The Davidson County District Attorney's Office and the YWCA of Middle Tennessee on Saturday publicly described Survivors First, a survivor-defendant diversion program that pauses certain misdemeanor charges against people who are known victims of intimate-partner violence and connects them with support services instead of prosecution.

The program was presented in a short video and by partners at the Meet Us at the Bridge memorial. The video said participants must be identified as survivors of intimate-partner violence, be charged only with a misdemeanor and have no severe or ongoing mental-health or substance-use issues. Once a case is approved for the program, it is paused; YWCA staff reach out within 48 hours to offer legal help, counseling, parenting support and other services. According to the presentation, more than 65 survivor defendants have been served in the program’s first months, and cases are dismissed and expunged if participants have no new arrests.

"Survivors are believed, not burdened," the recorded presentation said, and it stated the program’s objective is to keep survivors out of court while providing supports that promote stability and healing. Daphne Baker of the YWCA accepted the program award onstage and Christina Johnson, team leader of the district attorney’s domestic violence prosecution team, joined remarks about outreach and partnership with community providers.

The presentation and speakers described the program’s outcome for participants as case dismissal and expungement rather than conviction, probation or incarceration when participants meet program conditions and avoid new arrests. Organizers said services include legal assistance, counseling and support with practical needs such as pet care.

The program’s material presented at the event did not specify the detailed eligibility-screening instrument, the precise service-provider roster beyond the YWCA, the dataset used to measure recidivism or whether participation is voluntary in every case. Speakers said some cases are "approved" for the program but did not describe the approving authority or the appeals process for charging decisions.

Survivors First was framed at the event as a collaborative effort between the district attorney’s office and the YWCA; the presentation emphasized referrals, early outreach and a path to case dismissal for participants who comply and remain arrest-free.