Tennessee is a Combination State: Delinquency services are organized at both the state and local level in Tennessee. County commissions/boards, juvenile courts, or private contractors operate detention facilities.

How is detention organized? 

Tennessee has 26 juvenile detention facilities administered by county commissions/boards, juvenile courts, or private contractors. Approximately half of these facilities are classified as temporary holding facilities. The rest are classified as secure detention facilities.

According to statute (37-1-110), County Youth Services Officers/Probation Officers may divert cases through informal adjustment. To divert a case, it must be within the court's jurisdiction, in the public and youth's best interest, and with the youth and his or her parents, guardian, or other custodian's voluntary consent.

Tennessee enacted the Victim's Bill of Rights ( 40-38-101), which applies to victims of juvenile offenders. Victims have the right to be notified of any hearings, to be present at any hearings, and to have input regarding plea bargains or dismissal of charges.

The Probation Division of the Tennessee Department of Children's Services (DCS) administers state probation services in 91 counties through Juvenile Probation Case Managers. Juvenile courts administer their own juvenile probation departments in four counties. 

Youth Services Officers/Probation Officers are not professionally certified. However, the Tennessee Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and the Tennessee Juvenile Court Services Association train probation officers.

When the court commits an adjudicated delinquent, custody transfers to the Department of Children's Services (DCS). The court can place a juvenile in a local public or local private facility from two weeks to one year, depending on offense and treatment needs.

The Department of Children's Services (DCS) may review the status of a juvenile adjudicated delinquent who is 19 and in DCS' legal custody to determine if he or she should remain in DCS' care to complete high school or other educational training or to receive other services. Tennessee does not have a parole board.

The Probation Division of the Department of Children's Services (DCS) administers aftercare services to youth released from state custody in all 95 counties in Tennessee. DCS Juvenile Probation Case Managers supervise juveniles on state probation while they are in state custody and on aftercare.

Tennessee’s Purpose clause is rooted in an elaborate, multi-part clause contained in the Legislative Guide for Drafting Family and Juvenile Court Acts. 

Lower Age: None specified

Upper Age: 17

Extended Age of Delinquency Jurisdiction: 18; may be extended until the juvenile pays all restitution.

Intake officers performs a detention screening to determine if there is probable cause (legal sufficiency) that the youth committed the alleged offense and is subject to detention in accordance with statute. DCS does not have a risk assessment to determine levels of probation supervision.