On July 1, two new laws go in to effect in Tennessee that keeps the state at the forefront of progressive legislation aimed at better supervising and deterring future behavior of\u00a0repeat offenders.<\/p>\n
Amelia’s Law<\/em> <\/strong>is named after Maryville, Tennessee, teenager Amelia Keown<\/span>, who was killed in a head-on collision\u00a0<\/span>with an offender who had a long history of drug and alcohol offenses. What’s most notable about this law, which makes transdermal\u00a0<\/span>monitoring devices (both transdermal alcohol anklets and drug patches) an option for the courts, is that lawmakers expanded their aim beyond impaired driving, focusing on any drug-<\/span> and\/or alcohol-involved offender, including assault and domestic violence. In 2012, a whopping\u00a015% of all offenders under supervised probation in the U.S. were there for a DUI-related offense, second only to non-DUI drug offenses.<\/p>\n July 1 is also the date for the Tennessee DUI Recidivism Reduction Act <\/em>to take effect. This law mandates incarceration time for 2nd and 3rd-time drunk drivers, and then requires intensive treatment as a condition of release. The Act also allows the use of transdermal alcohol monitoring to enhance supervision for these repeat offenders once they’re released to treatment in the community.<\/p>\n At the national level, the law is seen as progressive in that it not only mandates treatment, citing the evidence-based success of programs like drug courts<\/a>,\u00a0but acknowledges the importance of intensive monitoring <\/a>for repeat offenders while they’re going through treatment and supervision in the community.<\/p>\n Officials in Tennessee are looking to both new\u00a0laws to help address the state’s substantial jail overcrowding issue. At an average of $80 per day per offender, drug and alcohol offenders represent a disproportionate percentage of the jail and prison system. Enhanced monitoring and supervision that keeps offenders closely supervised while monitored, as well as aiming to reduce future, repeat offenses, are tactics a number of states are looking to as they continue the battle to balance taxpayers costs and community safety.<\/p>\n We applaud Tennessee lawmakers for looking to successes such as drug courts and expanding the view of alcohol and drug offenders beyond impaired driving. Congratulations Tennessee!<\/p>\n