Tennessee Launches Nation’s First Repeat Domestic Violence Registry

Tennessee has officially become the first state in the U.S. to implement a public registry tracking repeat domestic violence offenders. Effective January 1, the database aims to prevent future tragedies by identifying individuals with multiple convictions for domestic abuse.

Honoring a Fallen Deputy

The registry was established under Savanna’s Law, named in honor of Savanna Puckett. Puckett, a 22-year-old Robertson County sheriff’s deputy, was murdered in 2022 by an ex-boyfriend who had a hidden history of stalking and violence.

Representative Sabi Kumar, the bill’s House sponsor, emphasized the need for transparency: “If there was a registry for such violent offenders, Savanna being involved with law enforcement would have checked it, and a tragedy could have been avoided.”

Increasing Public Transparency

Managed by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), the registry includes the offender's name, photograph, and conviction details. It excludes sensitive data like home addresses or Social Security numbers. Depending on the frequency of their crimes, offenders will remain listed for two to 20 years.

Verna Wyatt of Tennessee Voices for Victims highlighted the urgency of the tool, noting that the state currently ranks fourth in the nation for men killing women. “Tennessee has a domestic violence epidemic,” Wyatt stated. “Victims always have a fear about their offender going back out and doing the same thing to someone else. It gives you a heads up. Domestic violence doesn’t make sense, but the patterns do.”

A Tool for Prevention

The law passed with broad bipartisan support, filling a gap that previously required citizens to search through disparate court records. Senate sponsor Becky Massey noted that even law enforcement officers lacked easy access to this critical history. Supporters believe the database will allow residents to make safer, more informed decisions in their personal and professional lives.

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