If appropriate for the offense and if not already an essential element of the offense, the court shall consider, but is not bound by, the following advisory factors in determining whether to enhance a defendant‘s sentence:

(1) The defendant has a previous history of criminal convictions or criminal behavior, in addition to those necessary to establish the appropriate range;

Attorney's Note

Under the Tennessee Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
class E felony1 to 6 yearsup to $3,000
For details, see Tenn. Code § 40-35-111
criminal case

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 40-35-114

  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Minor: means any person who has not attained eighteen (18) years of age. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • 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.
  • Property: includes both personal and real property. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • 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
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • United States: includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(2) The defendant was a leader in the commission of an offense involving two (2) or more criminal actors;
(3) The offense involved more than one (1) victim;
(4) A victim of the offense was particularly vulnerable because of age or physical or mental disability;
(5) The defendant treated, or allowed a victim to be treated, with exceptional cruelty during the commission of the offense;
(6) The personal injuries inflicted upon, or the amount of damage to property sustained by or taken from, the victim was particularly great;
(7) The offense involved a victim and was committed to gratify the defendant’s desire for pleasure or excitement;
(8) The defendant, before trial or sentencing, failed to comply with the conditions of a sentence involving release into the community;
(9) The defendant possessed or employed a firearm, explosive device or other deadly weapon during the commission of the offense;
(10) The defendant had no hesitation about committing a crime when the risk to human life was high;
(11) The felony resulted in death or serious bodily injury, or involved the threat of death or serious bodily injury, to another person, and the defendant has previously been convicted of a felony that resulted in death or serious bodily injury;
(12) During the commission of the felony, the defendant intentionally inflicted serious bodily injury upon another person, or the actions of the defendant resulted in the death of, or serious bodily injury to, a victim or a person other than the intended victim;
(13) At the time the felony was committed, one (1) of the following classifications was applicable to the defendant:

(A) Released on bail or pretrial release, if the defendant is ultimately convicted of the prior misdemeanor or felony;
(B) Released on parole;
(C) Released on probation;
(D) On work release;
(E) On community corrections;
(F) On some form of judicially ordered release;
(G) On any other type of release into the community under the direct or indirect supervision of any state or local governmental authority or a private entity contracting with the state or a local government;
(H) On escape status; or
(I) Incarcerated in any penal institution on a misdemeanor or felony charge or a misdemeanor or felony conviction;
(14) The defendant abused a position of public or private trust, or used a professional license in a manner that significantly facilitated the commission or the fulfillment of the offense;
(15) The defendant committed the offense on the grounds or facilities of a pre-kindergarten through grade twelve (pre-K-12) public or private institution of learning when minors were present;
(16) The defendant was adjudicated to have committed a delinquent act or acts as a juvenile that would constitute a felony if committed by an adult;
(17) The defendant intentionally selected the person against whom the crime was committed or selected the property that was damaged or otherwise affected by the crime, in whole or in part, because of the defendant’s belief or perception regarding the race, religion, color, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry or gender of that person or the owner or occupant of that property; however, this subdivision (17) should not be construed to permit the enhancement of a sexual offense on the basis of gender selection alone;
(18) The offense was an act of terrorism or was related to an act of terrorism;
(19) If the defendant is convicted of the offense of aggravated assault pursuant to § 39-13-102, the victim of the aggravated assault was a law enforcement officer, firefighter, correctional officer, youth services officer, probation and parole officer, a state registered security guard/officer, an employee of the department of correction or the department of children’s services, a uniformed member of the armed forces or national guard, an emergency medical or rescue worker, emergency medical technician or paramedic, whether compensated or acting as a volunteer; provided, that the victim was performing an official duty and the defendant knew or should have known that the victim was such an officer or employee;
(20) If the defendant is convicted of the offenses of rape pursuant to § 39-13-503, sexual battery pursuant to § 39-13-505 or rape of a child pursuant to § 39-13-522, the defendant caused the victim to be mentally incapacitated or physically helpless by use of a controlled substance or controlled substance analogue;
(21) If the defendant is convicted of the offenses of aggravated rape pursuant to § 39-13-502, rape pursuant to § 39-13-503, rape of a child pursuant to § 39-13-522 or statutory rape pursuant to § 39-13-506, the defendant knew or should have known that, at the time of the offense, the defendant was HIV positive;
(22)

(A) If the defendant is convicted of the offenses of aggravated arson pursuant to § 39-14-302 or vandalism pursuant to § 39-14-408, the damage or destruction was caused to a structure, whether temporary or permanent in nature, used as a place of worship and the defendant knew or should have known that it was a place of worship;
(B) As used in subdivision (22)(A), “place of worship” means any structure that is:

(i) Approved, or qualified to be approved, by the state board of equalization for property tax exemption pursuant to § 67-5-212, based on ownership and use of the structure by a religious institution; and
(ii) Utilized on a regular basis by a religious institution as the site of congregational services, rites or activities communally undertaken for the purpose of worship;
(23) The defendant is an adult and sells to or gives or exchanges a controlled substance, controlled substance analogue or other illegal drug with a minor;
(24) The offense involved the theft of property and, as a result of the manner in which the offense was committed, the victim suffered significant damage to other property belonging to the victim or for which the victim was responsible;
(25)

(A) The defendant commits an offense:

(i) During the time period between the first occurrence of events or conduct that later results in a declaration of a state of emergency by a county, the governor, or the president of the United States and the time the county, governor, or the president of the United States terminates the state of emergency, as provided in § 58-2-107;
(ii) Within the area or areas threatened by the emergency, as established by the county’s, governor’s, or president’s declaration of a state of emergency; and
(iii) Knowing of the existence of the emergency;
(B) As used in this subdivision (25):

(i) “Emergency” means an occurrence, or threat thereof, whether natural, technological, or manmade, in war or in peace, that results or may result in substantial injury or harm to the population, or substantial damage to or loss of property; provided, that natural threats may include disease outbreaks and epidemics; and
(ii) “Offense” means the defendant is convicted of a violation of § 39-14-103, § 39-14-104, § 39-14-408, or any other offense involving theft or vandalism that is graded by value pursuant to § 39-14-105, and the value of the property or service taken or property damaged is no greater than the value provided in § 39-14-105 for a Class E felony;
(26) The defendant committed the offense of robbery pursuant to § 39-13-401, aggravated robbery pursuant to § 39-13-402, or especially aggravated robbery pursuant to § 39-13-403, on the premises of a licensed pharmacy in an effort to unlawfully obtain, sell, give, or exchange a controlled substance, controlled substance analogue, or other illegal drug;
(27) The defendant commits a violent offense, as classified in § 40-35-120(b), against a uniformed law enforcement officer or uniformed member of the armed forces or national guard; and the defendant intentionally selected the person against whom the crime was committed, in whole or in part, because of the person’s status as a law enforcement officer or member of the armed forces or national guard;
(28) At the time the instant offense was committed, the defendant was illegally or unlawfully in the United States;
(29) The offense involved the theft of a firearm from a motor vehicle, as defined in § 55-1-103;
(30)

(A) The defendant committed the offense of aggravated assault, as defined in § 39-13-102(a), or attempted first degree murder, as defined in § 39-13-202, on the grounds or premises of a healthcare facility;
(B) As used in this subdivision (30), “healthcare facility” means a hospital licensed under title 33 or 68; and
(31) The defendant committed an offense under title 39, chapter 13, part 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 while engaged in the performance of official duties as a law enforcement officer.
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