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alex.coleman@wreg.com
( Memphis July 20, 2009) Meet the men and women topping what could be called Memphis and Shelby County's Top 100.
No, these aren't Rock stars. These criminals are the most notorious repeat offender on the books.
John Harvey heads the Memphis Police Department's state-of-the-art Real Time Crime Center. He has another name for repeat offenders.
Harvey said, "I call them Urban Terrorists because that's what they are. If they're not in jail they're out in the streets doing bad things, essentially terrorizing the citizens."
Harvey is passionate about fighting crime. He also writes about it on his blog, but he doesn't need high tech tools to see the repeat offender problem.
Harvey said, "If the judicial commissioners and judges would take a look at this guy's past history and say you I wouldn't want this guy living next to me, they probably wouldn't give them bond."
Take a look at some of the worst offenders. One man who is now deceased still tops the list with 449 arrests for crimes like assault and battery, and public intoxication. Another man was arrested almost 265 times for aggravated burglary, assault and theft of property. One woman was arrested 242 times for assault, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass. Another woman was arrested 206 times for theft of property, selling drugs and prostitution. So, why don't Tennessee laws keep repeat offenders locked up?
Harvey said, "People say the same thing that they thought we had a three strikes law. We don't even have a 449 strikes law. The number one most arrested guy I went to school with was arrested 449 times and he would go to jail and come back."
Charles Branch carries a picture of his daughter Charlotte. He has a difficult time holding back the tears when talks about the man he says killed her, Jarvis Robinson. Robinson faced aggravated assault charges in 2005 and last year was charged with voluntary manslaughter for the death of Branch's daughter.
Branch said, "Oh, really difficult. The last time I talked to her was on her birthday and six days later she was dead. It's senseless. Why did he take her life?"
Branch has even written letters to the Shelby County District Attorney General and he wants prosecutors and judges not to be soft on repeat offenders.
Branch said, "To me this guy needs to be on death row. He has no remorse, no value for human life. It's senseless. It's ashame our judges allow people like him to be out here on the streets."
On any given day in Memphis and Shelby County, there are more than 140 people who live here who've been arrested more than 100 times, and more than 50-thousand arrested between six and 15 times each. They're part of a revolving door that concerns Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin.
Godwin said, "I think our officers can't help but get frustrated that I lock this guy up today sometimes before you can get back to your ward you're seeing this guy. How is this guy out? Why is this guy out. I think you see that."
Shelby County Criminal Court Judge John Fowlkes has been a prosecutor and a defense attorney. He says he's just as frustrated as anyone when he sees repeat offenders returning to his courtroom.
Fowlkes said, "Even people with long records, the vast majority of them, will get out whether they serve a third of their sentence. They will be released back into the community."
Judge Fowlkes says the community needs to help find solutions to the repeat offender problem. He says it's not coddling criminals or being soft on crime, but he points to the success of the Shelby County Correction Center's Three R's program created in hopes of keeping repeat offenders from committing crimes again.
Fowlkes said, "They address issues like education, job, job placement, family restructure. Things of that nature so that prior to their release at least the inmates will have a chance at becoming productive citizens."
But until that happens, what are the repeat offender laws in Tennessee and why aren't they tougher? We'll explore that and meet some former criminals who are turning their lives around.
That's Tuesday on WREG News Channel 3 at 5 and on wreg.com.
- Top 100 Repeat Offenders In Shelby County
- Families Victimized Question Tennessee Laws
- Some Judges Say Emphasis Is Need on Inmate Rehabiliation
alex.coleman@wreg.com
( Memphis July 20, 2009) Meet the men and women topping what could be called Memphis and Shelby County's Top 100.
No, these aren't Rock stars. These criminals are the most notorious repeat offender on the books.
John Harvey heads the Memphis Police Department's state-of-the-art Real Time Crime Center. He has another name for repeat offenders.
Harvey said, "I call them Urban Terrorists because that's what they are. If they're not in jail they're out in the streets doing bad things, essentially terrorizing the citizens."
Harvey is passionate about fighting crime. He also writes about it on his blog, but he doesn't need high tech tools to see the repeat offender problem.
Harvey said, "If the judicial commissioners and judges would take a look at this guy's past history and say you I wouldn't want this guy living next to me, they probably wouldn't give them bond."
Take a look at some of the worst offenders. One man who is now deceased still tops the list with 449 arrests for crimes like assault and battery, and public intoxication. Another man was arrested almost 265 times for aggravated burglary, assault and theft of property. One woman was arrested 242 times for assault, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass. Another woman was arrested 206 times for theft of property, selling drugs and prostitution. So, why don't Tennessee laws keep repeat offenders locked up?
Harvey said, "People say the same thing that they thought we had a three strikes law. We don't even have a 449 strikes law. The number one most arrested guy I went to school with was arrested 449 times and he would go to jail and come back."
Charles Branch carries a picture of his daughter Charlotte. He has a difficult time holding back the tears when talks about the man he says killed her, Jarvis Robinson. Robinson faced aggravated assault charges in 2005 and last year was charged with voluntary manslaughter for the death of Branch's daughter.
Branch said, "Oh, really difficult. The last time I talked to her was on her birthday and six days later she was dead. It's senseless. Why did he take her life?"
Branch has even written letters to the Shelby County District Attorney General and he wants prosecutors and judges not to be soft on repeat offenders.
Branch said, "To me this guy needs to be on death row. He has no remorse, no value for human life. It's senseless. It's ashame our judges allow people like him to be out here on the streets."
On any given day in Memphis and Shelby County, there are more than 140 people who live here who've been arrested more than 100 times, and more than 50-thousand arrested between six and 15 times each. They're part of a revolving door that concerns Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin.
Godwin said, "I think our officers can't help but get frustrated that I lock this guy up today sometimes before you can get back to your ward you're seeing this guy. How is this guy out? Why is this guy out. I think you see that."
Shelby County Criminal Court Judge John Fowlkes has been a prosecutor and a defense attorney. He says he's just as frustrated as anyone when he sees repeat offenders returning to his courtroom.
Fowlkes said, "Even people with long records, the vast majority of them, will get out whether they serve a third of their sentence. They will be released back into the community."
Judge Fowlkes says the community needs to help find solutions to the repeat offender problem. He says it's not coddling criminals or being soft on crime, but he points to the success of the Shelby County Correction Center's Three R's program created in hopes of keeping repeat offenders from committing crimes again.
Fowlkes said, "They address issues like education, job, job placement, family restructure. Things of that nature so that prior to their release at least the inmates will have a chance at becoming productive citizens."
But until that happens, what are the repeat offender laws in Tennessee and why aren't they tougher? We'll explore that and meet some former criminals who are turning their lives around.
That's Tuesday on WREG News Channel 3 at 5 and on wreg.com.
