MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Shelby County’s district attorney previewed what he called a strategy of “aggressive prosecution” Tuesday to get tough on crime by targeting certain priority offenses in the new year.
The strategy, which will go in effect Jan. 1, targets a dozen priority violent offenses, the office said. Those priority offenses include:
- First Degree Murder and attempt
- Second Degree Murder and attempt
- Carjacking and attempt
- Aggravated Robbery
- Esp. Aggravated Robbery
- Aggravated Assault (gun fired)
- Aggravated Burglary (home owner present)
- Violent Sex Offenses
- Convicted Violent Felon Possessing Firearm
- Stolen car and firearm
- Glock switch
- Retail Theft Smash and Grab
“You will not want to be a priority violent offender,” DA Steve Mulroy said.
He said citizens should feel safe pumping gas at night, store owners shouldn’t have to worry about cars driving into their stores and drivers shouldn’t have to worry about “some idiot doing doughnuts on the interstate.”
“It’s clear there is no more important issue in Memphis or Shelby County than public safety,” he said.
The strategy has three main parts outlined by Mulroy.
- Bail – If bail is set in a case, the DA’s office will ask for some kind of court-ordered monitoring, like a GPS ankle monitor. If the defendant is rearrested, they will immediately move to revoke bail.
- Timing – The DA’s office will contact victims’ families within 24 hours of getting the case, and set internal deadlines for prosecutors to make sure of a speedy trial.
- Investigation – Prosecutors will stay in contact with law enforcement to monitor jail calls, check all ballistics against a national database.
More details will be rolled out next month, Mulroy said.
“This initiative underscores our commitment to aggressive prosecution, with a specific
emphasis on addressing violent crime in our community,” Mulroy said in a news release. “We want to make it clear that those who violate the law will be prosecuted, and those who engage in violence or repeat nonviolent offenses will face the consequences, including incarceration.”
The crime rate in Memphis rose this year with a record-breaking number of homicides, as well as smash-and-grab robberies and shootings in high-profile public places.