We found that roughly 1 in 4 domestic violence homicide victims in Tennessee’s five biggest cities were allegedly shot by a suspect who was barred from having a gun. And some suspects were being monitored by probation officers before the homicide.
But there’s a gap in Tennessee’s probation system: If a suspect commits a new crime while on probation, face-to-face supervision of that person stops until a warrant can be served for their arrest. Sometimes that gap is a few days long. Other times, it can last more than a year.
Between 2019 and 2022, we found that at least six young Black moms were allegedly killed by suspects who were on probation but not being monitored in person because of a warrant out for their arrest. Their deaths left 12 children without mothers.
The Tennessee Department of Correction said it works closely with law enforcement to aid with arrests. But the department confirmed that all in-person supervision stops until the warrant is served. I invite you to read the full story. Thank you. |
