Memphis Police Credited With Crime Reduction

The Memphis Police Department is taking credit for a fairly dramatic decrease in crime over the past year, stating their Blue CRUSH program has made it all possible. While community members overall are happy with the decrease, many wonder if the police are wholly responsible or if the drop is being exaggerated. [read more]

Congress Advances Mandatory Breathalyzer Devices in All Vehicles

Attempts to develop alcohol sensing devices to be built into all new vehicles raise huge questions about privacy, civil liberties, and government surveillance and monitoring.

Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee is one of the co-sponsors of a bill to add $60 million in funding to develop these Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) systems. [read more]

Nashville Mayor Demands Domestic Violence Audit

According to The Tennessean, a dramatic increase in dropped domestic violence investigations has many wondering if the Memphis police are really acting in the interest of justice when it comes to such crimes. [read more]

Tennessee Governor Vetoes Guns in Bars…Again

For the second time in about a year, the Governor of Tennessee, Phil Bredesen, has vetoed a bill which was passed by the state legislature, allowing guns to be carried in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol. And like last year, it is expected that lawmakers will over-ride his veto. [read more]

Tennessee Armed Robbery Gets Stiffer Penalties While Property Crime Punishments Grow Soft

A bill passed the state House in Tennessee and is likely to pass the Senate as well. The legislation involves tightening penalties for armed robbery while simultaneously reducing penalties for several property offenses. The bill is called a “balancing act” on financing by this Commercial Appeal report. [read more]

Tennessee May Lose Pretrial Diversion

A bill is headed to the Tennessee legislature that would do away with an important option for first-time nonviolent offenders. Pretrial diversion offers such people a second chance by giving them an opportunity to fulfill a probationary period before trial and without admitting guilt. [read more]

MADD Pushing for Ignition Interlock Devices Legislation in Tennessee

Currently, if convicted of a DUI you can be required to have an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) installed in your vehicle after more than one offense. If Mothers Against Drunk Driving get their way, however, people who refuse to take a breathalyzer will also be required to use the device. [read more]

New Tennessee Law Calls for Resale of Confiscated Weapons

A law that just passed the Tennessee legislature a few weeks ago is being criticized by the Memphis Mayor, among others, who is calling for repeal. The law simply calls for weapons seized by law enforcement to be sold rather than destroyed.

The law is being questioned after learning that in two recent and highly publicized fatal gun attacks in Las Vegas and Washington DC, the guns used were traced back to resale by the Memphis PD. [read more]

License Plate Scanners in Memphis Nab Open Warrants

The police department in Memphis, TN is widely deploying new automatic license plate scanning technology in it’s police patrol cars that can identify a wide variety of individuals possibly suspected of criminal actions. [read more]

Tennessee Meth Use and Manufacturing Back Up

In a report from the Tennessean this week we see that meth labs are again at a high in the state of Tennessee. In 2009, a reported 1,432 labs were seized, putting our state in the number 2 position, falling only beneath Missouri. [read more]