Shelby County DA outlines seven legislative proposals including stiffer 'glock-switch' penalties

Ernest Brooks, senior policy adviser with the Shelby County District Attorney's Office, told the committee the office submitted seven legislative proposals to the Tennessee District Attorneys' Conference and that three of them had been adopted by that statewide body. He said the conference would support "increased penalty for glock switch possession from a class E felony to a class C felony," expanding predicate offenses for firearm employment and allowing certain juvenile records to be inspected by adult courts for bond considerations.

Brooks asked the committee to consider a unified voice in Nashville on proposals that would affect law enforcement and public-safety outcomes. "We still respect the work of this committee to present a unified voice relative to legislation that will positively affect the lives of all Shelby County citizens relative to public safety," he said. Committee members discussed balancing concerns about due process and rehabilitation raised by the public defender and others while evaluating possible legislative asks.

The committee did not adopt a single binding legislative package at the meeting but agreed to include the DA's proposals among the items for further drafting and legal review. County staff and counsel will be asked to prepare draft language and a legal analysis of any collateral consequences before those measures are advanced to the full commission or state delegation.