SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy released new details about his Fast Track Violent Crime Initiative, which was created to speed up criminal trials.
Mulroy identified 11 violent criminal offenses, including murder, carjacking and smash and grabs. He believes these cases need to have fast-tracked trials. Mulroy’s plan relies on three main categories: bail, trial speed and staying on top of investigations.
As far as bail goes, Mulroy emphasizes that all bail hearings need to consider public safety. He said prosecutors will do more extensive background checks into each defendant’s criminal history before requesting bail. He also is pushing to revoke bail for defendants if they have any other run-ins with the law before their trial.
"Different judicial commissioners are more or less willing to consider public safety as a factor in the bail determination. We believe public safety is always a rail of consideration for a bail determination,” said Mulroy.
Under the new initiative, prosecutors must meet several internal deadlines. This includes getting through General Session within 60 days from the date a defendant obtains an attorney, indictment within 30 days when ready and getting to trial or reaching a plea agreement within 15 months.
"If a prosecutor has a case that doesn't meet those deadlines, they're going to have to explain why and if there's no good explanation. They're going to have to do better,” said Mulroy.
When it comes to investigations, Mulroy wants prosecutors to make extra efforts to contact law enforcement and to monitor jail calls.
Josh Spickler, executive director of restorative justice group Just City said prosecutors can only do so much to speed up trials because the speed is largely in the hands of judges.
"If the judge makes different decisions, if the judge makes different demands on the lawyers in the courtroom, they could speed this up significantly," said Spickler.
Mulroy agreed that Shelby County judges could schedule more trials each month.
"If each judge were to do just two trials a month, we would be back at our pre-pandemic number of 200 trials a year,” said Mulroy.
Overall, Spickler said Mulroy’s plan is a good step, but believes revoking bail could be a flawed system.
"Jail is not for punishment. Jail is to make sure someone gets to court and to protect the community. We're using the jail for punishment. But the fact that the DA stepped up and said 'Our office is committed' is a big first step,” said Spickler.
Cases in the Fast Track Violent Crime Initiative will be tracked through data reports and monitored by supervisors in the District Attorney’s office.