Tennessee Bill Allowing Courts To Consider Juvenile Records When Setting Bail Passes On Senate Floor

Image Credit: TN General Assembly

The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –

On Monday, a bill permitting judges to factor juvenile court records into their decision when setting bond for criminal offenses passed as amended on the Senate floor by a 24-5 vote.

Senate Bill 221 (SB0221), sponsored by Sen. Brent Taylor (R-Memphis-District 31), “permits a court to use juvenile court records, including the disposition and evidence, in pretrial reports used to set bond for criminal offenses” and “requires the magistrate to consider the defendant’s prior juvenile record in determining the defendant’s risk of danger to the community.”

The legislation was amended on the Senate floor to specify that the court can use juvenile court records in pretrial reports to set bonds if the juvenile offense occurred within the previous five years.

Republican Senators Paul Bailey, Janice Bowling, Richard Briggs, Rusty Crowe, Todd Gardenhire, Ferrell Haile, Bobby Harshbarger, Tom Hatcher, Joey Hensley, Ed Jackson, Jack Johnson, Adam Lowe, Mark Pody, Bill Powers, Shane Reeves, Kerry Roberts, Paul Rose, Jessie Seal, Steve Southerland, Brent Taylor, Page Walley, Bo Watson, and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally all voted in favor of SB0221.

Democrat Senators Heidi Campbell, Sara Kyle, London Lamar, Charlane Oliver, and Jeff Yarbro voted against it.

The corresponding House Bill 34 (HB0034) is being sponsored by Rep. John Gillespie (R-Memphis-District 97) and is scheduled to be heard in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, March 5^th, 2025. 

Rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov, rep.elaine.davis@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rebecca.alexander@capitol.tn.gov, rep.fred.atchley@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gino.bulso@capitol.tn.gov, rep.clay.doggett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov, rep.johnny.garrett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.torrey.harris@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gloria.johnson@capitol.tn.gov, rep.kelly.keisling@capitol.tn.gov, rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov, rep.lowell.russell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rick.scarbrough@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tom.stinnett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.chris.todd@capitol.tn.gov, rep.joe.towns@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ron.travis@capitol.tn.gov

About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. Adelia is The Tennessee Conservative’s on-site reporter for the Tennessee General Assembly. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.