Tennessee DAs Work to Make Criminal Justice System as Effective and Fair as Possible
Tennessee District Attorneys are announcing today their statewide initiative to make Tennessee’s criminal justice system as effective and fair as possible for every citizen.
Knox County District Attorney Charme Allen points out””The challenges faced by the criminal justice system today are as serious and complex as those faced at any time in our nation’s history. The effectiveness of our system depends on the fairness, dedication, legal skills, and common sense of the legal professionals who serve in it. My fellow DAs and I are dedicated to making the criminal justice system as fair and effective as possible.””
In 2013, Tennessee District Attorneys established the Justice and Professionalism Committee to identify and implement best practices in all aspects of the prosecutor’s responsibility. Tennessee District Attorneys were among the first group of state prosecutors to join the””Best Practices”” movement for prosecutors now spreading across the country. Through this initiative, Tennessee District Attorneys are networked with prosecutors in many other states, sharing information and ideas about criminal justice issues and the best ways to deal with them.
The initial focus of the Justice and Professionalism Committee has been on legal and ethical requirements for prosecutors to provide defendants information related to the charges against them. These requirements often apply even to information unknown to prosecutors in possession of agencies assisting in investigations, which more and more includes massive amounts of digital and forensic evidence. Technical and scientific knowledge as well as legal expertise will often be necessary even in prosecuting less serious criminal cases.
The goal of this initiative is to identify best practices and training on those best practices for Tennessee’s DAs, Assistant DAs, and staff to ensure legal and ethical rules are met and all the evidence, however complex, is evaluated in handling cases. Advances in DNA, forensic science, and digital evidence and how they impact future cases, or even past cases, will be emphasized. Implementing best practices to deal with the constant stream of newly emerging issues should enhance the public’s trust in the effectiveness and fairness of the criminal justice system.
“”Changes aren’t limited to legal and forensic issues.”” General Allen said,””In cases involving children, the elderly, and victims of sex crimes, human trafficking, and domestic violence, there are significant advances in understanding who is committing these crimes, how they are committing them, and how to support victims. These are all crimes on which I have placed special emphasis. The work of the Justice and Professionalism Committee will give our efforts here in Knox County a huge boost.””
Tennessee District Attorneys will seek input from the judiciary, the bar, and law enforcement for their initiative. This collaboration is essential to best practices and supporting training as this effort moves forward.
If you have any questions, please contact Sean McDermott at 865-215-2515 or Sean.McDermott@knoxcounty.org. For more information about the District Attorney’s Office, visit our website at dag.knoxcountytn.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.