration status since the law was put on the books in 2018. Now that they are required, some law enforcement offices — including Nashville’s police department — worry it may erode trust among immigrant communities. Immigrant rights groups also say it permits racial profiling by police.

GPS monitors required for people accused of domestic violence

A bill awaiting signature says that courts must order people arrested for certain crimes of alleged domestic abuse to wear a GPS monitoring system as a condition of bail. The system would notify the alleged victim through a cellphone app or other electronic receptor if the defendant is within a proximity to them set by a judge. The judge must also enter a no contact order before the defendant is released on bail.

The bill is called the Debbie and Marie Domestic Violence Protection Act after Marie Varsos and her mother Debbie Sisco, who were killed by Varsos’ husband Shaun Varsos in April 2021. Shaun Varsos had been released on bail after Marie Varsos reported his domestic violence to police. Shaun Varsos took his own life after killing the two women.

Other changes

Here are a few other bills that passed:

A conviction for prostitution no longer places the offender on the sex offender registry.
The statute of limitations for a minor victim to sue for sex trafficking is now 30 years.
The statute of limitations to sue for sexual assault of adults is now five or three years, depending on if the assault was reported to law enforcement.
The Tennessee Department of Correction is required to report back to the legislature by the end of 2024 about an December 2023 audit that found several issues in state prisons, including understaffing and poor investigation of sexual abuse.

Contributing: Melissa Brown and Vivian Jones

Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him at emealins@gannett.com or follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @EvanMe a lins.

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Tennessee

Where to watch Iowa State vs Tennessee State in March Madness First Round: Time, TV Channel

Published

45 minutes ago

March 20, 2026

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Where to watch Iowa State vs Tennessee State in March Madness First Round: Time, TV Channel

March Madness is underway and college basketball’s big dance continues with No. 2 seed Iowa State taking on No. 15 seed Tennessee State in a First Round matchup on Friday, March 20. Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the clash between the Tigers and Cyclones.

USA TODAY Sports has a team of journalists covering men’s March Madness to keep you up to date with every point scored, rebound grabbed and game won in the 68-team tournament.

Join the USA TODAY Bracket Challenge to win $1 million

What time is Tennessee State vs Iowa State First Round game?

No. 2 Iowa State vs No. 15 Tennessee State tips off at 2:50 PM (EST) on Friday, March 20 from Enterprise Center (St. Louis, Missouri).

What channel is Tennessee State vs Iowa State First Round game?

No. 2 Iowa State vs No. 15 Tennessee State is airing live on CBS.

How to stream Tennessee State vs Iowa State First Round game

No. 2 Iowa State vs No. 15 Tennessee State is available to stream on Sling.

Watch the NCAA Tournament all March long with Sling

Men’s March Madness schedule today

See the schedule, live scores and results for all of Friday’s NCAA Tournament action here.

2026 March Madness dates

March 17-18: First Four
March 19-20: First Round
March 21-22: Second Round
March 26-27: Sweet 16
March 28-29: Elite 8
April 4: Final Four
April 6: National Championship

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Tennessee

How Jim Knowles, Tennessee football hope to fix tackling with unflattering film

Published

13 hours ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

How Jim Knowles, Tennessee football hope to fix tackling with unflattering film

Live tackling in college football practices is nearing extinction, which means teams with tackling issues like Tennessee must find creative solutions.

The Vols’ latest approach is making players watch every tackle they’ve ever missed in their college career. Every diving whiff. Every misfired bump. Every time a ball-carrier ran over them.

They watch it again and again.

This offseason, veteran special teams coach John Bonamego and UT staffers created an individualized tackling film for each defensive and special teams player on the roster. They can watch every made and missed tackle ever captured on film in college.

The project was an eye-opening discovery for new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles when he arrived at Tennessee.

“When I came here, (Bonamego) had a whole tackling report he did along with the individual cutups, so you can sit there and watch,” Knowles said on March 19 during spring practice.

“You can put (the tackles) into categories on the ones that were successful and why they were successful, the ones that weren’t and why they weren’t. You can show each guy their own tackling reel throughout their career.”

Jim Knowles: ‘You have to mentally tackle’

Presumably, those tackling films were created under coach Josh Heupel’s direction. He knows poor tackling was among the key factors that took UT from a dominant defense in 2024 to sub-par in 2025.

The Vols missed 147 tackles in the 2025 season compared to only 118 missed tackles in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus. Granted, missed tackles are subjective, and those figures come from an independent scouting service.

But even the untrained eye could see the growing problem of missed tackles for UT last season.

That’s where coaches hope detailed game film can help. Breaking down how players missed tackles and teaching them proper techniques is a step toward improvement, especially since live tackling is limited during practice.

“We don’t tackle anybody in practice, right?” said Knowles, who endorses UT’s approach to coaching tackling. “So you have to really be coaching body position, and it becomes more of a mental game. I try to teach the guys like, ‘You have to mentally tackle.’”

Why don’t Vols tackle in practice? They do, sort of

Of course, that raises an obvious question: Why not tackle in practice?

