Latest news with #Savanna'sLaw
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
TN Gov. Lee signs 'Savanna's Law,' creates statewide domestic violence offender registry
Three years after the death of a young sheriff's deputy, Tennessee legislators have enacted a new law in her honor creating a public registry to track repeat domestic violence offenders. Gov. Bill Lee signed House Bill 1200, known as "Savanna's Law," on May 21, 2025. The bill is named in honor of Robertson County Sheriff's Deputy Savanna Puckett, who was found shot to death inside her burning home on Jan. 23, 2022. Puckett, 22, died at the hands of her ex-boyfriend James Jackson Conn, who pleaded guilty to first-degree premeditated murder, among other charges, and is serving a life sentence. More: Named for slain Tennessee deputy, bill would create domestic violence offender registry The newly enacted law will go on to create a registry at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for people convicted of a second and subsequent domestic violence offense and make offender information publicly available online beginning next year. As previously reported by The Tennessean, Tennessee state Rep. Sabi "Doc" Kumar of Robertson County introduced House Bill 1200 to strengthen domestic violence protections statewide. "Savanna's Law provides a critical step toward protecting future victims and holding repeat domestic violence offenders accountable,' Kumar said in previously prepared statements. 'The registry will give communities the tools they need to stay informed and safe." The Robertson County Sheriff's Office did not respond to The Tennessean's request for comments before the publishing of this story. According to the Tennessee General Assembly, the bill applies to individuals with a domestic offense committed on or after Jan. 1, 2026, with at least one prior. A prior conviction is not required to have occurred on or after that date. 'Individuals with a domestic offense (not confined to domestic assault) after January 1, and who have a prior domestic offense (can be before January 1) are supposed to be ordered onto the registry by the court,' a representative of the TBI said. Domestic offenses include assault, sexual assault, stalking and murder, among other offenses. Court clerks will be required to send certified copies of any offender convictions that meet the criteria for the new registry to the bureau within seven days of conviction. Currently, state officials don't know how many people may be required to register next year. Officials estimate at least 1,838 offenders will be required to register in the first year based on data from the Administrative Office of the Courts and Department of Correction Jail Summary Reports, according to the March 25 fiscal memorandum. How did they arrive at that number? The data shows an average of 4,594 domestic offense convictions have occurred each year for the last five years, though it's unknown how many of these convictions were for second or subsequent offenses. The Tennessee General Assembly Fiscal Review Committee assumes it's about 40% of convictions. 'There may also be an additional unknown number of offenders for second convictions of other relevant offenses that are not captured in this data, but this is assumed to capture the large majority of the relevant offenders,' state officials said. That led them to the roughly 1,800 offenders they believe will be required to register in 2026. But it may take a few months for the registry to fill out, as cases proceed through the courts and await convictions. 'It is not known precisely how long it will take for convictions to occur for offenses committed on and after January 1, 2026. It is assumed the first convictions will begin to occur three months later, or on April 1, 2026,' state officials said. Officials assume offenders will begin paying registration fees that day. Individuals who fall under the new law will be legally required to include the following information: Name Date of birth Conviction date County or counties of convictions Current photograph of the offender Information that will not be available to the public incudes addresses, social security numbers, driver license numbers or any other state or federal identification number. Along with the creation of this new registry, four new positions will also be created within the TBI to maintain it including one staff attorney, two intelligence analysts and one accounting technician. The TBI says all four positions, including salary and benefits, will cost the state $407,625 each year. Here's a breakdown of the salary and benefits for each position: Attorney: $162,990 Intelligence Analysts (2): $173,816 Accounting Technician: $70,819 State officials say the new positions will begin on Jan. 1. Other expenses related to these new positions are expected such as equipment, supplies, communication, training and professional services estimated at $50,073. That figure does not include a recurring $35,000 TBI officials estimate it will cost each year for registry maintenance and support. Another $250,000 will be needed to build and store the registry. TBI officials estimate a $150,000 cost to contract with a vendor to build the registry, and $100,000 will be needed for additional storage and processing capacity, according to the document. On April 16, the Tennessee House of Representatives passed the bill with an amendment. That amendment did two things. It changed who would receive registration fees for the registry and when offenders could be taken off the registry. The bill previously outlined a $150 registration fee partially retained by the court clerk and TBI. Clerks would retain $50 for administrative costs, while TBI would retain the remaining $100 to maintain the registry, The Tennessean previously reported. However, the amendment now requires the department of finance and administration's office of criminal justice programs receive the remaining $100 for the administration of grants to fund family violence prevention and intervention services. Offenders are not required to pay recurring annual fees. The amendment also replaced the bill's schedule for removing identifying information about a persistent domestic violence offender from the registry. Individuals may remove identifying information from the registry under the following circumstances: Five years after the date of the most recent conviction if the defendant has one prior conviction for domestic assault. Seven years after the date of the most recent conviction if the defendant has two prior convictions for domestic assault. 