# Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-5-101: Creation of department - Division of juvenile justice - Deputy commissioner of juvenile justice - Powers and duties - Funding > Tennessee · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C5_S37-5-101 ## Section - **Citation:** Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-5-101 - **Heading:** Creation of department - Division of juvenile justice - Deputy commissioner of juvenile justice - Powers and duties - Funding - **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** TN Code / Title 37 / Chapter 5 / Section 37-5-101 ## Text (a) There is hereby created the department of children's services. (b) (1) Within the department, there is created a division of juvenile justice to serve children who are adjudicated delinquent. (2) The deputy commissioner of juvenile justice shall be appointed to lead the division of juvenile justice and shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioner. The commissioner shall appoint a person qualified by training and experience in the area of juvenile justice to perform the duties of deputy commissioner of juvenile justice. The appointee must be a graduate of an accredited college or university and be experienced in the field of juvenile justice. (3) It is the duty and responsibility of the division of juvenile justice to serve children who are adjudicated delinquent. The deputy commissioner shall have the powers and duties that the commissioner shall prescribe, in order to effectively administer, develop and oversee all state programs and services for delinquent children, their families and their communities. (4) The commissioner shall earmark a sum sufficient to be used exclusively for the division of juvenile justice. This budget shall include all appropriations for residential and nonresidential services provided for the prevention of delinquency and the rehabilitation, treatment and training of delinquent youth. Acts 1996, ch. 1079, § 2; 2006, ch. 818, § 1. (a) There is hereby created the department of children's services. (b) (1) Within the department, there is created a division of juvenile justice to serve children who are adjudicated delinquent. (2) The deputy commissioner of juvenile justice shall be appointed to lead the division of juvenile justice and shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioner. The commissioner shall appoint a person qualified by training and experience in the area of juvenile justice to perform the duties of deputy commissioner of juvenile justice. The appointee must be a graduate of an accredited college or university and be experienced in the field of juvenile justice. (3) It is the duty and responsibility of the division of juvenile justice to serve children who are adjudicated delinquent. The deputy commissioner shall have the powers and duties that the commissioner shall prescribe, in order to effectively administer, develop and oversee all state programs and services for delinquent children, their families and their communities. (4) The commissioner shall earmark a sum sufficient to be used exclusively for the division of juvenile justice. This budget shall include all appropriations for residential and nonresidential services provided for the prevention of delinquency and the rehabilitation, treatment and training of delinquent youth. (1) Within the department, there is created a division of juvenile justice to serve children who are adjudicated delinquent. (2) The deputy commissioner of juvenile justice shall be appointed to lead the division of juvenile justice and shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioner. The commissioner shall appoint a person qualified by training and experience in the area of juvenile justice to perform the duties of deputy commissioner of juvenile justice. The appointee must be a graduate of an accredited college or university and be experienced in the field of juvenile justice. (3) It is the duty and responsibility of the division of juvenile justice to serve children who are adjudicated delinquent. The deputy commissioner shall have the powers and duties that the commissioner shall prescribe, in order to effectively administer, develop and oversee all state programs and services for delinquent children, their families and their communities. he field of juvenile justice. (3) It is the duty and responsibility of the division of juvenile justice to serve children who are adjudicated delinquent. The deputy commissioner shall have the powers and duties that the commissioner shall prescribe, in order to effectively administer, develop and oversee all state programs and services for delinquent children, their families and their communities. (4) The commissioner shall earmark a sum sufficient to be used exclusively for the division of juvenile justice. This budget shall include all appropriations for residential and nonresidential services provided for the prevention of delinquency and the rehabilitation, treatment and training of delinquent youth. Acts 1996, ch. 1079, § 2; 2006, ch. 818, § 1. ## Nearby sections - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-5-101 Creation of department - Division of juvenile justice - Deputy commissioner of juvenile justice - Powers and duties - Funding](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C5_S37-5-101.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-5-102 Purpose](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C5_S37-5-102.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-5-103 Chapter definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C5_S37-5-103.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-5-104 Commissioner of children's services - Qualifications](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C5_S37-5-104.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-5-105 Powers and duties of commissioner](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C5_S37-5-105.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-5-106 Powers of the department](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C5_S37-5-106.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-5-107 Confidentiality of records](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C5_S37-5-107.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-5-108 Conflict of interest](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C5_S37-5-108.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-5-109 Licensing](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C5_S37-5-109.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-5-110 Contracts/Leases](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C5_S37-5-110.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-5-111 Funds](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C5_S37-5-111.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-5-112 Rules](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C5_S37-5-112.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-5-113 Accreditation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C5_S37-5-113.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-5-114 Transfer from department of youth development](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C5_S37-5-114.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C5_S37-5-101. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.