Tennessee Leaders Define Conservative Criminal Justice Reform
May 13, 2021
By Brett Tolman and Julie Warren
Where use of incarceration is concerned, thoughtful criminal justice advocates tend to draw a distinction between those to be “scared of” versus others “we are mad at.” This makes sense. Conservative leaders in Tennessee, led by Gov. Bill Lee, are enacting policies that recognize this distinction in order to improve the overall effectiveness of the state’s criminal justice system.
The 2021 Tennessee legislative session brought comprehensive criminal justice reforms championed by conservative leaders. Right on Crime proudly supported these reforms for the immediate and long term, positive impact on public safety. Two bills championed by Governor Lee passed; the first, to expand and improve the overall effectiveness of alternative sentencing policies in Tennessee, and the other, the Reentry Success Act, will improve the likelihoo
We pray.
We lockdown nearby schools and businesses. We provide counseling services to anyone who feels upset. We argue, point fingers, make clever signs. We enact legislation making it easier to have guns. We blame the mental health of the shooters. We change the channel, decrying that it s all politics. We hate the other side.
We pray.
We hold candlelight vigils for victims. They all lit up a room. They were all too young, or too vital. We praise the bravery of police officers. We search the shooters background for the flaw that separates them from us. We tweet about our shock and the horror of these times.
Chairman Doggett and Respective Members of the Subcommittee:
Thank you for your time and consideration of HB 784. My name is Casey Witte, and I conduct research on community supervision among other criminal justice issues for the R Street Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy research organization. Our mission is to engage in research and outreach to promote free markets and limited, effective government in a wide variety of policy areas. Given that HB 784 stands to reduce wasteful spending and more efficiently provide for public safety, it is of particular interest to us.
To start with the facts, Tennessee is one of only eight states to have nearly doubled their average probation sentence from 2000 to 2018, extending the average length of probation from 18 to 33 months.
Touching tributes have been paid to Lowestoft Skipper John Ketteringham. Picture: Nick Butcher
- Credit: Nick Butcher
He spent 50 years breaking numerous records and battling all weathers at sea as he was named a port’s top skipper.
Now touching tributes have been paid to a long-serving fisherman from Lowestoft who has been hailed as a town hero following his death.
Family and former colleagues of John Ketteringham - known to his friends as JK - have honoured a great man who will be sadly missed.
Married for more than 50 years to his beloved Pat, Mr Ketteringham, 71, passed away on January 16.