Some states require police to keep DNA evidence until the person convicted dies. But in Tennessee, it can be destroyed after a conviction is rendered, leaving no way for many cases to be revisited.

“This clinic is a way to offer people opportunities to get them back on the right track,” Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk Heidi Kuhn said.

A second person has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Drew Rainer, a Rhodes College student who was killed last year during a home invasion robbery. 

Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk Heidi Kuhn is holding her 15th expungement clinic for those seeking to clear their criminal records. The clinic will be March 5 at First Baptist Church Broad. 

Only nine states in the nation require former felons to pay off fines, fees or court costs before being allowed to vote again. Tennessee is one of them.

Two of the three Democratic candidates running for Shelby County District Attorney came together Monday to call for unity and a change to the criminal justice system by defeating current District Attorney Amy Weirich. 

A judge Friday ordered a new trial for activist Pamela Moses after she was convicted for illegally attempting to register to vote. A new trial date has not been set. 

Rainess Holmes made a court appearance on Friday, Feb. 25.

Glenda Adams faces up to five years in prison.

Rainess Holmes has been indicted in fatal shooting of Andrew ‘Drew’ Rainer, a Rhodes College student who was shot and killed last year in a home invasion robbery. 

“If we can expand this liaison partnership into other precincts, we can expand that work and keep children from coming into the juvenile court system,” Juvenile Court Judge Dan Michael said. 

Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Chris Craft issued the ruling after hearing testimony from psychologists.

“We see a lot of bad things happening on the roadways nowadays from excessive speeding to people texting and driving or either distracted on their phones.”

A bill by state Rep. London Lamar would require data sharing between police departments and the state health department, and would require TDH to produce an annual report on the public health impacts of gun violence.

The Safe Community Action Plan is aiming for a reduction in violent crime and property crime over the next five years.

A third man accused in connection with Young Dolph’s death has been released from an Indiana jail, and local authorities have issued an arrest warrant for him. 

Shelby County Criminal Court Judge John Campbell has been confirmed to the state Court of Appeals. He was up for re-election to criminal court his year, but his seat will remain vacant until after the county general election. 

The summit is one of five community summits Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Murphy, the Memphis Police Department and community leaders are taking part in to reduce violent crime in the city.

Pamela Moses, a Memphis activist, was sentenced to six years for illegally trying to vote. Her attorney says they plan to ask for a new trial. 

Shelby County is providing funds for a new emergency call center building for the suburb.

“Some people were frustrated that we made so much progress in the Dolph case, but we would not have made that level of progress if we did not have the input and support of our community. Our community needs to step up and provide information and tips every time we have a violent crime.”

The conclusion of a two-part series on Shelby County’s Community Prosecutor Program looks at how assistant DAs and juvenile court liaisons work together on a case-by-case basis to affect the best outcome for youth, especially those arrested for non-violent offenses.

Related story: Crime Crisis: Prosecutors’ ‘eyes opened’ after working in precincts