TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Julia Wilburn on Nov 11, 2025

In Tennessee, the rate of women killed by men is among the nation’s highest, according to a 2023 report from the Violence Policy Center. Now, new reporting from Nashville Public Radio and ProPublica highlights what they say is a dangerous gap in the state’s probation system that leaves domestic violence victims at risk. As the news sources explain, once a judge issues a probation violation warrant, officers halt all in-person supervision — including visits and home checks — even for high-risk offenders, sometimes for months or longer. Between 2019 and 2022, at least six young Black mothers were killed during these supervision lapses, often by armed men who should have been closely monitored. The Tennessee Department of Correction acknowledges the pause in face-to-face oversight but says officers shift their focus to helping law enforcement locate violators. Critics of that approach say it undermines public safety.