Local and state leaders commemorated the official passage of the Chris Wright Crime Act at the Hamilton County Courthouse Monday morning.
“Our message today should be clear: habitual criminals will no longer be tolerated in our communities,” said Tennessee State Senator Bo Watson.
The Tennessee General Assembly has officially passed and Governor Bill Lee has signed House Bill 2323, also known as the Chris Wright Crime Act, into law. The bill was introduced by Representative Patsy Hazelwood and Senator Watson.
Under the new law, after five misdemeanor convictions, criminals can be charged with a Class E felony on the sixth offense.
“It will increase penalties for offenders and hopefully deter them from committing crimes, because some offenders just don’t want to become felons. They will lose their right to own guns, which is a central part of this law, and we hope it will deter crime,” said Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp.
She said the law could be applied retrospectively in criminal cases: “So if you commit a sixth, seventh or eighth offence today and there is a list of offences that qualify, then we can go back and look at your history to use it against you for that purpose.”
There would be a 10-year window in which the listed offenses could be consolidated into a felony. Qualifying misdemeanors include shoplifting, assault, simple drug possession (excluding marijuana), and domestic violence.
“In fact, there is a completely separate part of this law that also makes a third domestic violence offense a Class E felony,” said DA Wamp.
The law is a direct response to the murder of Chris Wright outside Patten Towers on September 28. Wright was shot by Darryl Roberts, whose court records contain more than 60 charges against him since the early 1990s.
“Fortunately, the Chris Wright tragedy has made us realize that there is a group of members in our community who believe they can commit one offense after another without any significant punishment – until now,” said District Attorney Wamp.
Rep. Hazelwood said the bill will enable law enforcement to target repeat offenders and create a safer community.
“Starting today, thanks to this passed bill, our law enforcement agencies have the tools to ensure we punish these criminals in ways that keep them off the streets and that our streets and communities become safe places to live, work and play,” said Rep. Hazelwood.
