RBMS Security Committee: State Laws: Tennessee

The RBMS Security Committee attempts to maintain a current list of statutes from each of the fifty states pertaining to library thefts or other criminal acts involving library and archival materials (view index). Following are the relevant laws for the state of Tennessee:

Tennessee Code. Chapter 14: Offenses against Property

Part 1-Theft

39-14-101. Consolidation of theft offenses-Conduct denominated as theft in this part constitutes a single offense embracing the separate offenses heretofore known as: embezzlement, false pretense, fraudulent conversion, larceny, receiving/concealing stolen property, and other similar offenses. [Acts 1989, ch. 591 § 1.]

39-14-102. Definitions-The following definitions apply in this part unless the text otherwise requires:

(6) "Library" means any:

  1. Public library;
  2. Library of educational, historical or eleemosynary institution, organization or society;
  3. Archives; or
  4. Museum

(7) "Library material" includes any book, plate, picture, photograph, engraving, painting, drawing, map, newspaper, magazine, pamphlet, broadside, manuscript, document, letter, public record, microfilm, sound recording, audio-visual materials in any format, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data, processing records, artifacts or other documentary, written or printed materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, belonging to or on loan to or otherwise in the custody of a library;

39-14-103. Theft of property.-A person commits theft of property if, with intent to deprive the owner of property, the person knowingly obtains or exercises control over the property without the owner's effective consent. [Acts 1989, ch. 591 § 1.]

39-14-105. Grading of theft.-Theft of property or services is:

  1. A Class A misdemeanor if the value of the property or services obtained is five hundred dollars ($500) or less;
  2. A Class E felony if the value of the property or services obtained is more than five hundred dollars ($500) but less than one thousand dollars ($1,000);
  3. A Class D felony if the value of the property or services obtained is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more but less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000);
  4. A Class C felony if the value of the property or services obtained is ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more but less than sixty thousand dollars ($60,000);
  5. A Class B felony if the value of the property or services obtained is sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) or more. [Acts 1989, ch. 591 § 1.]

39-14-130. Destruction of valuable papers with intent to defraud.

(a) Any person who takes or destroys any valuable papers with intent to injure or defraud shall be punished as if for theft. If the value of the papers is not ascertainable, the offense is a Class A misdemeanor.

(b) For the purposes of this section, "valuable papers" includes:

(1) Any bond, promissory note, bill of exchange, order, or certificate;

(2) Any book of accounts respecting goods, money or other things;

(3) Any deed or contract in force;

(4) Any receipt, release, or defeasant;

(5) Any instrument of writing whereby any demand, right or obligation is created, ascertained, increased, extinguished or diminished; or

(6) Any other valuable paper writing.

See Tennessee Code online at:
http://www.michie.com/tennessee/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&cp=tncode

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