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Prosecutors, public defenders press for more staff, pay and victim‑services funding in budget hearings
Summary
The Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference and the District Public Defenders Conference told the Finance committee they need recurring funds for investigators, victim‑witness coordinators, assistant prosecutors and public defenders; both groups described workforce strain and asked for additional positions and pay adjustments.
Two justice‑system groups told the committee that staffing and pay remain key constraints to carrying out criminal prosecutions, victim services and indigent defense.
Steven Crump, executive director of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference, said his organization compiled district requests for staffing and asked the administration and legislature to address persistent shortfalls. "In reality... our position ask this last year, we asked for a total, of about 117 positions," Crump said, summarizing the combined needs submitted by the 32 elected district attorneys.
Crump described recent appropriations the conference received and identified priorities the conference continues to press: statutory service and experience credits (step raises)…
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