News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris joined state officials Thursday for the honorary signing of the Truth in Sentencing Bill.
Farris said that the bill strengthens sentencing for violent crime offenders. He said that though the bill was signed into legislature this April, this honorary signing shows support from other state officials and law enforcement officials.
“Really what this bill is and who it’s for and who it’s signed for and trying to help are the victims of the crimes,” Farris said. “They don’t ask to be in the criminal justice system. Most of the time they get there by default or by some horrible act that has been done to them or one of their family members.”
Farris said that as the president of the Tennessee Sheriffs Association, he believes this will help not only victims but law enforcement as well. He said that the bill will go into effect on July 1st.
Farris said that he wanted to do something to be a part of positive change. He said that there have been many instances of this kind of crime right here in Putnam County.
“When that happens they want to know when someone’s convicted how long they’re going to serve in prison, in jail,” Farris said. “More often than not we couldn’t tell them. Because it all depended, we didn’t have any set standard. So now with this bill, if you commit some of these heinous crimes and you’re found guilty most will have you serve 100 percent of your time, I think some of them are 85 percent. But the victims will know on the front end, and that’s really who we’re working for.”
