Tennessee’s prison population is on the rise, driven by stricter laws and policies
Tennessee: The prison population in Tennessee has been climbing lately, and experts think it’s mainly because of stricter laws that keep folks locked up longer. After a few years of decline, the numbers shot up by 8% in 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
This increase is part of a national trend, which saw a 2% rise overall. But Tennessee really stood out, with only a few states like Colorado and Mississippi seeing bigger jumps. The full data for 2023 isn’t out yet, but early reports hint at another 2% increase across the country.
Last year, Tennessee continued this trend, showing a steady rise in its correctional facilities. From April 2023 to November 2024, the total number of people in the Tennessee Department of Correction’s 14 facilities grew by about 6%. By November, there were 24,340 individuals serving felony sentences.
The Trousdale Turner Correctional Center, run by CoreCivic, had the highest number of inmates at 2,359. This facility is currently under investigation by the DOJ for civil rights issues. Following that, the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex had 2,263 inmates.
So, what’s causing this surge? Longtime Nashville defense attorney David Raybin pointed to the “truth in sentencing” law that kicked in back in 2022. This law mandates that people convicted of serious felonies, like murder and carjacking, must serve their full sentences without the chance for parole based on good behavior.
Even though Governor Bill Lee wasn’t a fan of the bill, he let it become law without signing it. He warned that this policy could lead to more victims, higher rates of reoffending, and overcrowded prisons, all at a greater cost to taxpayers.
Criminal justice advocates pushed back, arguing that this law would take away incentives for good behavior and lead to more people being locked up. Raybin believes that this law is just one part of a series of tough-on-crime measures that are really starting to show their effects.
He mentioned, “I think that the truth in sentencing law has had a dramatic increase in sentences, and it’s happening faster than I expected. We thought it would take years to see the impact, but it’s already here.”
As of June 2024, Tennessee’s prisons held 21,867 men and 2,473 women, with about a third of inmates in private facilities run by CoreCivic. The overall system was over 90% full.
The demographics showed that around 58% of inmates were white, 39% Black, and 3% Hispanic, with nearly half of them aged between 25 and 29. Drug offenses made up the largest share, with nearly 20% of inmates serving time for drug-related crimes, followed by murder and aggravated assault.
As of November, there were 46 people on death row and 385 serving life without parole. Those who were released had served an average of about 20 months.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Experts point to controversial Tennessee law for prison numbers rise
