The 901 Witness Relocation Assistance Program
With homicides and aggravated assaults occurring at a record pace, we’ve repeatedly been telling citizens that if you see something, say something. But tips to CrimeStoppers are actually down, even though the cash reward for helping solve a homicide has been doubled to $2,000.
A big part of the problem seems to be that people are being intimidated into silence by gangs in their neighborhoods. They’re fearful of retaliation against themselves and their families if they cooperate with investigators.
Earlier this year, Dr. Bill Adkins broached the idea of a local witness relocation program to get witnesses out of harm’s way so they can testify and help get violent offenders off the streets.
After months of preliminary work, a press conference was held at Dr. Adkins’ Greater Imani Church The Cathedral of Faith in Raleigh. The program is called the 901 Witness Relocation and Assistance Program or 901 WRAP for short.
While the program still has some details to work out, a key part of making it work is funding. We need donations from the business and faith communities, as the annual cost is likely to be something north of six figures. We’re also looking for grant possibilities.
An account has been set up through the non-profit Memphis Shelby Crime Commission at www.memphiscrime.org. Contributions are an investment in a safer community.
Dr. Adkins announced that a $10,000 donation had been made to get things started, compliments of his Greater Imani Church.
More Than 100 Years of Serving Shelby County Citizens
I want to offer my congratulations and indebtedness to 13 members of the office who will be receiving 2020 Service Awards for the time and hard work they have dedicated to the public. (Our office is a hybrid that includes some state-funded members and some who are funded by the county.)
They include Glen Baity (30 years), Mitty Williams (25 years, just retired), Carla Taylor (15 years), Christopher Lareau (15 years), Greg Flint (10 years), Vickie Peal (10 years), Sam Winnig (10 years), Kristin Norwood (5 years), Khristie Collins (5 years), Paige Munn Hamadeh (5 years), Elisabeth Jones (5 years), Scott Sharpe (5 years), and Neil Umsted (5 years.)
Thanks to each of you for all you do for the citizens of Shelby County to prevent crime, protect victims and strengthen the community we are honored to serve.
Paul Goodman Retires After 34+ Years as a Prosecutor
When prosecutor Paul Goodman started in the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, the average price for a car was just over $10,000, gas was 89 cents a gallon, stamps were 24 cents apiece and eggs were 65 cents a dozen.
Paul started in January of 1987, long before cell phones, email, and electronic case-file management systems like JustWare became essential work tools. He had no experience in criminal law.
“I was working as a staff attorney in Johnson City in East Tennessee where I had a case on Monday, then drove all night to my new job in Shelby County and went to work Tuesday morning,” he recalls. “I remember this building (The Criminal Justice Center) was fairly new. The job was interesting, but it was a lot of work.”
Now, 34½ years later, Paul is retiring from the office where for the past 18 months he has worked as the first chief of the Case Review Unit. He plans to do some traveling — to New York to visit his son and to New Orleans “where I make new friends every time I go there” — and do part-time work of some kind.
Paul is one of the smartest lawyers I know. He has been a leader in this office for as long as I can remember. I will miss his insight, guidance, humor — and New Orleans restaurant tips.
The Return of Jury Trials
After 15 months of COVID restrictions and orders from the Tennessee Supreme Court prohibiting jury trials, we finally got back to business in June as the state gradually returns to normal.
Three homicide cases went to trial in the Criminal Courts, with guilty verdicts returned in each one, including two first-degree murder verdicts and one voluntary manslaughter. (See news links below.)
It’s been a long time to wait, but finally the victims’ loved ones – and the defendants – had their days in court.
I also want to give a special thanks to those citizens of Shelby County who came to court, took an oath to be fair and impartial and agreed to serve as jurors.
Without them, the justice system would not work.
In the News
Caretaker Indicted in Vulnerable Woman’s Beating Death
Felon Convicted in Shooting Death
Bartlett Family Indicted in Boy’s Death
Man Convicted in Strangulation Death of Friend
Man Convicted in Robbery, Slaying
A Few New State Laws
My term as President of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference ended this month at our annual meeting. I am most proud of the legislation that we got passed in Nashville. It is a team effort that includes our conference staff, other District Attorneys, and, of course, our state legislators.
Our DA bills this year go a long way in improving victims’ services in Tennessee and improving our elder abuse laws.
- Victims will be paid restitution now BEFORE the offender pays court costs and fines.
