(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) and with respect to fines as provided in § 40-35-301, sentences in felony and misdemeanor cases shall be imposed by the court. Upon a verdict or plea of guilty, the court shall set and conduct a sentencing hearing except as provided in subsection (b). Evidence may, but need not, be presented by both the defendant and the district attorney general on any matter relevant to the issue of sentencing. The sentencing hearing may occur immediately after guilt is determined, subject to the rights of the parties to postpone the hearing under § 40-35-209(a).
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 40-35-203

  • Capital offense: A crime punishable by death.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • Presentence report: A report prepared by a court's probation officer, after a person has been convicted of an offense, summarizing for the court the background information needed to determine the appropriate sentence. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
  • Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) Where the sentence is agreed upon by the district attorney general and the defendant and accepted by the court, the court may immediately impose sentence as provided in § 40-35-205(d) and no specific sentencing hearing or presentence reports shall be required. The judge may, in the judge’s discretion, direct that a complete presentence report be prepared. No defendant sentenced to the custody of the department of correction shall be committed or conveyed to the department unaccompanied by the completed presentence report or investigation and report required by § 40-35-209(d)(1). Furthermore, a presentence report or investigation and report shall be prepared on all defendants sentenced to a period of continuous confinement of one (1) year or greater in a local jail or workhouse. This requirement shall not be cause for delay in conveying the defendant to the local institution to which the defendant has been committed. There shall be a presentence report and hearing on any issue of sentencing not agreed upon by the parties and accepted by the court.
(c) If a capital offense is charged and the jury returns a verdict where death is a possibility, the jury shall fix the punishment in a separate sentencing hearing as otherwise provided by law, unless the jury is waived as to punishment.
(d) If the trial judge who presided at the trial on the merits is unavailable because of death, resignation, retirement, ill health or loss of jurisdiction, another judge appointed by the chief justice of the Tennessee supreme court may impose the sentence.
(e) If the criminal offense for which the defendant is charged carries an enhanced punishment for a second or subsequent violation of the same offense, the indictment in a separate count shall specify and charge that fact. If the defendant is convicted of the offense, then the jury must find that beyond a reasonable doubt the defendant has been previously convicted the requisite number of times for the same offense. Upon such finding, the defendant shall be subject to the authorized terms of imprisonment for the felonies and misdemeanors as set forth in § 40-35-111.
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