Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-525 (2026)
Release from community supervision
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) After a person sentenced to community supervision pursuant to § 39-13-524 has been on supervision for a period of fifteen (15) years, the person may petition the sentencing court for release from community supervision.
- (b) Upon receiving a petition, the court shall, at least thirty (30) days prior to a hearing on the petition, cause the office of the district attorney general responsible for prosecuting the person to be notified of the person's petition for release from supervision. Upon being notified, the district attorney general shall conduct a criminal history check on the person to determine if the person has been convicted of a criminal offense during the period of community supervision. The district attorney general shall report the results of the criminal history check to the court, together with any other comments the district attorney general may have concerning the person's petition for release. The district attorney general may also appear and testify at the hearing, in lieu of, or in addition to, submitting written comments.
- (c) Between the date the petition is filed with the court and the date established by the court for a hearing on the petition, if the person is entitled to a hearing, the person shall be examined and evaluated by a psychiatrist or licensed psychologist with health service designation approved by the board. The cost of the examination and evaluation shall be the sole responsibility of the person petitioning for release from supervision. No hearing on the petition may be conducted until the person has been examined and evaluated in accordance with this subsection (c).
- (d)
- (1) If the report of the district attorney general indicates that the petitioner has been convicted of a criminal offense while under community supervision, the court shall deny the petition without conducting a hearing.
- (2) If the report of the district attorney general indicates that the petitioner has not been convicted of a criminal offense while under community supervision, the court shall conduct a hearing on the petition. At the hearing, the court shall call such witnesses, including the examining psychiatrist or licensed psychologist with health service designation or the prosecuting district attorney general, as the court deems necessary to reach an informed and just decision on whether the petitioner should be released from community supervision. The petitioner may offer such witnesses and other proof at the hearing as is relevant to the petition.
- (3) If a petition for release from supervision is denied by the court, the person may not file another such petition for a period of three (3) years.
Acts 1996, ch. 972, § 1.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1997–2026 · leading case: Calvert v. State, 342 S.W.3d 477 (Tenn. 2011).
Calvert v. State, 342 S.W.3d 477 (Tenn. 2011). “§ 39-13-525(a) (2006). After Defendant testified about what the probation officer had told him about community supervision following probation, Defendant’s attorney asked, “If you would have known about that[,] how would that have affected your decision?” Defendant answered, “I…”
Craig Robert Nunn v. Tennessee Dep't of Corr., 547 S.W.3d 163 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2017). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-525 (d)(2). The petitioner may also offer witnesses and other proof at the hearing.”
State v. Levandowski, 955 S.W.2d 603 (Tenn. 1997). “See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-525 (b)(Supp. 1996)("the district attorney general shall conduct a criminal history check.”
Derrick Brandon Bush v. State of Tennessee, 428 S.W.3d 1 (Tenn. 2014). “According to Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-525 (2010), "[ajfter a person sentenced to community supervision pursuant to [Tenn.”
Carlos Ortiz v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2026). “See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-525 . The Apprendi doctrine requires that “[o]ther than the fact of a prior conviction, any fact that increases the penalty for a crime beyond the prescribed statutory maximum must be submitted to a jury and proved beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Derrick Brandon Bush v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. 2014). “According to Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-525 (2010), “[a]fter a person sentenced to community supervision pursuant to [Tenn.”
State of Tennessee v. Benny S. Towns (2018). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-524 (c). A defendant serving a community supervision for life sentence can petition the sentencing court for release after fifteen years of service.”
Marcus Ward v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2009). “§ 39-13-525(a). Given the protective and rehabilitative aims of sex offender community supervision and the similarities to regular parole, by extension of our supreme court’s reasoning in Jaco, we conclude that community supervision is not punishment but, instead, a collateral…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-525(a) — 3 cases
Calvert v. State, 342 S.W.3d 477 (Tenn. 2011). “§ 39-13-525(a) (2006). After Defendant testified about what the probation officer had told him about community supervision following probation, Defendant’s attorney asked, “If you would have known about that[,] how would that have affected your decision?” Defendant answered, “I…”
Craig Robert Nunn v. Tennessee Dep't of Corr., 547 S.W.3d 163 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2017). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-525 (d)(2). The petitioner may also offer witnesses and other proof at the hearing.”
Marcus Ward v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2009). “§ 39-13-525(a). Given the protective and rehabilitative aims of sex offender community supervision and the similarities to regular parole, by extension of our supreme court’s reasoning in Jaco, we conclude that community supervision is not punishment but, instead, a collateral…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-525(b) — 1 case
State v. Levandowski, 955 S.W.2d 603 (Tenn. 1997). “See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-525 (b)(Supp. 1996)("the district attorney general shall conduct a criminal history check.”
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