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District attorneys back widening parole board discretion; some senators warn it may undercut incentives for rehabilitation
Summary
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 455, restoring the parole board's ability to deny parole when release would diminish the seriousness of an offense or promote disrespect for the law.
Senate Bill 455, sponsored by Sen. Rose on behalf of the District Attorneys' Conference, cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee and will go to the calendar after committee members voted to approve the bill and an amendment.
The bill removes statutory language that limited parole denials solely to a fixed list of offenses and restores (per sponsors) the parole board's discretion to deny parole when releasing an inmate would "depreciate the seriousness of the offense" or "promote disrespect for the law." Supporters from the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference argued the change simply restores…
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