I was a criminal prosecutor for seven years, and while I met with hundreds of crime victims during that time, I never became numb to the experience. When you see fear in the eyes of a domestic violence victim, or stand with someone who has lost their sense of personal safety after a home invasion, it changes you.
For me, each encounter strengthened my resolve to find justice for them. That meant two things: holding the people who hurt them accountable but also doing whatever I could to help put the victim’s life back together.
Along with my colleagues in law enforcement, I was often the first person to speak at length with the victim of a violent crime. In addition to gathering facts that may be useful in court, I did my best to explain the criminal justice process: what the victim should expect, what they may be asked to do, and how long it may take to resolve their case. But supporting victims is about so much more than that.
Much of the real work of supporting victims happens outside the legal system — through a network of nonprofit and government agencies that quietly and steadily work with survivors to heal and move forward, here in Tennessee and across the country. Without them, resources like temporary housing for victims of domestic violence, crisis hotlines, and counseling services for victims would simply not be available. Prosecutors are also less likely to have victims cooperate and testify if victims are overwhelmed with challenges unrelated to the legal system — whether it’s a place to stay, coping with trauma or some other basic need.
Perhaps recognizing the value of victim service providers, Gov. Bill Lee’s most recent supplemental budget includes a one-time request for $20 million over two years for these organizations. This is a positive step, but still far less than the $25 million in recurring annual funding that victims’ rights agencies and their allies have identified as essential. Across the nation, federal funding for victim-serving agencies such as nonprofits and shelters is quickly dwindling. These cuts would be particularly devastating in Tennessee, which has declined to provide consistent state-level funding for victim services in recent years.
To be clear, these kinds of services are not luxuries for people fleeing violence. What we sometimes blandly refer to as “victims services” include professionals who provide crucial support to victims and their children. Further reductions to federal resources would force them to shut down — and in some parts of Tennessee, service providers are already closing. Funding cuts could have an exceptionally devastating impact on crime victims in rural communities who already lack access to many kinds of support.
To put the $25 million request from victim service providers in perspective, the Tennessee Department of Correction spent over $900 million on incarceration in 2023. Rather than focusing disproportionately on jailing those who commit crimes, our justice system should also invest in serving victims and their families. And the resources are available — last year, Lee’s office claimed that the state’s “rainy day fund” of reserves had topped a record $2 billion.
Establishing a substantial and recurring fund is absolutely vital to protect the safety, dignity, and well-being of those who have been impacted by crime. By making a long-term investment in these community-based organizations, our criminal justice system can better serve those who are harmed by crime and ensure that no victim suffers alone.
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Tennessee Lookout is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Tennessee Lookout maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Holly McCall for questions: info@tennesseelookout.com.
SUMMARY: Rome Ramirez, former Sublime member, celebrates his solo debut with the single “Why Me.” The song reflects his 15-year journey with Sublime, flipping the negative question “Why me?” into a message of gratitude and perseverance. Written with close friend Chris Galbuta, the track showcases Ramirez’s personal growth. The debut single’s cover artwork features a young Ramirez with a Sublime poster, symbolizing his roots. Ramirez, now living in Nashville, is also gearing up for upcoming festivals, including Summerfest in Milwaukee, while releasing more music throughout the year. He remains grateful for his experiences with Sublime and his musical journey.
He is a multi-platinum singer and songwriter, and now He is debuting his solo career today on Local On 2! You know Rome Ramirez from his time as the front man of Sublime and Rome! Now he is stepping out on his own with his new song, “Why Me?”
www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-18 12:36:00
(The Center Square) – Tennessee’s revenues for March were $33.3 million less than the budgeted estimates, according to Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson.
The $1.6 billion in collections is $69.3 million less than March 2024.
“Sales tax receipts, which reflect February’s consumer activity, were likely impacted by adverse weather conditions,” Bryson said. “Corporate tax collections came in slightly below target but remained largely in line with expectations.”
Fuel taxes exceeded budget expectations, increasing by $9.1 million, a 10.39% jump.
Corporate collections are down 13.9% when compared to March 2024, a difference of $44 million. Corporate tax revenues year-to-date are 9.65% below estimates and down 22% when compared to August 2023 to March 2024 numbers. The General Assembly passed a corporate franchise tax cut in 2024 that was estimated to cost the state $1.6 billion. Corporations started applying for the tax break in May 2024.
Bryson reported a decline of $35.4 million in general fund revenues for March.
“Although we fell short of our monthly target, year-to-date revenues remain just below forecast,” Bryson said. “We will continue to closely monitor economic indicators and revenue trends to maintain fiscal stability.”
March is the eighth month of the fiscal year 2024-2025 budget.
The General Assembly passed the $59.8 billion budget for fiscal year 2025-2026 earlier this week, which does not include any tax breaks.
Lawmakers from both parties raised concerns about possible federal budget cuts that could affect Tennessee. Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, said when the budget process began in February that the state was already seeing a freeze in some programs.
House and Senate Democrats sent a letter to Bryson this week asking for more details on federal budget cuts.
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court announced Thursday it will hear oral arguments next month over President Donald Trump’s efforts to restructure birthright citizenship, though the justices won’t decide on the merits of the case just yet.
Instead, they will choose whether to leave in place nationwide injunctions from lower courts that so far have blocked the Trump administration from implementing the executive order.
The oral arguments, scheduled for May 15, will likely provide the first indication of whether any of the nine justices are interested in revisiting the Court’s interpretation of the 14th Amendment, which was ratified in 1868 following the Civil War.
The amendment states that “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”
The Supreme Court ruled in 1898 in United States v. Wong Kim Ark that the 14th Amendment guarantees any child born in the United States is entitled to U.S. citizenship, even if their parents are not citizens.
Trump disagrees with that ruling and signed an executive order on his first day in office seeking to change which babies born in the United States become citizens. If that order were implemented, babies whose parents were “unlawfully present in the United States” or whose parents’ presence “was lawful but temporary” would not be eligible for citizenship.
Several organizations and Democratic attorneys general filed lawsuits seeking to block the executive order, leading to nationwide injunctions against its implementation.
Last month, the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to intervene in the lower court’s nationwide injunctions, limiting them to the organizations and states that filed suit.
The three cases are Trump v. State of Washington, Trump v. CASA, Inc. and Trump v. State of New Jersey.
Legislation
Nationwide injunctions by lower court judges have become an issue for Republicans in Congress as well as the Trump administration.
Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley introduced a bill in Congress that would bar federal district court judges from being able to implement nationwide injunctions.
“We all have to agree to give up the universal injunction as a weapon against policies we disagree with,” Grassley said during a hearing earlier this month. “The damage it causes to the judicial system and to our democracy is too great.”
Tennessee Lookout is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Tennessee Lookout maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Holly McCall for questions: info@tennesseelookout.com.
