“Behind The Headlines,” hosted by Eric Barnes, CEO of The Daily Memphian, airs on WKNO Fridays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 8:30 a.m. Watch the show now via the video link at the top of this story. Or listen to the podcast version, which includes extended conversation not included in the television version of the show.

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland stands by his belief that “201 Poplar is a revolving door” for repeat violent offenders because of weak state laws.

And on the WKNO Channel 10 program “Behind The Headlines,” Strickland had harsh words for those who disagree with and oppose the recently-passed “truth in sentencing” state law.

“We have weak state laws and you have people on the show who disagree and they are just flat-out wrong,” he said.

Strickland said his count of aggravated assault convictions in Shelby County Criminal Court for 2021 shows 25% of those convicted on the charge got probation and 42% served 11 months in prison or less.

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That includes violent acts like stabbing a coworker, shooting someone in the stomach and drive-by shootings.

“That is outrageous,” Strickland said. “And for people in Memphis to claim that it’s not is bull****. And y’all need to call that out.”

He also called Josh Spickler, executive director of the “Just City” criminal justice reform group, “the leading disseminator of false information.”

Spickler called the comments “very unnecessary” and “disappointing.”

“Is he accusing me of not being outraged when my fellow Memphians are assaulted? I am,” Spickler said. “Crime outrages me as much as the next person and I don’t want victims in our community. And I want people to be held accountable for crimes just like the mayor does.”

But Spickler said he and Strickland disagree on the response to that.

“The one that he’s proposed and the one that the state General Assembly chose to pass this session will not work,” he said. “There’s much evidence that it won’t. While they are giving it an opportunity to work — it will bankrupt us. We will have to build more prisons.”

The bill originally eliminated all probation and parole and anything that would decrease a prison sentence.

It was backed not only by Strickland but Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich — who made it her office’s priority in the legislative session that recently ended in Nashville.

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, a former state senator, however, didn’t give it much of a chance of passing because of the increased costs to the state of housing prisoners longer.

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Before the final passage of the bill, it was amended to allow those serving time in state prisons to get credit for rehabilitation programs completed, which could mean they would serve around 85% of their sentence if they got the full credit for that.

Federal courts use a similar standard in prison sentences for a system where there has long been no parole.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee still had reservations about the amended bill when it got to his desk and opted to let it become law without his signature.

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His specific concern in a letter earlier this month to Republican leaders of the House and Senate was that the “data does not support the basic premise of the legislation.”

“Widespread evidence suggests that this policy will result in more victims, higher recidivism, increased crime and prison overcrowding, all with an increased cost to taxpayers,” the letter reads.

State House Speaker Cameron Sexton reacted to Lee’s refusal to sign by writing, “You can protect criminals, or you can protect victims. I stand with victims.”

He also posted a tweet thanking Strickland for his support of the legislation.

In the podcast version of “Behind The Headlines,” Strickland said the aggravated assault convictions and sentences he surveyed for last year probably reflect decisions by judges and prosecutors as well as state law.

“The challenge I have with aggravated assaults is I don’t think they should allow someone who is guilty of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon to even be eligible for probation,” he said.

“I mean zero-prison time if you shoot or stab somebody and we have people doing that,” Strickland said. “Truth in sentencing helps lengthen the sentence. But it still left a loophole to allow probation on the front end.”

Spickler is among those calling for dramatic changes in the District Attorney’s office, saying other similar measures over the years haven’t reduced or served as a deterrent to crime.

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“We’ve been adding enhancements,” he said. “We’ve been lengthening sentences.

“We’ve been taking away credits for good time and one more time, in 2022, we eliminated parole,” he said, referring to the Legislature’s passage of similar laws known as “Class X” felonies in the 1980s.

“And it’s only going to lead to chaos in our pretrial systems and fill the prisons which are already pretty much full,” Spickler said. “To me it’s not a viable response.”

The larger debate about criminal justice reform is playing out in the August county general election race for District Attorney General.

Weirich, who is the Republican nominee, is being challenged by former Shelby County commissioner and University of Memphis Law School professor Steve Mulroy, who is the Democratic nominee.

Strickland said he hasn’t made any endorsement in the race to date and doesn’t know if he will.