Tennessee
Will Tennessee Finally Reform Its Draconian Drug-Free School Zone Laws?
The zones cover vast swaths of Tennessee's cities—and turn minor drug crimes into sentences usually reserved for rape and murder.
Tennessee Executes Nick Sutton, Despite Protests from Prison Guards and the Victims' Families
"Nick Sutton has gone from a life-taker to a life-saver," read a clemency petition filed by corrections staff, the families of several victims, and five of the jurors who sentenced him to death.
A Tennessee County Destroyed Hundreds of Records Requested by a Local Newspaper
The Hamilton County Attorney's Office later admitted that its policies conflict with the state's public records law.
Lawsuit Targets Nashville Courts for Treating Bail Money Like Down Payments for Fines, Fees
ACLU argues the practice violates the Eighth Amendment.
The Trouble with Tennessee's Lethal Injection Drugs
"This whole question of how we kill our prisoners is sort of a sideshow when the system is as broken as it is."
A Memphis Cop Will Get $3,600 a Month, Even After Having Sex With a Suspect in a Murder Case
He gave her marijuana, too.
Corrections Officers, Jurors, and the Families of Nick Sutton's Victims Want Him Taken Off Death Row
The Tennessee death row inmate "has gone from a life-taker to a life-saver."
New York Cop Finally Quits—More Than a Year After He Broke Into a Woman's Home and Threatened Her
Michael Reynolds was charged with aggravated burglary and assault because of the incursion.
Tennessee Court Refuses To Test DNA Evidence That Could Exonerate a Man the State Already Executed
According to the law, the deceased Sedley Alley is the only person who can file a petition for post-conviction DNA testing.
A Tennessee Police Department's Last Officer Resigns Over Ticket Quotas
Ridgetop no longer has any police officers after recordings captured city officials demanding that the department write 210 citations a month.
As Tennessee Forces Opioid Prescription Cutbacks, More People Are Dying of Overdoses
Deaths continue to rise, thanks to increased use of less-safe black market pain pills.
Nashville Neighbors Send ICE Packing. Let's See More of That for All Sorts of Law Enforcement.
It's not always safe, but it's certainly justifiable to sabotage unjust laws and malicious government.
Supreme Court Strikes Down Nonsensical Tennessee Liquor Law
Tennessee's residency requirement for retail license applicants "blatantly favors the state's residents and has little relationship to public health and safety," Justice Alito wrote.
How Trump Went from Appointing Jeff Sessions to Signing the FIRST STEP Act
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin gives advice for changing hearts on criminal justice reform.
He Was Tased, Arrested and Totally Innocent. Now He's Suing.
The Chattanooga Police Department is at the center of another excessive force lawsuit.
'Music City' Doesn't Want You Making Music at Home
A Nashville producer challenges the city's crazy ban on commercial home recording studios.
Tennessee Bill Would Restore Felons' Voting Rights
More than 8 percent of the state's population is currently disenfranchised.
After Being Sent Back to Federal Prison Because of an 'Error,' Matthew Charles Will Be Freed Again
Charles may be the first person to benefit from the sentencing reductions in the FIRST STEP Act.
Calvin Bryant Was Serving a Draconian Mandatory Minimum Sentence. Now He's Free
Under Tennessee's harsh drug-free school zone laws, Bryant received a 17-year sentence for a first-time drug offense.
Calvin Bryant Got 17 Years In Prison Under Tennessee's Drug Laws. Now He's Asking The Governor For Clemency
"A toxic combination of harsh mandatory minimum sentencing, race, poverty and fatally arbitrary enforcement."
Federal Judge Says Tennessee Shouldn't Punish Poor Drivers for Being Poor
The state can no longer suspend poor people's driver's licenses over unpaid traffic tickets, Judge Aleta Trauger ruled.
Nashville Cop Charged With Criminal Homicide for Shooting Man in the Back as He Fled
This might be the first time a Nashville police officer has been charged for an on-duty shooting.
Nashville Soccer Stadium Deal Will Gift Land Worth $20 Million to Team's Billionaire Owners
Why can't the team just play in the city's NFL stadium?
Glenn Jacobs, Professional Wrestler and Libertarian, Wins His Race for Mayor
Burn victim. Demon. Half-brother to The Undertaker. Knox County Mayor.
ACLU Accuses Memphis Police of Monitoring the Private Communications of Black Lives Matter Activists
Domestic surveillance in Tennessee.
This Congresswoman Thinks First-Time Illegal Border Crossing Should Be a Felony
Rep. Diane Black has proposed legislation reclassifying the offense.
Tennessee Congressional Candidate Builds Literal Wall in Cringeworthy Campaign Ad
Jason Emert really wants people to know he supports Donald Trump.
Tennessee Deputy Charged After Videos Show Him Tasing Teen Tied to Chair
In one surveillance video, the victim is tased four times for a total of 50 seconds.
New York Times Goes Off the Rails With Claims About Secret Koch Plot to Kill Public Transit
A failed ballot initiative in Nashville had much more to do with hum-drum local factors than shadowy billionaire-backed conspiracies.
Tennessee Prosecutors Sunk a Bill to Reform the State's Punitive Drug-Free School Zone Law
A Reason investigation found the zones covered wide swaths of cities and buried first-time offenders under huge sentences.
Nashville Police Attempt to Seize Control of Private Event Security and Get Sued
Taxpayers are increasingly on the hook for millions in overtime, pension costs.
Tennessee Decides It's Not Actually Dangerous for a Cosmetologist to Do House Calls
A salon owner complained about "highly disturbing" competition from an app, and the state cosmetology board threatened fines. That won't happen anymore.
Reason Readers and Ajit Pai Helped Memphis Barber Pay His Absurd Licensing Fine
But sadly Elias Zarate is no closer to being a barber, because he still doesn't have a high school diploma. And, yes, that matters for some reason.
Trooper Stops Driver Twice Within 3 Hours, Gropes Her for No Apparent Reason
The cop's boss says he did nothing wrong; the local D.A. disagrees.
ALEC Urges State to Reform Drug-Free School Zone Laws
"Most Drug-Free Zone laws were established decades ago but have not been reformed despite evidence they're arbitrary and often unnecessarily broad."
Tennessee's Haircut Cops Bust Barbers Who Lack High School Diplomas
Elias Zarate found out the hard way that it's illegal to cut hair in Tennessee, and some other states, without having graduated from high school.
Tennessee Deputy Who Suffered Panic Attack After Firing At Unarmed Man Had Track Record of Lying and Incompetence at Previous Police Department
Deputy Justin M. Johnson should never have been given a badge and a gun.