- Victims will have two years (instead of one) to apply for victim’s compensation.
- Local governments can apply for grants to establish separate and secure waiting areas in Tennessee courthouses for victims.
- Definition of first-degree murder and sexual exploitation broadened for crimes against vulnerable adults.
- Bail and release rules strengthened for those charged with crimes against vulnerable adults.
In the interest of space (and keeping your attention) here is a small sampling of other new laws:
Truth in Sentencing for Certain Offenses: This is a step in the right direction to make Tennessee a truth-in-sentencing state. Now, for certain crimes committed on or after July 1, 2021, the offender must serve 100 percent of his or her sentence. (Senate Bill 717/House Bill 1047). Some of the crimes impacted include felony domestic assault, rape and child abuse.
Permit-less-carry: Allows law-abiding citizens in Tennessee who are at least 21 or are honorably discharged or active in the military or reserves to carry a firearm in public without a permit in a place where they are lawfully present. Some venues such as judicial buildings still are off-limits for weapons. The legislation also increases penalties for firearm-related crimes. (Senate Bill 765/House Bill 786).
Restitution for Victims: Offenders will have to pay restitution to their victims BEFORE paying their court costs and fines. This bill came from the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference and will go a long way in improving victims’ services in Tennessee.
Punishment for Returning “Porch Pirates”: Criminals who steal packages from mailboxes or porches are punished according to the value of the stolen item, but now a second or subsequent offense will be charged as no less than an E felony.
Catalytic Converter Theft: Any person who buys unattached catalytic converters must be registered as a scrap metal dealer in a fixed-location business and track purchases. Also, the seller must provide documentation and identification. This aims to curb the black market for catalytic converters which contain small amounts of precious metals and which can be cut from the underside of a vehicle in less than a minute.
Monitoring Abusive Parents: Called Eli’s Law, this allows the Department of Children’s Services to investigate the birth of subsequent children born to parents who have had a previous child removed from their custody.
Prosecuting Commercial Sex Traffickers: The statute of limitations is removed for any commercial sex tracking offense committed against a child. Fear or embarrassment often prevents victims or their families from coming forward until the statute of limitations expires and no criminal charges can be filed.
Lifetime Order of Protection: Among several laws related to stalking and domestic violence, this allows a lifetime order of protection to be issued to a victim to prevent an offender of certain felony crimes from coming near or communicating with them.
Animal Cruelty: This law removes the wording “depraved or sadistic” – a difficult intent to prove – that made it difficult to prosecute someone who intentionally kills or seriously injures a companion animal such as a dog or cat. Now a person commits the offense of aggravated cruelty to animals when, with no justifiable purpose, the person intentionally or knowingly kills, maims, tortures, crushes, burns, drowns, suffocates, mutilates, starves, or otherwise causes serious physical injury, a substantial risk of death, or death to a companion animal.
Firing a Firearm From a Vehicle: With a sharp increase of interstate shootings in the past year, such an offense now is deemed reckless endangerment, a Class C felony with enhanced punishment.
Addressing Repeat Offenders: The Reentry Success Act of 2021 is a multi-pronged approach to help improve public safety and promote positive lifestyles for those leaving incarceration. The act requires mandatory supervision so prisoners leaving state custody will have a minimum of one-year supervised reentry assistance.
Prisoners With Cell Phones: Prisoners in Tennessee have used smuggled cell phones to direct drug sales, threaten witnesses, extort money, and even order murders – all while confined behind bars. A new law increases possession of a telecommunication device in a penal institution to a Class E felony, punishable by a fine of up to $3,000 upon second offense.
More details on all can be found here.
Visiting the Precincts
We rely heavily on law enforcement officers on a daily basis for investigations, arrests of suspects, detailed reports and testimony in court, but so often communication is by email or telephone.
So recently our vertical and special prosecution teams made field trips to the police precincts for some face time with officers and to see what goes on from roll call to the end of shift and everything in between.
Above is our Special Prosecution Unit (SPU) for Criminal Court Division 8 which handles repeat felony offenders and seeks maximum sentencing. Front row (from the left) Jose Leon, Jimmy Thomas, Kristen Norwood, Lt. Billy Byrd, Shellie Uhrich and Jeff Jones. Top row Abby Wallace, Jamie Kidd and Chief Prosecutor Karen Cook.
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