TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Brittany Sims on Jul 29, 2015

The Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (TACDL) today sent a letter to the Governor’s Task Force on Sentencing and Recidivism regarding its policy recommendations and the lack of input solicited from interested and educated parties. TACDL writes that the task force has not asked the opinion of TACDL, correctional officer organizations, prisoner advocacy organizations or former prisoners whose experiences in correctional facilities might aid in formulating recommendations. “This deficiency impairs the credibility and the efficacy of any recommendations by the task force,” TACDL writes in a press release. “Absent critical input from those with expertise in the criminal justice system, any recommendations run the risk of increasing the length of sentences, incarceration rates, prison costs and recidivism.” The task force's final meeting is set for Aug. 6 in Nashville.