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Knox County DA asks commissioners to continue victim‑witness grant that supports domestic‑violence cases
Summary
Sam Lee of the Knox County district attorney’s office asked commissioners to approve continuation of a Victims of Crime Assistance Act grant that has funded a victim‑witness coordinator since 2016; the coordinator supports about 25–35 misdemeanor domestic‑violence victims in general Sessions court.
Sam Lee, chief deputy at the Knox County district attorney’s office, told the commission on May 11 that the office is seeking continuation of a grant it has held since 2016 under the Victims of Crime Assistance Act. "This is a grant that we've had since 2016. It's called the Victims of Crimes Assistance Act," Lee said, describing a position that helps victims navigate Sessions Court for misdemeanor domestic‑violence cases.
Lee said the grant funds one victim‑witness coordinator who typically handles about 25 to 35 victims in general Sessions division 1 and who calls victims, ensures they can attend court and works alongside prosecutors to move cases through the system. "Her main job is to basically call the victims, make sure that they're able to attend court," Lee said.
The presentation was informational; the chair noted the agenda‑review meeting is non‑voting and asked commissioners to direct questions to Lee via the commission forum in the coming week. No formal action was taken at the agenda review. The DA's office requested that commissioners review the grant language and be prepared to vote on continuation at a future, formally noticed meeting.
The matter as presented included the grant name, the funded position and the coordinator's caseload and duties. Funding sources, length of the grant award and any county match were not specified during the discussion and were identified as items commissioners could follow up on with Lee through the forum.
