Generally Speaking presented by the Knox County District Attorney’s Office

District Attorney General Charme Allen has used her experience and passion to advance the policies and procedures that direct how justice is administered in Knox County and has invited the community to a front-row seat by deploying the Office’s first Community Affairs Unit. The Community Affairs Unit provides a direct link between the District Attorney’s Office and the citizens of Knox County through outreach, education, and collaboration. The Unit’s initiatives and programs work to build trust in the community, and, ultimately, prevent crime and victimization. To learn more about the Community Affairs Unit, visit: https://dag.knoxcountytn.gov/community-resources/the-community-affairs-unit/

Sentencing and appeals do not get a pass from the complexities of the criminal justice system. This episode outlines sentencing guidelines as defined by State law and a look at real-world sentencing situations. Long-time prosecutor, TaKisha Fitzgerald, and Victim Witness Coordinator Patty Boardwine outline their knowledge and experiences in dealing with the complex sentencing structures through the lens of their distinct roles.To learn more about the State Criminal Justice Process in TN visit: https://dag.knoxcountytn.gov/.

In this episode, District Attorney General Charme Allen speaks with Chief Deputy DA Sam Lee and Assistant DA Justin Pruitt about the cross-section of mental health and public safety. East Tennessee Mental Health Resources and Reports:https://www.mhaet.com/https://www.knoxcounty.org/health/epidemiology/reports_data/community_surveys/Community%20Surveys%20Reports/MentalHealthReport23.pdf

The classic DUI case has changed drastically over the past couple of decades. District Attorney General Charme Allen sits down with seasoned prosecutors, Andrea Kline and Greg Eshbaugh, who walk listeners through the many complexities of today’s DUI investigations and prosecutions.Tennessee Resources: If you or a loved one needs help for addiction and/or a substance misuse disorder, contact the Tennessee REDLINE. The Tennessee REDLINE is the 24/7/365 resource for substance abuse treatment referrals.  Anyone can call or text 800-889-9789 for confidential referrals.

The reasons why people steal may surprise you. Hear from veteran white-collar prosecutor, Bill Bright, as he describes the sometimes unbelievable reasons why defendants find themselves charged with a white-collar crime. Prevent & Report Identity TheftFor tips on how to prevent identity theft, visit the U.S. Government’s official website www.USA.gov.If you believe that you or your family members are victims of identity theft, immediately contact your financial institutions and local law enforcement agencies. Individuals should also call all credit-reporting bureaus to put a fraud alert on their accounts. 

Ep. 1: Elder Abuse Unit | Talk about it!Tennesseans are talking about elder abuse! In this episode, Assistant District Attorney Tammy Hicks, tells us why. Take a listen so you can talk about elder abuse, too.Prevent & Report Elder AbuseTo report a crime or emergency that is happening now, call law enforcement by dialing 911.To report elder abuse occurring in Tennessee, call the Tennessee Elder Abuse Hotline at 888.APS.TENN (888.277.8366) or visit https://ReportAdultAbuse.dhs.tn.gov.District Attorneys across the state are encouraging Tennesseans to talk about elder abuse. Find resources to share with others here: http://www.tndagc.org/elderabuseFor information on how to prevent elder abuse, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website National Center on Elder Abuse.

For the last episode of the series, District Attorney General Charme Allen and Assistant District Attorney Del Holley delve into the world of Juvenile Court. The Juvenile Justice Unit has a different mission and speaks a different language. From punitive to rehabilitation and defendant to offender, listeners hear how the State seeks treatment and rehabilitation in cases involving youth.  For Sidebar Conversations, visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwHCmVM_VNTZZKdahEeLU1w

Gangs remain a serious problem in the United States, and local prosecutors and district attorneys play an important role in addressing gang‐related violence. This episode provides a basic understanding of gang-related crimes and the intricacies of trying gang cases. This episode also highlights the definition of a career criminal and how the Office handles these types of cases. Listen in as District Attorney General Charme Allen and Assistant District Attorneys TaKisha Fitzgerald and Ashley McDermott tackle these topics impacting public safety. Click here to learn how to report crime: https://knoxcounty.org/dag/action_center/ For Sidebar Conversations, visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwHCmVM_VNTZZKdahEeLU1w

In the fourth episode of this podcast series, District Attorney General Charme Allen and Assistant District Attorney Nate Ogle have an important conversation about child abuse. Listeners will learn how child abuse cases are reported, investigated, and prosecuted, as well as how the community can prevent and report child abuse in their community. This episode contains content that may be disturbing to some listeners. The contents of this episode include general descriptions of child abuse and child abuse cases.  If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call law enforcement by dialing 911.  Knox County, TN Resources for Child AbuseREPORT:To make a report of child abuse occurring in Tennessee, visit the Tennessee Department of Children's Services website or call 877.54.ABUSE (877.542.2873). In instances where you suspect a child is being sexually exploited on the internet, make a report to both DCS (either online or by phone) and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTipline. For information on how to prevent child abuse, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website Child Welfare Information Gateway. Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness Training: Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking: https://growfreetn.org/ Street Hope TN: https://www.streethopetn.org/TBI: https://ithastostop.com/ For Sidebar Conversations, visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwHCmVM_VNTZZKdahEeLU1w

Approximately 80% of all crimes which occur in the State of Tennessee are drug related. District Attorney General Charme Allen and Assistant District Attorney Sean McDermott discuss the impact of drug use in Knox County and the types of cases assigned to the Felony Drug Unit. Listeners will also learn how the Office is working in collaboration with the community to curb the drug and overdose epidemic.Knox County, TN Resources:If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction, visit http://all4knox.org/ for community resources.National Resources:SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)For Sidebar Conversations, visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwHCmVM_VNTZZKdahEeLU1w