TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Oct 10, 2022

Memphis leaders are urging the Tennessee General Assembly to prioritize clearing the state’s backlog of rape kits, Tennessee Lookout reports. Last week, the Shelby County Commission unanimously adopted a resolution calling for increased funding to staff the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The Memphis City Council is expected to vote on the resolution tomorrow. TBI officials previously requested 40 more special agent/forensic scientist positions and 10 more technicians but only received enough funding from the state to staff half of the requested personnel. In response to nationwide criticism, Gov. Bill Lee announced that the TBI would receive fast-tracked funding to hire 25 additional forensic lab positions to decrease the state’s turnaround times in processing sexual assault kits.