Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-201 (2026)
Burden of proof
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) No person may be convicted of an offense unless each of the following is proven beyond a reasonable doubt:
- (1) The conduct, circumstances surrounding the conduct, or a result of the conduct described in the definition of the offense;
- (2) The culpable mental state required;
- (3) The negation of any defense to an offense defined in this title if admissible evidence is introduced supporting the defense; and
- (4) The offense was committed prior to the return of the formal charge.
- (b) In the absence of the proof required by subsection (a), the innocence of the person is presumed.
- (c) A person charged with an offense has no burden to prove innocence.
- (d) Evidence produced at trial, whether presented on direct or cross-examination of state or defense witnesses, may be utilized by either party.
- (e) No person may be convicted of an offense unless venue is proven by a preponderance of the evidence.
- (f) If the issue is raised in defense, no person shall be convicted of an offense unless jurisdiction and the commission of the offense within the time period specified in title 40, chapter 2 are proven by a preponderance of the evidence.
Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1; 1990, ch. 1030, § 3.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 196
cases (29 in the last 5 years), 1994–2026 · leading case: State v. Young, 196 S.W.3d 85 (Tenn. 2006).
State v. Young, 196 S.W.3d 85 (Tenn. 2006). “"Proof of venue is necessary to establish the jurisdiction of the court, but it is not an element of any offense and need only be proved by a preponderance of the evidence.”
State v. Phipps, 883 S.W.2d 138 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994). “is proven beyond a reasonable doubt," Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-201 (a)(2) (1991 Repl.”
State v. Hatcher, 310 S.W.3d 788 (Tenn. 2010). “1997) (quoting Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-11-201(a)(2) (1991)).”
State of Tennessee v. Fred Chad Clark, II, 452 S.W.3d 268 (Tenn. 2014). “See Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-11-201(a)-(c) (2010) (codifying the constitutional rules that a criminal defendant is presumed innocent and has no burden to prove innocence, thus the State must prove each element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt).”
State v. Schiefelbein, 230 S.W.3d 88 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2007). “Thus, he argues that the instruction violates the burden of proof requirement, see T.C.A. § 39-11-201 (2006), his federal and state due process rights, and his rights to a jury trial because the instruction stated that aggravated sexual battery could be committed if the…”
State v. Hill, 954 S.W.2d 725 (Tenn. 1997). “Another reference is found in Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-11-201 (1991), which codified the principles regarding burden of proof: (a) No person may be convicted of an offense unless each of the following is proven beyond a reasonable doubt: [[Image here]] (2) The culpable mental state…”
State v. Hodges, 944 S.W.2d 346 (Tenn. 1997). “First of all, Tenn Code Ann. § 39-11-201(a)(3) (1991 Repl.”
State v. Hall, 958 S.W.2d 679 (Tenn. 1997). “[t]he culpable mental state required is proven beyond a reasonable doubt," Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-201 (a)(2) (1991 Repl.”
State v. Ferrell, 277 S.W.3d 372 (Tenn. 2009). “at 689 (quoting Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-11-201(a)(2) (1991)); see also State v.”
State of Tennessee v. Michael Farmer & Anthony Clark, 380 S.W.3d 96 (Tenn. 2012). “Thus, except for injuries that are either so serious or so trivial that a lay person will understand that they either do or do not involve a substantial risk of death, 2 expert testimony will, in the words of Tenn.”
State v. Belser, 945 S.W.2d 776 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-11-201(a)(3) provides that “No person may be convicted of an offense unless each of the following is proven beyond a reasonable doubt: .”
State v. Perry, 13 S.W.3d 724 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999). “at 688 ; see Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-11-201(a)(2). While diminished capacity is not an excuse or justification for committing the offense, it contemplates an acquittal of the indicted offense and a conviction for a lesser included offense.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-201(1) — 1 case
State v. Melvin Henning (Tenn. Crim. App. 1997).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-201(3) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Paul Clifford Moore, Jr. (Tenn. Crim. App. 2016).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-201(a) — 9 cases
State of Tennessee v. Fred Chad Clark, II, 452 S.W.3d 268 (Tenn. 2014). “See Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-11-201(a)-(c) (2010) (codifying the constitutional rules that a criminal defendant is presumed innocent and has no burden to prove innocence, thus the State must prove each element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt).”
