Tennessee Juvenile Justice Task Force Finalizes Recommendations To Reduce Incarceration Of Low-Risk Offenders

On January 9, 2017, the Tennessee Juvenile Justice Realignment Task Force recommended that the state overhaul its processes to avoid incarcerating low-risk offenders. Specific policy changes called for the state to end the practice of detaining status offenders, and pursue school-based strategies to reduce student referrals to juvenile courts. Further, the task force recommendations focused on the need to collect data to better administer the juvenile justice system and more accurately identify offender risks. Status offenses are acts committed by juveniles that are not crimes when committed by an adult, for example, running away from home, truancy, or . . .