Good morning.  My name is Amy Jane Orton and I am a resident of Montgomery County.
 
On June 1, 2010, my best friend Starr Nelson Harris was brutally murdered in Tipton County.  The gentleman found guilty of Kidnapping, Raping and Murdering her had been in prison for aggravated assault and kidnapping for 15 years prior to his release and had only been free for FOUR MONTHS when he chose to take my friends life.  He was a VIOLENT offender who lived less than a mile away from his victim and she never knew.  No one knew, except his family.
 
Today, I was informed, another precious soul has been found murdered in Shelby County.  The suspect in custody has a violent history of the same types of criminal activity against women and had served time in the prison system. He has been out for 2 years.  No one in his community was aware and certainly not his neighbor, Eliza Fletcher, whose body was found this morning just a few miles from where the suspect lived. 
 
Tennessee Leaders,  I am not sure how to properly go about starting the conversation that begs of you to support a VIOLENT OFFENDER REGISTRY, but I do know that it must start somewhere and that is why I am emailing you today. 
 
We have a registry in Tennessee for Sex Offenders, Methamphetamine Offenders, Animal Abuse Offenders and Drug Offenders, but nothing to notify the community that a violent offender has moved in to their neighborhood.  This is unacceptable considering that Tennessee was ahead of Illinois in 2020 for Violent Crimes Committed. (Reference: FBI 2020 Uniform Crime Report)  Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Montana and Virginia are just a few states that already have this in place.
 
The Recidivism Rate in Tennessee is 46%.  Nearly 70% of those are violent offenders that repeat within 3 years.  These are facts available at the Bureau of Justice Statistics. 
 
https://bjs.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh236/files/media/document/rpr34s125yfup1217.pdf
 
On February 8, 2022, the below Bill presented by Iowa Congresswoman Joni Ernst, was referred to the Judicial Committee.  No other updates have been associated with this since that time.  I would venture to say that the family of Eliza Fletcher could have had a different morning had they known there was a violent offender released in their area.  I know FOR SURE the family and friends of Starr Harris would be. 
The Bill S.3594 - Holding Violent Criminals and Child Predators Accountable Act of 2022
I am one person.  One angry individual with a personal connection to this issue.  I may not have the ability to have my voice heard at a Statewide or National Level, but YOU do. 
 
I beg of you to consider a Violent Offender Registry for the State of Tennessee.
 
Thank you for your public service and consideration.
 
 
Amy J. Orton