State v. Phipps, 883 S.W.2d 138 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994). “is proven beyond a reasonable doubt," Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-201 (a)(2) (1991 Repl.”
State of Tennessee v. Michael Farmer & Anthony Clark, 380 S.W.3d 96 (Tenn. 2012). “Thus, except for injuries that are either so serious or so trivial that a lay person will understand that they either do or do not involve a substantial risk of death, 2 expert testimony will, in the words of Tenn.”
State of Tennessee v. Gary E. Floyd (Tenn. Crim. App. 2018).
State of Tennessee v. Christopher Michael Ferrell (Tenn. Crim. App. 2016).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-201(a)(1) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. William Thomas Branch (Tenn. Crim. App. 2006).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-201(a)(2) — 10 cases
State v. Hatcher, 310 S.W.3d 788 (Tenn. 2010). “1997) (quoting Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-11-201(a)(2) (1991)).”
State v. Ferrell, 277 S.W.3d 372 (Tenn. 2009). “at 689 (quoting Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-11-201(a)(2) (1991)); see also State v.”
State v. Perry, 13 S.W.3d 724 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999). “at 688 ; see Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-11-201(a)(2). While diminished capacity is not an excuse or justification for committing the offense, it contemplates an acquittal of the indicted offense and a conviction for a lesser included offense.”
State of Tennessee v. Michael Bonsky - Concurring (Tenn. Crim. App. 2016).
State of Tennessee v. Paul Clifford Moore, Jr. (Tenn. Crim. App. 2016).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-201(a)(3) — 48 cases
State v. Hodges, 944 S.W.2d 346 (Tenn. 1997). “First of all, Tenn Code Ann. § 39-11-201(a)(3) (1991 Repl.”
State v. Belser, 945 S.W.2d 776 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-11-201(a)(3) provides that “No person may be convicted of an offense unless each of the following is proven beyond a reasonable doubt: .”
State of Tennessee v. Tanya Nicole Slimick (Tenn. Crim. App. 2015).
State of Tennessee v. Kevin Patton Benfield (Tenn. Crim. App. 2016).
State of Tennessee v. Dontavious Hendrix (Tenn. Crim. App. 2016).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-201(a)(4) — 6 cases
State of Tennessee v. Kenneth Darrin Fisher (Tenn. Crim. App. 2017).
Kenneth C. Davis v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2011).
State of Tennessee v. Jessica Cox (Tenn. Crim. App. 2020).
State of Tennessee v. Gerald Branden Fitzpatrick (Tenn. Crim. App. 2013).
State of Tennesse v. Cleo Henderson (Tenn. Crim. App. 2013).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-201(c) — 3 cases
Carlos Stokes v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2024).
State of Tennessee v. Michael Flamini, Jr. (Tenn. Crim. App. 2025).
State of Tennessee v. Richard Crawford - Dissenting (Tenn. Crim. App. 2001).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-201(d) — 2 cases
State of Tennessee v. Paul Clifford Moore, Jr. (Tenn. Crim. App. 2016).
State of Tennessee v. Bobby Vincent Blackmon (Tenn. Crim. App. 2001).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-201(e) — 16 cases
State v. Young, 196 S.W.3d 85 (Tenn. 2006). “"Proof of venue is necessary to establish the jurisdiction of the court, but it is not an element of any offense and need only be proved by a preponderance of the evidence.”
State v. Trusty, 326 S.W.3d 582 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2010).
State v. Ellis, 89 S.W.3d 584 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2000).
State of Tennessee v. Angelo Allen (Tenn. Crim. App. 2009).
State of Tennessee v. Ronald Lyons, James Michael Usinger, Lee Harold Cromwell, Austin Gary Cooper, & Christopher Alan Hauser (Tenn. Crim. App. 2021).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-201(e)(1993) — 1 case
State v. Marbury, 908 S.W.2d 405 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-201(f) — 2 cases
State of Tennessee v. Edward G. Jameson (Tenn. Crim. App. 2021).
State of Tennessee v. Ronald Matthew Lacy (Tenn. 2026).
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