(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), all persons sentenced to the county workhouse, either for a felony or misdemeanor conviction, in counties with an existing work release program whereby, among other things, prisoners remove litter and trash from public roads and other public areas, may be required to participate in the litter removal portion of that work release program during the period of the person's incarceration.(b)(1) The only exceptions to the requirements of subsection (a) shall be for those persons who, in the opinion of the sheriff or the superintendent of the jail, would present a security risk or a danger to the public if allowed to leave the confines of the jail or workhouse and those persons who, in the opinion of a licensed physician, should not perform the labor for medical reasons.(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed as making persons convicted of the offense of driving under the influence of an intoxicant as prohibited by § 55-10-401 eligible to participate in a work release program, a litter removal program or receive sentence reduction credits as authorized by this section, nor shall this section be construed as altering or decreasing the participate in a work release program, a litter removal program or receive sentence reduction credits as authorized by this section, nor shall this section be construed as altering or decreasing the penalties established by law for that offense.(c) All persons participating in the work release program required by this section shall receive sentence reduction credits for the work at the same rate as is provided in § 41-2-123(b)(3).Acts 1989, ch. 511, §§ 1, 3.
Tennessee Legal Code