Senate Bill 1614 aims to enhance criminal justice research in Tennessee by allowing bona fide researchers access to criminal justice data and records held by various agencies. The bill defines a "bona fide researcher" as an individual or organization that agrees to use personally identifiable information solely for research purposes, has secured approval from an institutional review board, and has implemented security controls to protect sensitive data. The bill also outlines the types of criminal justice data that must be shared with researchers, including information related to law enforcement actions, criminal charges, and correctional supervision.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the attorney general and reporter provide guidance to criminal justice agencies by January 1, 2027, to facilitate compliance with these new requirements. Agencies are permitted to charge reasonable fees for the retrieval and copying of data but may choose to waive these fees. The release of data to researchers will not be considered a public disclosure, preserving the confidentiality of the information under existing laws. This legislation is designed to promote evidence-based criminal justice policies and improve public safety through informed research.