Tennessee Code Title 39. Criminal Offenses § 39-17-908

(a) Criminal action shall commence only on criminal indictment or the issuance of a warrant by a judge of any court of record; provided, that the commencement of any criminal action shall be made only with the prior knowledge and written approval of the district attorney general or any assistant district attorney general.

(b) Sections 39-17-901 -- 39-17-908 may be enforced by either criminal actions or by actions for injunctive relief, or both, and the actions may be commenced simultaneously and proceed independently of each other.