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Tennessee Capital Punishment Laws
More Information on Capital Punishment Laws
| Code Section | 39-13-201, et seq.; 37-1-102; 40-23-114 |
| Is Capital Punishment Allowed? | Yes |
| Effect of Defendant's Incapacity | Prohibited for mentally retarded |
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Available for Crimes Other than Homicide? | - |
| Definition of Capital Homicide | Offender over 18, victim under 12; previous felony convictions; great risk of death to multiple persons other than victim; employed or done for remuneration; especially heinous, atrocious or cruel; avoiding lawful arrest of defendant or another; in connection with any first degree murder, arson, rape, robbery, burglary, theft, kidnapping, aircraft piracy, bombing; committed while in lawful custody/confinement or escape from; committed against law enforcement officer, corrections person, firefighter engaged in duties, also judge, attorney general, district attorney, etc. (and formers) due to performance of duties; against elected official; "mass" murderer; mutilation of victim's body; victim was 70 or older or victim was particularly vulnerable due to disability; committed in course of terrorism |
| Method of Execution | Lethal injection unless offense committed prior to January 1, 1999, then may elect for electrocution |
Note: State laws are constantly changing -- contact an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
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