Senator Taylor secures amendment requiring weekly disclosure on Memphis Safe Task Force cases

Senator Taylor moved an amendment to SB 1467 that would require weekly certification to the U.S. attorney, the attorney general, the district-attorney conference and legislative leaders whenever prosecutors lower charges, dismiss cases or decline to prosecute cases originating from the Memphis Safe Task Force.

“"The Memphis safe task force in the last 6 months, they have made 7,416 arrests, 722 known gang members have been arrested, 1,219 firearms recovered, 150 missing children have been found,"” Taylor said, citing the task force statistics he read "as of this morning." He said the amendment does not restrict DA discretion but only requires disclosure so federal prosecutors can identify cases with potential federal nexus.

Senator Kyle asked whether the requirement was limited to Shelby County because the task force operates there; Taylor said the requirement applies to any DA who receives a case that came from the Memphis Safe Task Force and acknowledged that while most cases will be in Shelby County, disclosures could involve other counties as arrests occur. The committee put the amendment on the bill by voice vote and, after roll call, recorded six ayes and one no and ordered SB 1467, as amended, to the calendar with amendment 16,166.

The amendment would sunset on 06/30/2028 unless reauthorized. The sponsor said the U.S. Marshal's office aided in drafting the legislation and that the DA conference had been consulted and reached a neutral position during drafting.