(a)

Attorney's Note

Under the Tennessee Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
class A misdemeanorup to 11 monthsup to $2,500
For details, see Tenn. Code § 40-35-111
criminal case

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 40-35-311

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Record: means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in a perceivable form. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(1) Whenever it comes to the attention of the trial judge that a defendant who has been released upon suspension of sentence has been guilty of a breach of the laws of this state or has violated the conditions of probation, the trial judge shall have the power to cause to be issued under the trial judge’s hand:

(A) A warrant for the arrest of the defendant as in any other criminal case; or
(B) For a technical violation brought by a probation officer, and subject to the discretion of the judge, a criminal summons.
(2) Regardless of whether the defendant is on probation for a misdemeanor or felony, or whether the warrant or summons is issued by a general sessions court judge or the judge of a court of record, a probation officer or a peace officer of the county in which the probationer is found may execute the warrant or serve the summons.
(b) Whenever a person is arrested or summoned for the violation of probation and suspension of sentence, the trial judge granting the probation and suspension of sentence, the trial judge’s successor, or any judge of equal jurisdiction who is requested by the granting trial judge to do so shall, at the earliest practicable time, inquire into the charges and determine whether or not a violation has occurred and, at the inquiry, the defendant must be present and is entitled to be represented by counsel and has the right to introduce testimony in the defendant’s behalf.
(c)

(1) A laboratory report regarding a defendant’s drug test may be admissible in probation revocation proceedings, even though the laboratory technician who performed the test is not present to testify, when accompanied by an affidavit containing at least the following information:

(A) The identity of the certifying technician;
(B) A statement of qualifications from the certifying technician;
(C) A specific description of the testing methodology;
(D) A statement that the method of testing was the most accurate test for this particular drug;
(E) A certification that the test results were reliable and accurate;
(F) A declaration that all established procedures and protocols were followed; and
(G) A statement of acknowledgment that submission of false information in the affidavit may subject the affiant to prosecution for the criminal offense of perjury pursuant to § 39-16-702.
(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (c)(1), the judge shall, upon seasonable objection and for good cause shown, require that the laboratory technician appear and testify at the probation revocation hearing.
(3) If the state intends to introduce a laboratory report and affidavit in lieu of the live testimony of the laboratory technician as authorized by this subsection (c), it shall provide the defendant or the defendant’s attorney, if known, with a copy of the report and affidavit at least five (5) days prior to the revocation hearing.
(d)

(1) The trial judge may enter judgment upon the question of the charges as the trial judge may deem right and proper under the evidence adduced before the trial judge. If the trial judge finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant has violated the conditions of probation and suspension of sentence, then the court may revoke the defendant’s probation and suspension of sentence, in full or in part, pursuant to § 40-35-310. The court may sentence the defendant to a sentence of probation for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (d)(1), the trial judge shall not revoke a defendant’s probation and suspension of sentence for a felony offense, whether temporarily under subdivision (e)(1) or otherwise, based upon one (1) instance of technical violation or violations.
(3) [Deleted by 2022 amendment.]
(e)

(1) If the trial judge finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant has violated the conditions of probation and suspension of sentence for a felony offense by engaging in conduct that is a second or subsequent instance of a technical violation pursuant to subdivision (d)(2), then the trial judge may temporarily revoke the probation and suspension of sentence by an order duly entered upon the minutes of the court, and:

(A) Impose a term of incarceration not to exceed:

(i) Fifteen (15) days for a first revocation;
(ii) Thirty (30) days for a second revocation;
(iii) Ninety (90) days for a third revocation; or
(iv) The remainder of the sentence for a fourth or subsequent revocation; or
(B) Resentence the defendant for the remainder of the unexpired term to a sentence of probation that includes the condition of participating in a community-based alternative to incarceration as provided in § 40-35-104(c)(9); provided, that the violation of probation and suspension is a technical violation and does not involve the commission of a new offense.
(2) If the trial judge revokes a defendant’s probation and suspension of sentence after finding, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the defendant has committed a new felony, new Class A misdemeanor, zero tolerance violation as defined by the department of correction community supervision sanction matrix, absconding, or contacting the defendant’s victim in violation of a condition of probation, then the trial judge may revoke the probation and suspension of sentence by an order duly entered upon the minutes of the court, and cause the defendant to commence the execution of the judgment as originally entered, which may be reduced by an amount of time not to exceed the amount of time the defendant has successfully served on probation and suspension of sentence prior to the violation.
(3) If the trial judge revokes a defendant’s probation and suspension of sentence, then the defendant has the right to appeal.
(4) If a person is serving two (2) or more concurrent probationary sentences and the person’s probation is revoked on one (1) probationary sentence, then the person must receive credit for the time served as a result of that probation revocation against any other concurrent probationary sentence that is subsequently revoked in any jurisdiction in this state.
(f) The court may consider the results of an offender’s validated risk and needs assessment in determining the appropriate disposition of the probation violation charge and may request an updated validated risk and needs assessment be performed.
(g) As used in this section, “technical violation” means an act that violates the terms or conditions of probation but does not constitute a new felony, new Class A misdemeanor, zero tolerance violation as defined by the department of correction community supervision sanction matrix, absconding, or contacting the defendant’s victim in violation of a condition of probation.
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