SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — The Shelby County District Attorney's Victim/Witness Program will receive $300,000, U.S. Congressman Steve Cohen, city and county leaders announced at Memphis City Hall on Wednesday, September 4.
"We've got to have witnesses and they have to be secure and safe," Cohen said.
The funding will be used to provide support and resources to enable victims and witnesses to feel safe while offering evidence-ensuring-justice. It will also help cut down on the case backlog.
D.A. Steve Mulroy said a lot of cases in Shelby County are stalled because victims or witnesses are scared to come forward, but he believes this funding will help protect them while they help investigators solve cases.
The State of Tennessee already has a Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund that mostly covers injuries and funerals for crime victims. But Mulroy said this new program is taking it a step further through to provide more resources to help victims and witnesses.
"If there are doors and windows that are broken that need to be repaired so that the victims can feel safe and be safe, this money can be used for that," said Mulroy."If it's Ring cameras or rekeying the locks in the doors. It can be used for temporary housing assistance, relocation."
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Memphis Mayor Paul Young both thanked Congressman Cohen for his work getting the grant.
Funding was requested during annual appropriations process and will be made available Oct. 1, 2024.
Right now, it's a one time grant but Mulroy hopes to get more funding next year if the program is successful.