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New Tennessee laws help people stay out of prison, give them a second chance in society


Two new criminal justice laws that took effect in Tennessee on July 1 are making changes advocates say are long overdue, helping people stay out of prison and give them a second chance in society. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Newsmakers, Getty Images)
Two new criminal justice laws that took effect in Tennessee on July 1 are making changes advocates say are long overdue, helping people stay out of prison and give them a second chance in society. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Newsmakers, Getty Images)
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Two new criminal justice laws that took effect in Tennessee on July 1 are making changes advocates say are long overdue.

The two new laws -- the Alternatives to Incarceration Act and the Re-Entry Success Act -- make changes by in-part helping to keep people out of state prisons.

SEE ALSO: Here are the new laws taking effect July 1 in Tennessee

Advocates say this will save taxpayers money, and could solve longstanding problems.

But as these changes take effect, one retired Chattanooga Police officer says it’s really about compassion and second chances.

"I believe in it. That's my policy."

47 years of law enforcement achievements line the walls of Donut Williams' home. In all that time as an officer, he says he's learned the power of a second chance.

"We told the judge if you give him a second chance, he can feed those four kids," said Williams reflecting on one of the dozen cases he's helped with.

Williams says he can't count the number of people who got in trouble with the law that he ultimately helped.

"Everybody that violates the law don't need to go to jail. Sometimes you can help 'em, give 'em a second chance, take 'em home," he said.

Advocates say the two new Tennessee laws take a more compassionate approach to criminal justice.

" It serves all of our interests if our system is improved," says Julie Warren, senior fellow for criminal justice at the Beacon Center of Tennessee.

Together, the laws put a cap on extended probation periods, limit reincarceration for technical violations, and remove obstacles for people with criminal histories when it comes to getting a job.

According to Warren, the Reentry Success Act removes obstacles for those who have criminal histories from obtaining a variety of occupational licenses.

Warren said previous laws would provide for situations where formerly incarcerated people could receive training, but then be barred from work because of their record.

"You could even have a situation where a person received training in the Department of Correction facilities to be a barber or a cosmetologist, just to then have the cosmetology board tell you you're eligible for a license based on a morality clause," says Warren.

The act also allows for early parole with supervision up to a year before an inmates release date.

"It's not just early release, it's actually making sure everyone gets the benefit of some supervision, once they're once the gates open, and they're sent on their way," said Warren.

The main highlights of the alternatives to incarceration act include implementing time limits for probation and limiting jail time for technical probation violations.

"If it's just a technical violation, either a very minor misdemeanor or something that wouldn't otherwise be an offense like drinking or curfews, then that's something we should really not be revoking probation and incarcerating for, we really need to have a more measured response," said Warren.

Warren says a big focus of both bills is keeping people out of state prisons.

"Is incarcerating them the response that society needs? Because it's going to be paying for it," says Warren.

She says it costs taxpayers an average of $75 a day to keep a person in prison, and especially for things like readmitting a prisoner on technical violations, the true cost is more than that.

"You have an individual who might be employed, have a family, removing them from the economy, removing them from their community, and removing them from their family - all comes with a cost. That comes with a human cost," says Warren.

The two criminal justice bills passed with largely bipartisan support before Gov. Bill Lee signed them into law.

Warren says while these are victories for the whole state, she believes Tennessee still has a lot of work to do around pretrial and bail reform.

The Tennessee Department of Correction says there were nearly 22,500 people in Tennessee jails during the month of May.

You can learn more about the two laws here.

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