A new law set to go into effect on Jan. 1 will create the nation’s first registry to track repeat domestic violence offenders.
Signed by Gov. Bill Lee in May, Savanna’s Law is named for Robertson County Deputy Savanna Puckett, 22, who was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend, James Jackson Conn on Jan. 23, 2022.
Puckett’s body was found inside her burning home in Springfield after she failed to show up for work. Conn, who had a history of domestic violence and stalking, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and is serving a life sentence.
Authorities said he also suffocated her dog before setting her home on fire.
Under the law, a “persistent domestic violence offender,” defined as someone with more than one domestic violence offense, will be required to register in a public database maintained by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Who will be added to the registry?
The registry will contain offender information including name, date of birth, conviction dates, counties of conviction and a photo of the offender.
The offender must have been convicted or pleaded guilty or no contest to a domestic violence charge with at least one prior domestic violence conviction. The law is not retroactive, meaning someone with past multiple domestic violence offenses will not be required to register unless they get another domestic violence conviction on or after Jan. 1.
The domestic violence-related offenses include assault, sexual assault, stalking and murder.
An estimated 4,500 people are convicted of domestic assault offenses each year in Tennessee, according to the Administrative Office of the Courts. Authorities estimate about 40% of convictions were for a second or subsequent offense.
Can someone be removed from the registry?
Offenders can remove identifying information from the registry in the following cases:
- Five years after the date of the most recent domestic violence conviction if the offender has one domestic violence prior conviction.
- Seven years after the date of the most recent conviction if the defendant has two prior convictions.
- Ten years after the date of the most recent conviction if the defendant has three prior convictions, and twenty years of the offender has more than four.
Source: The Tennessean
