Governor Bill Lee declined to sign new legislation passed by the General Assembly that impacts the amount of prison time served by convicted criminals, allowing the measure to go into law without his signature.
The bill, known as “truth in sentencing” legislation, mandates that individuals convicted of certain violent crimes serve their entire sentence behind bars.
Furthermore, another subset of offenders would be required to serve 85 percent of their sentence, if convicted of various crimes outlined in the law.
Lee argued that data did not support the new measures created in the provision, according to a letter obtained by The Tennessee Journal.
However, legislative leaders shot back at the governor over his characterization of the law that overwhelmingly passed both chambers.
“You can protect criminals, or you can protect victims. I stand with victims, as do members of law enforcement, our district attorneys, & criminal judges across Tennessee,” said House Speaker Cameron Sexton.
In 2020, the U.S. Sentencing Commission published a study stating stronger sentencing has a statistically significant deterrent effect by reducing crime & lowering recidivism. That’s why Tennessee’s law enforcement community stood behind us & supported this legislation.
— Speaker Cameron Sexton (@CSexton25) May 6, 2022
“In 2020, the U.S. Sentencing Commission published a study stating stronger sentencing has a statistically significant deterrent effect by reducing crime & lowering recidivism. That’s why Tennessee’s law enforcement community stood behind us & supported this legislation.”
In an emailed statement, Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally argued the legislation would boost public safety:
“Truth in Sentencing is vital legislation that not only offers justice and transparency to victims but also acts as a critical deterrent against violent offenders. The costs associated with the legislation are well worth the peace of mind offered to victims and the overall boost to public safety. While I disagree with Governor Lee’s critique of the bill, I appreciate his willingness to work with Speaker Sexton and I to get the bill in a posture to avoid a veto. I am grateful this bill is now the law of the land in Tennessee.”
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
If the Governor genuinely opposes the Truth In Sentencing bill, how come he did not veto it instead of merely refusing to sign it? What was Lee’s point in refusing to veto the bill?
The RINO again shows what he does not care for “the people “.
Once again BillyBoy proveshe is a milquetoast RINO, trying to play it safe for re-election.
Lee shows once again that he is totally out of touch with us little people that truly want criminals to be punished for their crimes. His lack of respect for this law only points out again that he does not care about what the public wants. He needs to go.
As opposed to liberal jurisdictions that let violent offenders out without bail, and become repeat offenders at the expense of more innocent victims. You do the crime, you do the time.
Steve, it’s not just so-called “bleeding-heart” leftists/liberals who oppose the Truth-In-Sentencing Law, it is the corrections officers and staff who have to deal with these particular inmates 24/7. For their own safety, they MUST provide such inmates with incentives to behave themselves while in custody with rewards for reduced sentences and other perks. Otherwise, these inmates will have nothing to lose by taking hostages or even in murdering staff/corrections officers. Remember Attica over fifty years ago. I was a sophomore at Vanderbilt when that bloodbath happened!
The legislators who eagerly passed this so-called Law and Order/Victims’ Rights bill do not have to deal with these inmates while they are behind bars. These Republicans enjoy the safety of their comfy air-conditioned legislative chamber and live in snazzy gated communities like West Meade, Brentwood, etc. So, it is EASY for these Tea Party law-makers to support the Truth-In-Sentencing bill when they THEMSELVES do not have to interact with these inmates. The prison guards/corrections officers do not have the Republican legislators’ luxury of safety and comfort!
About the Governor himself. If he REALLY opposed this bill, he would have VETORED it rather than MERELY refusing to sign it!