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Tennessee · Snapshot open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14

Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-408: Sexual contact with inmates

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. TN Code
  2. Title 39
  3. Chapter 16

(a) For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Law enforcement officer" and "correctional employee" include a person working in that capacity as a private contractor or employee of a private contractor; and (2) "Volunteer" means any person who, after fulfilling the appropriate policy requirements, is assigned to a volunteer job and provides a service without pay from the correctional agency, except for compensation for those expenses incurred directly as a result of the volunteer service. (b) It is an offense for a law enforcement officer, correctional employee, vendor or volunteer to engage in sexual contact or sexual penetration, as such terms are defined in § 39-13-501 , with a prisoner or inmate who is in custody at a penal institution as defined in § 39-16-601 , whether the conduct occurs on or off the grounds of the institution. (c) A violation of this section is a Class E felony. Acts 1997, ch. 388, § 1; T.C.A. § 41-21-241 ; Acts 2006, ch. 1005, § 2.

(a) For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Law enforcement officer" and "correctional employee" include a person working in that capacity as a private contractor or employee of a private contractor; and (2) "Volunteer" means any person who, after fulfilling the appropriate policy requirements, is assigned to a volunteer job and provides a service without pay from the correctional agency, except for compensation for those expenses incurred directly as a result of the volunteer service.

(1) "Law enforcement officer" and "correctional employee" include a person working in that capacity as a private contractor or employee of a private contractor; and

(2) "Volunteer" means any person who, after fulfilling the appropriate policy requirements, is assigned to a volunteer job and provides a service without pay from the correctional agency, except for compensation for those expenses incurred directly as a result of the volunteer service.

(b) It is an offense for a law enforcement officer, correctional employee, vendor or volunteer to engage in sexual contact or sexual penetration, as such terms are defined in § 39-13-501 , with a prisoner or inmate who is in custody at a penal institution as defined in § 39-16-601 , whether the conduct occurs on or off the grounds of the institution.

(c) A violation of this section is a Class E felony.

Collected 2026-09-14T18:32:26Z. Source file · JSON

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