Plain English Breakdown
Checked against official source text during the last sync.
Juvenile Offenders Restitution Act
This bill changes Tennessee law to require parents or guardians of a child who commits a third or more delinquent act to pay restitution for expenses related to law enforcement involvement.
What This Bill Does
- Requires courts to order restitution from the parent, legal custodian, or guardian if a child is found guilty of a third or subsequent delinquent act.
- Sets minimum and maximum amounts for restitution orders based on whether the act would be considered a misdemeanor or felony if committed by an adult.
- Allows the court to waive restitution if the parent, legal custodian, or guardian cannot afford it and instead order them to do community service.
Who It Names or Affects
- Parents or guardians of children who commit delinquent acts
- Law enforcement agencies involved in responding to and investigating juvenile crimes
Terms To Know
- delinquent act
- A violation of law by a child that would be considered a crime if committed by an adult.
- restitution
- Money paid to cover the costs or damages caused by someone's actions.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill does not specify what happens if parents, legal custodians, or guardians cannot pay restitution.
- It is unclear how this law will affect families with limited financial resources.