10 years after the date of the most recent conviction if the defendant has three prior convictions for domestic assault. 20 years after the date of the most recent conviction if the defendant has four or more prior convictions for domestic assault. Katie Nixon can be reached at knixon@ This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee creates statewide domestic violence offender registry
Epoch Times
28-05-2025
- Epoch Times
Tennessee Creates Domestic Abuse Registry Named After Murdered Deputy
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed Savanna's Law this week, creating a first-of-its-kind domestic violence registry in the state for individuals convicted multiple times of offenses against domestic abuse victims. The law is named in honor of Robertson County Deputy Savanna Puckett, who was
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
JCSO: Man charged with rape after 13-year-old from Iowa found in Jefferson County
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — A man faces aggravated statutory rape charges after a missing 13-year-old girl from Iowa was found in Jefferson County, according to the sheriff's office. On Monday, the West Des Moines, Iowa Police Department contacted JCSO about a missing girl they believed was located in Jefferson County. JCSO deputies began searching for her when someone called saying at girl showed up at a residence saying she'd been kidnapped, law enforcement said. Gov. Lee signs 'Savanna's Law,' creating habitual domestic violence offender registry When deputies arrived, the girl was identified as the one missing from Iowa. Law enforcement learned that Martin Amaya Sandoval Jr, 37, of New Market had been talking with her online, JCSO said. The office stated that Sandoval drove to Iowa on Saturday, picked her up and took her to Jefferson County. Investigators charged Sandoval with four counts of aggravated statutory rape. He is being held in the Jefferson County Detention Center with a bond of $500,000. JCSO and the Des Moines police are still investigating, and they expect to issue further charges. Six arrested after 'significant' meth seizure at Lenoir City home This is a developing story. or for updates. The victim was taken back to Iowa. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Governor Lee signs Savannah Grace Copeland Act aimed at increasing funding for child advocacy
POWELL, Tenn. (WATE) — Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed the Savannah Grace Copeland Act on Wednesday May 21, seeking to increase state funding for child advocacy. The act requires that if the state's general fund grows by at least one percent, the state has to increase the funding for the contracts of child advocacy centers in each judicial district by three percent. Gov. Lee signs 'Savanna's Law,' creating habitual domestic violence offender registry and honoring Robertson Co. deputy It additionally says that the Department of Children's Services has to increase contracts for child advocacy centers to a base rate of $127,855.98 and forensic child interviewer contracts to a base of $85,000 per contracted interviewer. Finally, the bill would require the funds given to the advocacy centers to be used according to a specific formula. The bill is named after a 13-year-old Powell girl who was murdered in October 2024. Her father has encouraged the legislature to work on increasing access to mental health. Tennessee bail bond agents warn of scammers posing as legitimate agents The bill passed the House and Senate earlier this year and is scheduled to go into effect on July 1. 6 News' Lori Tucker and Attorney Greg Isaacs discussed the bill in April. Copeland's father also spoke to 6 News after his daughter's death. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Gov. Lee signs ‘Savanna's Law,' creating habitual domestic violence offender registry and honoring Robertson Co. deputy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A bill honoring a Robertson County Sheriff's Deputy was signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee Tuesday. MARCH: Tennessee could create registry for habitual domestic violence offenders in honor of slain Robertson Co. deputy 'Savanna's Law' creates a public registry of domestic violence offenders. After an offender's second conviction, their name, photo and the date and county of their convictions would be placed on the registry — and that information would stay on the registry for anywhere between two and 20 years. The legislation is named after Savanna Puckett, who was murdered at her Springfield home in 2022. Her mother, Kim Dodson, pushed for the law's passage and testified before lawmakers on the issue. 'Savanna was shot nine times. Yes, nine times and her house was intentionally set on fire. She was stalked and very afraid at times to even stay by herself,' Dodson told lawmakers in 2024. 'Not only did we lose Savanna, he also suffocated her dog.' On Tuesday, the Robertson County Sheriff's Office celebrated the signing in a Facebook post. 'Savanna dedicated her life to protecting members of our community,' the post reads, in part. 'Though she was taken from her family and Sheriff's Office family too soon, her legacy lives on in protecting domestic violence victims for the state of Tennessee.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
