§ 33-3-402 — Mentally ill or intellectually disabled adult inmates

(a) If the director of a facility of the department of correction determines, on the basis of a written report of a licensed physician or a licensed psychologist with health service provider designation, that a person in the director's custody: (1) Has mental illness or serious emotional disturbance; and (2) Is in need of residential care and treatment for the condition that cannot be provided at an appropriate facility of the department of correction and that can be provided at an appropriate residential program of the department of mental health and substance abuse services, the director shall order the person's transfer and shall notify the person of the decision and the reasons in writing not less than twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the proposed transfer. (b) (1) If the person is competent and waives in writing the right to a transfer hearing, the person shall be transferred to the custody of the commissioner at a secure facility that is designated by the commissioner as having available suitable accommodations. (2) If the person does not so waive the right to a hearing, the director shall convene a transfer committee not less than seven (7) nor more than fourteen (14) days thereafter, and the person shall remain in the facility of the department of correction pending the decision of the transfer committee.

Legislative History

Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 688,s 71, eff. 7/1/2024. Acts 1984, ch. 922, § 34; 2000, ch. 947, §§ 1, 6; 2004, ch. 565, § 6; 2010 , ch. 734, § 1; 2010 , ch. 1100, § 37; 2012 , ch. 575, § 1.