The truth is that few college football teams these days have “take to the ground” tackling in practice like they do in games. Instead, “thud” tackling has become more common to teach fundamentals while preventing injuries.

“Thud” tackling means a defender initiates contact with the ball-carrier at full speed using proper tackling form, but he never takes him to the ground. Coaches believe all the elements that make for a good tackle can be done in “thud” tackling. Tennessee mostly uses “thud” tackling throughout spring and the season.

In past eras, “take to the ground” tackling was a staple of building toughness like three-a-day practices and limited water breaks. Whether the modern approach is good or bad for the game is in the eye of the beholder.

Coaches don’t want players suffering injuries in practice and being unavailable for the game. And it can’t be overstated that NIL plays a part, too. Players are paid big bucks to play on Saturdays, so a serious injury in practice can decrease their value.

What Jim Knowles thinks about new approach to tackling

Knowles has witnessed the erosion of old-school tackling in practice over his nearly 40 years of college coaching. He doesn’t believe it will ever return.

“I don’t think so. I’m sure Coach Heupel will put us in some live tackling situations, but you don’t do it that much because you’re trying to save the player on both sides, offense and defense,” Knowles said. “And even when you’re live against your own team, you’re not going to cut tackle or tackle low. That can build bad habits.”

Knowles has consistently coached some of the best defenses in college football, most recently at Oklahoma State, Ohio State and Penn State.

In 2024, his Ohio State defense missed only 8.4 tackles per game, according to Pro Football Focus, en route to winning the national championship. Compare that to Tennessee’s average of 11.3 missed tackles per game last season.

Knowles thinks limiting live tackling in practice is a positive step for the sport.

“It’s a difficult proposition. I’m glad we’ve adjusted to it for the health of the player,” Knowles said. “But now you have to be creative in how you teach them with these tackling breakdowns, drills and even in a non-tackling situation, your body position.”

How Tennessee uses tackling film to fix problems

That’s where film of tackling can help. UT players watch their good tackles and missed tackles. They review their best form and their worst.

And the individualized nature of the film allows coaches to correct problems that only plague that particular player.

“You can build an individual tackling reel and teach for each player, which is really unique,” Knowles said. “You can put the film up there (and say), ‘What kind of tackle were you going to use right here?’ He says one thing, but your body is not in a great position to use that tackle.

“So I think that’s the best you can do. It’s good for the game. It makes it more difficult, but as coaches we have to adjust to that.”

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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What to know about Miami (Ohio) basketball, Tennessee’s first March Madness opponent

Published

1 day ago

March 19, 2026

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What to know about Miami (Ohio) basketball, Tennessee’s first March Madness opponent

Tennessee basketball may be standing in the path of this season’s Cinderella story.

The No. 6 Vols (22-11) will open the Men’s NCAA Tournament against No. 11 Miami of Ohio (32-1) at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on March 20 (4:25 p.m. ET, TBS).

Buy Tennessee basketball NCAA tournament tickets

The RedHawks defeated No. 11 SMU (20-14) in a First Four game, 89-79, on March 18 to advance. They drained 16 3-pointers − only their third-highest mark of the season − for their first March Madness victory since 1999.

Here’s what you need to know about Miami (Ohio) heading into their first-round matchup against Tennessee.

Where is Miami (Ohio) located?

Miami (Ohio) is located in Oxford, Ohio, and is about 30 miles north of Cincinnati. It has an enrollment of 16,800 undergraduate students.

What conference is Miami (Ohio) in?

Miami (Ohio) plays in the Mid-American Conference.

Who is coach of Miami (Ohio)?

Travis Steele is in his third season as the coach of Miami (Ohio). He was previously the coach at Xavier from 2018-22, but the university effectively fired him after four seasons without an NCAA Tournament appearance.

Miami (Ohio) NCAA Tournament history

The RedHawks have made 18 March Madness appearances. They last made the tournament in 2007 as a No. 14 seed and lost to No. 3 Oregon in the first round, 58-56.

Miami (Ohio) has never made the Elite Eight. It has four Sweet 16 appearances, most recently in 1999. The No. 10 RedHawks, led by future NBA All-Star Wally Szczerbiak, upset No. 7 Washington and No. 2 Utah before losing to No. 3 Kentucky.

Miami (Ohio) 2025-26 season rundown

Miami (Ohio) made a strong case for the NCAA Tournament by going 31-0 in the regular season. Because of its strength of schedule in the MAC, though, it wasn’t considered a lock to make the tournament. The RedHawks did not receive an automatic qualifier after losing to UMass in the MAC quarterfinals, which cleared the path for No. 12 Akron to win the conference.

Miami (Ohio) beat SMU in the First Four with its main trait: overwhelming offense. The RedHawks boast the second-best scoring offense in the NCAA with 90.7 points per game, just behind Alabama’s 91.7. They dumped 16 3-pointers on top of the Mustangs to set up an opportunity against Tennessee.

The RedHawks have also been precise in crunch time. They are 4-0 in overtime games and are 8-0 in one-score games.

Wynton Jackson covers high school sports for Knox News. Email: wynton.jackson@knoxnews.com

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