The Hamilton County Grand Jury report says the panel needs a large-screen TV and DVD player in order to better be able to view evidence.
DeAnna Anderson, foreperson, said, "Some look at the Grand Jury process and say that it is antiquated while others would say it is needed as a filter, or perhaps a 'second set of eyes'. Arguments could be made either way. As foreperson I feel if we are going to have a Grand Jury as part of our Criminal Justice system, it should be done right and we should have what we need to facilitate the process."
The report also lists individual accounts by some of the panel on different facilities that were visited.
Here is the full report:
The Honorable Tom Greenholtz
Judge, Criminal Court, Division II
Hamilton County, Tennessee
Judge Greenholtz:
Let me take this opportunity to say CONGRATULATIONS and as part of your many duties, welcome to the Grand Jury family.
Once again I have to say that thirteen of Hamilton County’s citizens came together to do their civic duty and I believe they did an outstanding job! As with every panel before them, they started as strangers and are leaving their term as friends.
They would all say that they are grateful for the experience.
They finish their term with a better understanding of our Criminal Justice System and the hard work that is put forth by those who work within it. Going through the process helped them realize why our dockets are full and why justice is not always “swift”.
The diversity of this group is easy to see as we had a Physical Therapist with Benchmark, an Electrical Technician with Shaw Ind., a Professor of Business at Bethel University, a Service Consultant with UNUM, a Vehicle Test Specialist with VW, a Medical Support Assistant, a Medical Administrative Assistant, a Sales Rep with Sequatchie Concrete and we were rounded out by Our retirees and homemakers.
During their term they heard 506 cases. They were given many tools and an education to help them make the decisions they needed to in order to carry out the charge they were given on selection day.
Here are some of one Juror’s thoughts on the Grand Jury Experience:
Serving on the Grand Jury, I must admit has been an overwhelmingly positive experience. The foreperson, DeAnna Anderson, is knowledgeable and efficient, yet immeasurably patient and affable. She has, by far, been the most influential part of making this term a pleasant one. ADA Bill West has also been vital to the success of this Grand Jury. He is professional, cordial, and adept. With much patience he answered our never-ending questions.
Learning about how our judicial system works, hearing perspectives from law enforcement officers and judges, as well as touring the facilities, answered questions I did not know I had, and opened my eyes to a side of our culture that I know little about. I will not pretend that all of it was easy. Some of the cases were difficult to hear and difficult to dismiss from my thoughts when the day was over. I leave this term with a sense that justice is served through the process. Although I can say I would not have thought of serving on Grand Jury without being summoned I can now say that I am glad for the opportunity.
Amy Dickerson
Homemaker/Volunteer American Red Cross Disaster Nurse
It was part of this panel's duties to tour Silverdale CCA, Juvenile Detentions and Courts, The Hamilton County Jail and to listen to a presentation on Community Corrections.
They were charged with reporting on Silverdale CCA and Community Corrections.
SILVERDALE CCA
Here are some of one Juror’s thoughts on touring Silverdale CCA:
Part of my duty as a Grand juror was to tour the Correctional facilities in Hamilton County. On Monday March 7, we toured the Silverdale CCA campus. This facility is outsourced to, and run by CCA alongside many Hamilton County employees. The campus style facility is a true city within a city, housing men as well as women inmates and provides them their medical, educational, recreational and cafeteria needs. I found the complex to be clean and the prisoner care to be way above the normal.
The tour was guided by the County’s Superintendent Jason Clark and CCA Warden Chris Howard. Both men seemed very knowledgeable about the day to day operations. Warden Howard appeared to be a very capable, hands on leader. In the short time he has been there he has made progress to improve the morale of the workforce and make improvements to the facility.
As an example to the high priority inmate safety is given, D.O.C. Prison Rape hotline numbers are posted throughout the facility. Inmates are given the opportunity to attend educational classes, as well as, courses that range from alcohol abuse to balancing a checkbook. Some courses for example, anger management can be court ordered.
It is felt that pre-arraignment court appearances should be held via video conferencing. As Warden Howard explained, reducing the transportation of some 60 to 100 inmates daily to the Jail for court holding would not only save taxpayer dollars, but be a safety measure as well.
When questioned about the large number of female correctional officers working with the male population, the staff stated that male inmates are less aggressive toward female officers. I would like to know if there is any statistical data on this premise. Would it benefit the facility in any way to have a more balanced make up of officers?
Ron Kountz
Retired/40 years in Production management
COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS
The juror’s wish to thank Superintendent Chris Jackson for speaking with them, and feel he did a thorough job explaining the program.
They feel these alternative programs can serve as a way to rehabilitate non-violent offenders and puts the responsibility on the offender to decide if they want to change the direction of their life.
They learned that this type of punishment keeps defendants out of our already crowded penal facilities which in turn is a savings to taxpayers.
With regards to returning RF tracking devices, it is felt by this jury that there should be a written policy that states exactly how much time can pass before the defendant is charged with the Felony charge of theft over $1000.00. We were told that as it stands, it is “discretionary”.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Here are some of one juror’s thoughts on hearing from our Judges:
My time on Grand Jury was enhanced with the opportunity to meet our Criminal Court Judges, Barry Steelman, Tom Greenholtz and Don Poole and to observe some courtroom proceedings, including a session of Drug Court. Each Judge appeared passionate about their chosen profession and dedicated to carrying out their duties. They appeared to be compassionate yet firm when dealing with offenders. I feel there is a tremendous weight on their shoulders to ensure that defendants are afforded due process, that victims are somewhat satisfied with the outcome of their cases, and that those found guilty receive the appropriate consequences for their actions. Taking into account the amount of plea bargaining that goes on, the problem with overcrowding in our penial institutes, and some of those in our society’s total disregard for the law and human life, I can know appreciate just how heavy that burden is.
As Grand Jurors we are not permitted to sit in on Sessions Court proceedings as that is where our cases flow from, but we did get to hear from Sessions Court Judge Christie Sell. She explained to us the purpose of this court and again it was evident that she is passionate in her role and truly wants to help the accused get on the right path.
Marcia Stevens
Retired/management and procurement for private industry,
County government and the US Postal Service
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Here are some of one jurors’ thoughts on Law Enforcement:
As I have learned from my time serving on Grand Jury, our Law Enforcement do an outstanding job making difficult decisions on an everyday basis serving our community. They are trained to think on their feet in making split second decisions when dealing with those in our community involved in criminal activity. They protect us from predators who wish to prey on the innocent, all the while putting their own lives’ in danger. After going through a four month term in Grand Jury I have come to realize just how necessary they are.
Amanda Barton
Advance Medical Support Assistant
A FINAL THOUGHT
Some look at the Grand Jury process and say that it is antiquated while others would say it is needed as a filter, or perhaps a “second set of eyes”. Arguments could be made either way. As Foreperson I feel if we are going to have a Grand Jury as part of our Criminal Justice system, it should be done right and we should have what we need to facilitate the process.
It has become increasingly clear that we need the capability to see video footage in some of our cases. Investigators from the City, and the County as well as the TBI have inquired about using our equipment in presenting some of our high profile cases, and have all wondered why we don’t have it.
This Grand Jury was presented with a case in which they had to crowd around a laptop screen and try to see what the officer was describing. It was very difficult and the officer had to have them watch it in two different groups. In the discussing of cases, this is not an ideal situation.
A 42” to 50” inch flat screen with a DVD player would be sufficient. Even after installation, it is felt this could be done at a minimal cost and would be a much needed tool to aide in the charge that a Grand Jury is given.