MEMPHIS, Tenn. — District Attorney Steve Mulroy was in Whitehaven Wednesday talking to residents about the city's crime crisis.
“People are concerned about crime, as well they should be," Mulroy said when asked about his biggest takeaways from the town hall. "But they’re also concerned about our lax guns in Tennessee.”
During the meeting, Mulroy acknowledged the backlog in cases.
And while only about 40 cases went to trial in all of last year, Mulroy said his office sees approximately 47,000 cases a year.
He also pointed out the impact of the backlog as about one in four inmates at 201 Poplar spend almost two years locked up before their case goes to trial, even though they haven't been convicted.
Whitehaven was one of many communities on edge after police said 20-year-old Courdarion Craft took part in a crime and shooting spree while out on bond for attempted murder.
Community members wanted answers from the county’s top prosecutor.
For his part, Mulroy said crime and punishment should be certain and swift but not always severe, although people here would like to see police and prosecutors doing a better job of working together.
“I’m dedicated to this city," Tanya Bowley, a 30-year Whitehaven resident, said. "But right now, under the leadership of our current police chief, I’ve seen the crime just escalate. I can sit in my backyard and hear a war going on every night, and I’m tired.”
They're tired, but they have ideas on how to make parts of the city less inviting to criminals
“More lights on the streets, boarding up empty houses and buildings; it’ll stop a lot of crime," Whitehaven resident Allen Williams said.