Tennessee
Does my state have the death penalty?
Yes, Tennessee has executed one person since 1976.
There are currently 2 bills in committee in Tennessee's state legislature. Both bills abolish the death penalty by removing language from relevant state statutue.
There are currently 5 bills in committee in the state Legislature. 2 in the Assembly and 1 in the Senate abolish the death penalty and replaces with life without parole. 1 in the Assembly and 1 in the Senate are Study bills with intent that there be no executions during the study.
What is my governor's position on the death penalty?
Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen (D) strongly favors the death penalty.
How many people are on Death Row in my state?
Of the 108 prisoners on Death Row, 43 are black, 60 are white, 1 is Latino, 2 are Native American, and 2 are Asian.
Is there anything like the Center on Wrongful Convictions in my state?
There is no Innocence Project devoted strictly to cases in this state. However, the Innocence Project at Cardozo School of Law in New York City does handle some non-New York cases.
Was anyone on Death Row ever found innocent in my state?
To date, no prisoner on Death Row has been found to be innocent in Tennessee.
Are there any opportunities for volunteering in my state?
ACLU of Tennessee
Tennessee Coalition to Abolish State Killing
Additional Resources
Tennesee State Info at DPIC
Tennesee State Info at Equal Justice USA
* Information updated annually. Last updated January 2006. For more information, go to the Death Penalty Information Center.
News
Supreme Court Tennessee Turnaround
July 05, 2005
Our friend's at the (a href="http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/">Death Penalty Information Center posted this news about the Supreme...
Pulitzer Prize Winner Writes on the Death Penalty
April 01, 2005
This week's cover story of the Nashville Scene, Nashville's weekly press was written by Pulitzer...
Murder Survivor Speaks Against Death Penalty as Connecticut Legislature Takes Historic Vote
March 30, 2005
TCASK just sent out this press release. Connecticut's House of Representatives votes on a measure...
Bring on the Bishops
March 20, 2005
U.S. Roman Catholic bishops are preparing to begin what they call a major campaign to...
US 'Whittling Away at Death Penalty'
March 03, 2005
From the BBC: Legal experts say that the US Supreme Court's decision to prevent youths...
Democracy Now Segment About The Death Penalty
March 02, 2005
Today you can see a segment of Democracy Now with Amy Goodman about the landmark...
March 1st - International Death Penalty Abolition Day
March 01, 2005
The Tennessee Coalition to Abolish State Killing, who has a great mailing list that I...
Supreme Court Bars Death Penalty for Juvenile Killers
March 01, 2005
In a huge move, The Supreme Court forbid the execution of minors (under 17) at...
Study Finds Innocence Issue Leads to Lower Death Penalty Support
February 22, 2005
Makes sense to me. Three-quarters of Americans believe that an innocent person has been executed...
Court TV Runs 'The Exonerated'
January 23, 2005
Airing: 9 p.m. Thursday, Court TV "At the end of the play, we would sometimes...
Hello TCASK
January 22, 2005
The Tennessee Coalition to Abolish State Killing (TCASK) has a single purpose: to end executions...
