Shelby Officials Ask State to Reestablish TBI Crime Lab - Articles

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Posted by: Kate Prince on Oct 27, 2022

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon and District Attorney General Steve Mulroy are asking the state to reestablish a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation crime lab in the county, the Commercial Appeal reports. The ask comes after the issue of backlogged rape kits fell under fresh scrutiny after the suspect in the killing of Eliza Fletcher was linked to a 2021 rape via a kit that was untested for nearly a year. Shelby County must send its sex offense evidence to a TBI lab in Jackson for testing. That lab was staffed by just three scientists this summer and the average turnaround time was nearly 49 weeks in July and August. Officials also asked the state to pass a blended sentencing solution to allow Shelby County leaders to expand juvenile supervision.