DA Mulroy Unveils Fast Track Violent Crime Initiative (V11)
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy has announced new details about his Fast Track Violent Crime Initiative, also known as V11, aimed at expediting the prosecution of violent criminal cases.
DA Mulroy has identified 11 violent criminal offenses, including murder, carjacking, and smash-and-grab robberies, as priorities for fast-tracked trials. This initiative seeks to address and reduce the significant case backlog. When Mulroy assumed office in 2022, he inherited 500 pending cases.
Under the V11 initiative, prosecutors are required to adhere to stringent internal deadlines:
Cases must progress through General Session within 60 days from the date a defendant obtains an attorney.
Indictments must be secured within 30 days once the case is ready.
Trials must commence, or plea agreements must be reached, within 15 months.
"If a prosecutor has a case that doesn't meet those deadlines, they're going to have to explain why," stated DA Mulroy. "If there's no good explanation, they're going to have to do better."
In addition to enforcing deadlines, DA Mulroy emphasizes the importance of thorough investigations. He has urged prosecutors to enhance their communication with law enforcement and to diligently monitor jail calls.
The V11 plan is built on three main pillars:
Bail: Ensuring appropriate bail decisions are made promptly.
Trial Speed: Expediting the trial process to meet set deadlines.
Investigation Oversight: Maintaining rigorous and proactive investigation practices.