Tennessee Criminal Justice Summit




In a recent report, the Department of Justice named Tennessee's prison system one of the fastest growing in the Southeast, with an annual budget of $550 million dollars.  In November, 2004, the Tennessee Department of Correction held a three-day Criminal Justice Summit to discuss the future of incarceration in the state.

The summit, the first of its kind in Tennessee, is federally funded through a Byrne Grant applied for by the Department of Correction.  Representatives of various aspects of the Criminal Justice System, such as the Tennessee judiciary, corrections, law enforcement, victim advocacy, etc. were invited to participate in the summit held at the Union Station Hotel in Nashville

The summit was designed to discuss issues and solutions using a holistic approach that recognizes the impact of each stakeholder.  It was solution-oriented and required all participants to commit to an inclusive action plan that empowers all participating entities work toward a more efficient and progressive criminal justice system.

Over the course of three days, participants discussed trends in the Tennessee criminal justice  system, alternatives to incarceration, re-entry and reintegration, and prevention and rehabilitation.  Finally, participants developed a number of recommendations to address many of the key issues facing the Tennessee criminal justice system today.  These recommendations were discussed at length, and through group consensus were reduced to the most widely accepted recommendations.

The final group recommendations are as follows:

  • Consider establishing day-reporting and transition centers for appropriate risk offenders.
  • Build inter-agency and community partnerships for continuum of services.
  • Expand graduated sanctions for parole and probation technical violators.
  • Utilize best evidence-based practices.
  • Implement drug courts in each judicial district.


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