Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 41-4-121 (2026)
Safekeeping of prisoners - Pregnant prisoners - Sufficient jails
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a)
- (1) The sheriff has the authority, when the jail of the county is insufficient for the safekeeping of a prisoner, to convey the prisoner to the nearest sufficient jail in the state or, if the prisoner is a juvenile, to the nearest sufficient juvenile detention facility in the state.
- (2) In all cases where it is shown to the committing court that the jail of the county in which the commitment should be made is insufficient for the safekeeping of the prisoner, the court may order commitment of the prisoner to the nearest sufficient county jail or, if the prisoner is a juvenile, to the nearest sufficient juvenile detention facility.
- (3) In all cases where the jail in which a prisoner is confined becomes insufficient for any cause, any circuit, criminal, or general sessions judge, upon the application of the sheriff and proof of the fact, may order the prisoner to be removed to the nearest sufficient jail or, if the prisoner is a juvenile, to the nearest sufficient juvenile detention facility.
- (b)
- (1) An order issued under this section shall be reviewed by the issuing court at least once every thirty (30) days. In conducting the review, the court shall determine whether the order needs to remain in place, be terminated, or be modified to place conditions on the order. In evaluating whether the order needs to remain in place, the court shall consider the jail or juvenile detention facilities' obligations relative to the use of restrictive housing. If the order is terminated, the prisoner shall be returned to the county jail or juvenile detention facility, as appropriate.
- (2) Nothing in this section authorizes a non-adjudicated juvenile, or a non-adjudicated juvenile who has been transferred to criminal court in accordance with title 37, chapter 1, to be committed or removed to the state penitentiary or a branch prison for safekeeping.
- (c)
- (1) Notwithstanding this section, if a prisoner is pregnant, beginning on the date on which pregnancy is confirmed by a healthcare professional and ending at the conclusion of postpartum recovery, the pregnant prisoner shall not be removed to a state penitentiary or a branch prison for safekeeping, unless medically necessary for the health of the prisoner or the unborn child.
- (2) "Postpartum recovery" means the six-week period, or longer as determined by the healthcare professional responsible for the prisoner's health care, following delivery, stillbirth, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or other non-live birth outcome, and includes the entire period that the prisoner is in the hospital or infirmary, if applicable.
Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1017, s 1, eff. 5/11/2022.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1045, Secs.s 1, s 2eff. 5/21/2018.
Code 1858, §§ 5402-5404 (deriv. Acts 1809 (Sept.), ch. 126, § 4; 1817, ch. 17, § 1); Shan., §§ 7380-7382; Code 1932, §§ 11989-11991; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), §§ 41-1123 -- 41-1125.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1995–2026 · leading case: State v. Walker, 905 S.W.2d 554 (Tenn. 1995).
State v. Walker, 905 S.W.2d 554 (Tenn. 1995). “But what of Tenn. Code Ann. § 41-4-121 allowing a sheriff to convey prisoners to the nearest jail "sufficient" for their safekeeping? The term "prisoner" as used in this section refers to persons sentenced to imprisonment in the county jail.”
State v. Chapman, 977 S.W.2d 122 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1997). “§ 40-23-103, and that the sheriff has the authority “to convey prisoners to the nearest jail ‘sufficient’ for their safekeeping,” see T.C.A. § 41-4-121, our supreme court held that when a convicted person is turned away after presenting him or herself for immediate…”
State of Tennessee v. Austin Drummond (Tenn. Crim. App. 2026). “On November 13, 2025, the trial court entered an amended order relying upon Tennessee Code Annotated § 41-4-121. The trial court specifically found that “the Lake County jail is insufficient to house and keep safe this inmate, and no other jail or detention facility, located…”
Charles Montague v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2019). “Code section 41-4-121, which deals with the power of the sheriff to house inmates in nearby facilities “when the jail of the county is insufficient for the safekeeping of a prisoner,” has no application to this case.”
Larry J. Noel v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2011). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 41-4-121 (2010). -9- The petitioner argues that his pretrial confinement in the penitentiary was “punitive,” rather than remedial, and thereby violative of the prohibition against double jeopardy, because “Tennessee Code Annotated § 41-4-121 does not provide…”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 41-4-121(a): 2 cases
State v. Walker, 905 S.W.2d 554 (Tenn. 1995). “But what of Tenn. Code Ann. § 41-4-121 allowing a sheriff to convey prisoners to the nearest jail "sufficient" for their safekeeping? The term "prisoner" as used in this section refers to persons sentenced to imprisonment in the county jail.”
Charles Montague v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2019). “Code section 41-4-121, which deals with the power of the sheriff to house inmates in nearby facilities “when the jail of the county is insufficient for the safekeeping of a prisoner,” has no application to this case.”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 41-4-121(a)(1): 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Austin Drummond (Tenn. Crim. App. 2026). “On November 13, 2025, the trial court entered an amended order relying upon Tennessee Code Annotated § 41-4-121. The trial court specifically found that “the Lake County jail is insufficient to house and keep safe this inmate, and no other jail or detention facility, located…”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 41-4-121(a)(3): 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Austin Drummond (Tenn. Crim. App. 2026). “On November 13, 2025, the trial court entered an amended order relying upon Tennessee Code Annotated § 41-4-121. The trial court specifically found that “the Lake County jail is insufficient to house and keep safe this inmate, and no other jail or detention facility, located…”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 41-4-121(b): 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Austin Drummond (Tenn. Crim. App. 2026). “On November 13, 2025, the trial court entered an amended order relying upon Tennessee Code Annotated § 41-4-121. The trial court specifically found that “the Lake County jail is insufficient to house and keep safe this inmate, and no other jail or detention facility, located…”
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