Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-1-132 (2026)

• (a) If the child is found to be an unruly child, the court may make such disposition as authorized by this section or § 37-1-131(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(7), or (b) that is best suited to such child's treatment. However, no child found to be an unruly child may be placed on probation under the supervision of the department, unless such child is found to also be a delinquent child or is found to have committed a violation of a valid court order as provided for in the Appendix to the Tennessee Rules of Juvenile Procedure. No county government shall be required to increase local funding to implement this provision. The court has the additional dispositional alternative of ordering the department to provide non-custodial services to a child found to be unruly.

• (b)
  • (1) An unruly child is eligible for commitment to the department only if:
    • (A) The child has previously been adjudicated for two (2) or more offenses arising from separate incidents that would constitute an unruly offense, or a felony or misdemeanor if committed by an adult, including adjudications in other jurisdictions that, if committed in this jurisdiction, would constitute a felony or misdemeanor; or
    • (B)
      • (i) The court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the child is in imminent risk of danger to the child's health or safety and needs specific treatment or services that are available only if the child is placed in the custody of the department;
      • (ii) A child placed in the custody of the department under this subdivision (b)(1)(B) shall remain in custody so long as necessary to complete the treatment or services, which shall be evidence-based and provided by a qualified provider, but shall remain in custody no longer than six (6) months; provided, that the court may order that the child remain in custody for up to an additional six (6) month period if the court finds after a hearing or stipulation that:
        • (a) The child needs treatment or services that are available only if the child is in custody; and
        • (b) The treatment or services the child needs are evidence-based and will be provided by a qualified provider.
  • (2) If the court finds that it is in the best interest of the child and the public that any unruly child be removed from the home of a parent, guardian, or other legal custodian, the placement of the child shall be with the person, agency, or facility that presents the least drastic or restrictive alternative.
  • (3) Prior to committing an unruly child to the custody of the department of children's services, the court shall refer such child to the department's juvenile-family crisis intervention program under § 37-1-168. The court may commit the child to the department after such juvenile-family crisis intervention program certifies to the court that there is no other less drastic measure than court intervention. Nothing in this subsection (b) shall preclude placing a child in protective service custody.
  • (4) A disposition under this section shall, in no event, result in the child's detention in shelter care, as defined in § 37-1-116, or other temporary placement, without provision of necessary services consistent with the child's assessments or evaluations, in excess of thirty (30) days after entry of the court's order.
  • (5) Subject to subdivision (b)(6), an unruly child committed to the custody of the department under subdivision (b)(1)(A) for an indefinite time shall be discharged or placed on home placement supervision after a maximum of six (6) months, excluding any amount of time that a child is absent from placement for whatever reason, unless:
    • (A) The treatment and rehabilitation of the child require that the child remain in custody beyond six (6) months to complete an evidence-based program in a custodial setting addressing a treatment need identified by the previously administered validated risk and needs assessment;
    • (B) The child is alleged to have committed a new delinquent act; or
    • (C) The child is alleged to be an escapee from a secure juvenile facility or institution.
  • (6) The commissioner shall prescribe procedures whereby the child's treatment, rehabilitation, and progress shall be reviewed monthly and a recommendation for or against home placement or discharge shall be made to the commissioner or the commissioner's designee at least quarterly.
  • (7)
    • (A) When the department determines that a child who has been committed to the department under this section is ready to return home, the department shall notify the court in writing of its intention to place the child at home on a trial home visit. If the court objects to the trial home visit, it must notify the department of its objection in writing or set a hearing within fifteen (15) days of the date of the notice with such hearing being held at the earliest possible date. If a hearing is not set nor a written objection received within fifteen (15) days of the date of the notice, the department may place the child on a trial home visit. The notice shall include the provision that the department's legal custody of the child shall terminate in thirty (30) days.
    • (B) If during the thirty-day period the department determines that the trial home visit is not in the child's best interest and removes the child on an emergency basis or seeks to remove the child on a non-emergency basis, the department shall file a motion for review by the court of the trial home visit and shall provide notice to the parent, parents, guardian, or other custodian. The court shall hold a hearing on such motion within three (3) days of an emergency removal and shall set a hearing within fifteen (15) days to be held at the earliest possible date if the motion is for the court's permission to make a non-emergency removal.
    • (C) During the thirty-day trial home visit, the court may periodically review the child's status and may make any orders that the best interest of the child may require.

• (c)
  • (1) A child ordered to probation under subsection (a) may be placed on probation for a maximum period of six (6) months, subject to this subdivision (c)(1). Before expiration of the first six-month period or any extension period thereafter, and after notice and a hearing, the court may extend probation for additional periods not to exceed six (6) months each, but only if the court finds and issues a written order that:
    • (A) States that it is in the best interest of the child that a condition or conditions of probation remain in effect; and
    • (B) Specifies the condition or conditions that shall remain in effect and why that continued effectiveness is in the best interest of the child.
  • (2) If the requirements of subdivision (c)(1) have been met, probation may continue only so long as it is in the best interest of the child that the condition or conditions of probation remain in effect.
  • (3) If the supervising authority finds the child has violated the conditions or limitations of probation, the supervising authority may file a petition alleging a violation of the conditions or limitations of probation with the court; provided, that the court, in its discretion, may direct the supervising authority that, in some or all circumstances, such a petition should be filed only if the supervising authority makes and documents attempts to address the noncompliant behavior and determines and documents the reasons for which court intervention is needed to address the noncompliance.
  • (4) If the court finds that no violation has occurred, the child shall be allowed to resume the former conditions of probation or probation may be terminated.
  • (5) If in a subsequent proceeding, the court finds the child has violated any of the conditions or limitations of probation, the court may modify conditions consistent with the needs of the child, including ordering a transfer or grant pursuant to § 37-1-131(a)(1). The court shall not order a child placed in the custody of the department for a violation of the conditions or limitations of probation unless:
    • (A) The child is separately adjudicated dependent or neglected and placed pursuant to § 37-1-130;
    • (B) The child is separately adjudicated delinquent and placed pursuant to § 37-1-131 for an eligible delinquent offense arising out of a subsequent criminal episode other than the offense for which the child has been placed on probation; or
    • (C)
      • (i) The court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the child is in imminent risk of danger to the child's health or safety and needs specific treatment or services that are available only if the child is placed in the custody of the department;
      • (ii) A child placed in the custody of the department under this subdivision (c)(5)(C) shall remain in custody so long as necessary to complete the treatment or services, which shall be evidence-based and provided by a qualified provider, but shall remain in custody no longer than six (6) months; provided, that the court may order that the child remain in custody for up to an additional six (6) month period if the court finds after a hearing or stipulation that:
        • (a) The child needs treatment or services that are available only if the child is in custody; and
        • (b) The treatment or services the child needs are evidence-based and will be provided by a qualified provider.

• (d) If a child is adjudicated unruly in whole or in part for habitual and unlawful absence pursuant to § 49-6-3007, it is the intent of the general assembly that any disposition of the court be oriented toward family services and those interventions that address educational barriers and the root causes of truancy.

Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1052,Sec.s35, eff. 7/1/2018 and Secs.s33, s34 eff. 7/1/2019.

Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1052,s 32, eff. 7/1/2019.

Acts 1970, ch. 600, § 32; 1979, ch. 289, § 5; 1982, ch. 882, § 2; T.C.A., § 37-232; Acts 1985 (1st Ex. Sess.), ch. 6, § 1; 1996, ch. 1079, § 94; 1999, ch. 508, § 8; 2007, ch. 372, § 4.