SB 924

This bill requires the department of correction to furnish and provide to the district attorneys general conference a total of 10 additional assistant district attorney general positions initially funded at compensation level 5 and thereafter compensated in accorda n ce with present law. The department must also furnish and provide to the district attorneys general conference a total of 10 additional criminal investigator positions initially funded at compensation level 6 and thereafter compensated in accordance with present law. This bill provides that the additional assistant district attorney general positions and criminal investigator positions created and provided pursuant to this bill are for the purpose of conducting specialized criminal investigations and pro secutions of any criminal offenses committed or occurring in or related to a state correctional institution, including violations of certain criminal offenses described by this bill . The department of correction must grant designated assistant district at torneys general and criminal investigators complete access to the premises, books, records, electronic devices, and other evidence of criminal offenses kept or in the custody of the department. A request by the district attorney general must be honored, a nd the superintendent, director, warden, or employee of any state correctional institution must give full aid, support, and cooperation to the district attorney general in the investigation or prosecution as requested. ASSIGNMENT TO JUDICIAL DISTRICTS T his bill requires each of the following judicial district to be assigned, as consistent with present law, one assistant district attorney general position and one criminal investigator position:  1st judicial district (Carter, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington);  9th judicial district (Loudon, Meigs, Morgan, and Roane);  12th judicial district (Bledsoe, Franklin, Grundy, Marion, Rhea, and Sequatchie);  15th judicial district (Jackson, Macon, Smith, Trousdale, and Wilson);  20th judicial district (Davidson);  22nd judicial district (Giles, Lawrence, Maury, and Wayne);  25th judicial district (Fayette, Hardeman, Lauderdale, McNairy, and Tipton);  29th judicial district (Dyer and Lake);  30th judicial distric t (Shelby); and  32nd judicial district (Van Buren and Warren). This bill provides that the number of assistant district attorney general and criminal investigator positions created by this bill and other law is the minimum number of positions authorized in each district. This bill and other law does not prohibit or prevent the employment of additional assistant district attorneys general or criminal investigators in a particular judicial district, regardless of whether the positions are funded by a state or non-state source, or whethe r they are specifically enumerated in this bill and other law.