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criminal justice

How Tennessee’s rape kit backlog impacts survivors seeking justice

By Anna Gallegos-Cannon

March 15, 2023

Crime Lab
Listen

On this episode, we’ll examine the process of getting a rape kit and reporting an assault, talk about the toll of waiting for answers, and explore the reasons why justice is hard to come by.

Filed Under: Programs Tagged With: criminal justice, sexual assault, Sexual Assault Center

DOJ touts Tennessee program that puts a social worker on public defense teams

By Paige Pfleger

March 14, 2023

Defendants who can’t afford to pay for their own lawyer are often up against several challenges — addiction, poverty, homelessness.

Filed Under: Criminal Justice, WPLN News Tagged With: criminal justice, Department of Justice, public defenders

Tyre Nichols case puts spotlight on Tennessee’s policing priorities

By Ambriehl Crutchfield, Paige PflegerandJulia Ritchey

January 30, 2023

Nashville protest sign

The beating of Tyre Nichols in police custody is renewing concerns about how top leaders are addressing police abuses statewide, including in Nashville.

Filed Under: Criminal Justice, Race & Equity, WPLN News Tagged With: criminal justice, memphis, MNPD, police brutality, policing, Tyre Nichols

House Speaker Cameron Sexton talks roadways, abortion, crime and more 

By Blaise Gainey

January 14, 2023

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The 113th General Assembly kicked off last week and to get a preview of what to expect WPLN’s Political Reporter Blaise Gainey sat with Crossville Republican Cameron Sexton who’s been elected to another term as House Speaker.

Filed Under: Politics, WPLN News Tagged With: Abortion, Cameron Sexton, criminal justice, DCS, infrastructure, toll lanes

Police shootings, executions on hold and guns in cars: WPLN’s top criminal justice stories

By Paige Pfleger

December 19, 2022

Tennessee’s criminal justice system has topped several lists this year — largely for lagging behind the rest of the country in reforms. WPLN’s Paige Pfleger picked three stories that defined the beat this year.

Filed Under: Criminal Justice, WPLN News Tagged With: criminal justice, executions, juvenile justice, MNPD, top stories 2022, wpln news

Tennessee’s new attorney general says he’s a lawyer, not a politician. Here’s how he sees his role on issues like abortion.

By Blaise GaineyandPaige Pfleger

September 29, 2022

Listen

Since taking office on Sept. 1, Skrmetti has already been more open to the media than his predecessor. Skrmetti says he wants to be more transparent so people understand what it is the AG does in Tennessee.

Filed Under: WPLN News Tagged With: Abortion, Attorney General, criminal justice, Herbert Slatery, Jonathan Skrmetti, opioids, Tennessee Legislature, tnpol

Nashville’s DA has said he won’t prosecute abortion providers, but that might not make a difference in Tennessee

By Marianna Bacallao

June 24, 2022

Nashville’s District Attorney Glenn Funk has previously stated that he won’t prosecute abortion providers in the city. Now, he’ll soon have to follow through on that promise.

Filed Under: Abortion Live Updates, Health Care, WPLN News Tagged With: Abortion, criminal justice, DA, Glenn Funk

From divorces to evictions, Tennessee’s new ‘Justice Bus’ will crisscross the state providing free legal help

By Julia Ritchey

June 20, 2022

Justice Jeff Bivens

The Tennessee Supreme Court launched a free legal clinic on wheels Monday. The court used federal pandemic aid to retrofit a blue sprinter van to make stops in mostly rural places across the state.

Filed Under: Criminal Justice, Politics, WPLN News Tagged With: civil court, court system, criminal justice, justice bus, legal aid, legal help, Tennessee Supreme Court

Tennessee’s 51-year life sentences

By Anna Gallegos-Cannon

June 15, 2022

Listen

In Tennessee, a life sentence has meant serving a minimum of 51 years behind bars, even for people convicted as juveniles.

Filed Under: Programs Tagged With: criminal justice, truth in sentencing

Teens allege abuse and neglect inside a state-run juvenile detention facility in West Tennessee

By Paige Pfleger

April 27, 2022

Listen

Disability Rights Tennessee uncovered allegations from teenage boys in their visits to the Wilder Youth Development Center in West Tennessee since September of 2020. In a report released Wednesday, the group says it found violations of both state and federal laws.

Filed Under: Criminal Justice, WPLN News Tagged With: criminal justice, juvenile detention

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