Cody Allen and Erin Twomey share regional comparisons and statutory insights during summer study on Senate Bill 1170
For more information, contact Erin Twomey, policy analyst |etwomey@csg.org
On Aug. 14, 2025, CSG South Senior Policy Analyst Cody Allen and Policy Analyst Erin Twomey presented to the Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee during its summer study on Senate Bill 1170. The committee examined Tennessee’s felony murder statute and provisions on criminal responsibility for the conduct of another, comparing them with laws across the Southern region.
Allen began by providing an overview of the regional landscape, setting the stage for comparative analysis across states. Twomey then detailed how felony murder and criminal responsibility statutes are structured in the South. All 15 CSG South member states maintain provisions aligned with federal law, consistently using terms such as “aiding and abetting,” “accomplice,” and “accessory before the fact.”
The presentation also highlighted key differences in statutory language. Four states, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Missouri, specify circumstances where a person does not bear criminal liability for another’s actions, including voluntary termination of an offense or providing adequate warning to law enforcement. Six states, including Tennessee, reference culpability, mental state, or intent. Louisiana explicitly defines intent in statute, while Florida addresses entrapment.
In Tennessee, Code § 39-11-402 holds individuals criminally responsible when they act with the culpability required for the offense, solicit or aid another person in committing the offense, or fail to prevent the offense when legally obligated to do so.
The presentation gave lawmakers a regional perspective on statutory approaches and provided context for Tennessee’s ongoing discussion of Senate Bill 1170.
For more information, view these resources below:
Presentation slides from the CSG South testimony
VIEW SLIDESFull video of the Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, including testimony from Cody Allen and Erin Twomey
Watch Full TestimonySee the full text and history of Tennessee Senate Bill 1170
View Bill 1170
