# Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-102: When prisoners may petition for post-conviction relief > Tennessee · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C30_S40-30-102 ## Section - **Citation:** Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-102 - **Heading:** When prisoners may petition for post-conviction relief - **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** TN Code / Title 40 / Chapter 30 / Section 40-30-102 ## Text (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), a person in custody under a sentence of a court of this state must petition for post-conviction relief under this part within one (1) year of the date of the final action of the highest state appellate court to which an appeal is taken or, if no appeal is taken, within one (1) year of the date on which the judgment became final, or consideration of the petition shall be barred. The statute of limitations shall not be tolled for any reason, including any tolling or saving provision otherwise available at law or equity. Time is of the essence of the right to file a petition for post-conviction relief or motion to reopen established by this chapter, and the one-year limitations period is an element of the right to file the action and is a condition upon its exercise. Except as specifically provided in subsections (b) and (c), the right to file a petition for post-conviction relief or a motion to reopen under this chapter shall be extinguished upon the expiration of the limitations period. (b) No court shall have jurisdiction to consider a petition filed after the expiration of the limitations period unless: (1) The claim in the petition is based upon a final ruling of an appellate court establishing a constitutional right that was not recognized as existing at the time of trial, if retrospective application of that right is required. The petition must be filed within one (1) year of the ruling of the highest state appellate court or the United States supreme court establishing a constitutional right that was not recognized as existing at the time of trial; (2) The claim in the petition is based upon new scientific evidence establishing that the petitioner is actually innocent of the offense or offenses for which the petitioner was convicted; or (3) The claim asserted in the petition seeks relief from a sentence that was enhanced because of a previous conviction and the conviction in the case in which the claim is asserted was not a guilty plea with an agreed sentence, and the previous conviction has subsequently been held to be invalid, in which case the petition must be filed within one (1) year of the finality of the ruling holding the previous conviction to be invalid. (c) This part contemplates the filing of only one (1) petition for post-conviction relief. In no event may more than one (1) petition for post-conviction relief be filed attacking a single judgment. If a prior petition has been filed which was resolved on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction, any second or subsequent petition shall be summarily dismissed. A petitioner may move to reopen a post-conviction proceeding that has been concluded, under the limited circumstances set out in § 40-30-117 . Acts 1995, ch. 207, § 1; 1996, ch. 995, §§ 1-3; T.C.A. § 40-30-202 . (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), a person in custody under a sentence of a court of this state must petition for post-conviction relief under this part within one (1) year of the date of the final action of the highest state appellate court to which an appeal is taken or, if no appeal is taken, within one (1) year of the date on which the judgment became final, or consideration of the petition shall be barred. The statute of limitations shall not be tolled for any reason, including any tolling or saving provision otherwise available at law or equity. Time is of the essence of the right to file a petition for post-conviction relief or motion to reopen established by this chapter, and the one-year limitations period is an element of the right to file the action and is a condition upon its exercise. Except as specifically provided in subsections (b) and (c), the right to file a petition for post-conviction relief or a motion to reopen under this chapter shall be extinguished upon the expiration of the limitations period. elief or motion to reopen established by this chapter, and the one-year limitations period is an element of the right to file the action and is a condition upon its exercise. Except as specifically provided in subsections (b) and (c), the right to file a petition for post-conviction relief or a motion to reopen under this chapter shall be extinguished upon the expiration of the limitations period. (b) No court shall have jurisdiction to consider a petition filed after the expiration of the limitations period unless: (1) The claim in the petition is based upon a final ruling of an appellate court establishing a constitutional right that was not recognized as existing at the time of trial, if retrospective application of that right is required. The petition must be filed within one (1) year of the ruling of the highest state appellate court or the United States supreme court establishing a constitutional right that was not recognized as existing at the time of trial; (2) The claim in the petition is based upon new scientific evidence establishing that the petitioner is actually innocent of the offense or offenses for which the petitioner was convicted; or (3) The claim asserted in the petition seeks relief from a sentence that was enhanced because of a previous conviction and the conviction in the case in which the claim is asserted was not a guilty plea with an agreed sentence, and the previous conviction has subsequently been held to be invalid, in which case the petition must be filed within one (1) year of the finality of the ruling holding the previous conviction to be invalid. (1) The claim in the petition is based upon a final ruling of an appellate court establishing a constitutional right that was not recognized as existing at the time of trial, if retrospective application of that right is required. The petition must be filed within one (1) year of the ruling of the highest state appellate court or the United States supreme court establishing a constitutional right that was not recognized as existing at the time of trial; (2) The claim in the petition is based upon new scientific evidence establishing that the petitioner is actually innocent of the offense or offenses for which the petitioner was convicted; or (3) The claim asserted in the petition seeks relief from a sentence that was enhanced because of a previous conviction and the conviction in the case in which the claim is asserted was not a guilty plea with an agreed sentence, and the previous conviction has subsequently been held to be invalid, in which case the petition must be filed within one (1) year of the finality of the ruling holding the previous conviction to be invalid. (c) This part contemplates the filing of only one (1) petition for post-conviction relief. In no event may more than one (1) petition for post-conviction relief be filed attacking a single judgment. If a prior petition has been filed which was resolved on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction, any second or subsequent petition shall be summarily dismissed. A petitioner may move to reopen a post-conviction proceeding that has been concluded, under the limited circumstances set out in § 40-30-117 . Acts 1995, ch. 207, § 1; 1996, ch. 995, §§ 1-3; T.C.A. § 40-30-202 . ## Nearby sections - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-101 Short title](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C30_S40-30-101.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-102 When prisoners may petition for post-conviction relief](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C30_S40-30-102.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-103 Grounds for relief](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C30_S40-30-103.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-104 Petition](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C30_S40-30-104.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-105 Processing of petitions - Designation of judge](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C30_S40-30-105.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-106 Preliminary consideration](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C30_S40-30-106.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-107 Preliminary order](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C30_S40-30-107.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-108 Answer or response](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C30_S40-30-108.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-109 Prehearing procedure](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C30_S40-30-109.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-110 Hearing](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C30_S40-30-110.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-111 Final disposition of petitions - Compliance reports](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C30_S40-30-111.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-112 Notice of final judgments by clerk of court](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C30_S40-30-112.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-113 Petitioner unconstitutionally denied appeal - Procedure](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C30_S40-30-113.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-30-114 Reimbursement of expenses of district attorney general - Duty of attorney general and reporter](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C30_S40-30-114.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T40_C30_S40-30-102. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.