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Mental Health Courtserved per year.When we consider difϐiculties with increased incarceration and theFor more than ten years, the Davidson Countyconstraints budget reductions placed on our justice and mentalMental Health Court has provided crucial supporthealth systems, innovation in our approach is critical. The Davidsonand assistance to some of Nashville’s most vulneraCounty Mental Health Court is meeting these challenges and providble citizens.ing a vital service to the community.One of the ϐirst mental health courts established in the United States,the Davidson County Court has been on the leading edge of workingwith those in our community who are dealing with mental healthJudge—Melissa Blackburn, Division II (2)challenges. Judge Melissa Blackburn presides over the court andAdministrative Assistant:oversees a staff of specialists trained to address the particular needsof court participants. During the past year, 229 people were evaluatKatie Torrenceed by Mental Health Court specialists to determine their eligibility forDirector:the program with 62 new participants admitted. For the 2019 FiscalYear, 88% of successful program graduates did not re-offend and didnot return to involvement with the criminal justice system.Individuals participating in the specialized court program may be onprobation or on a diversion program for criminal charges. Potentialclients are screened by mental health professionals to determinetheir compatibility for the program and, if they are accepted, theperiod of supervision typically lasts eleven months. More severecases may remain within the program for a longer period of supervision. Court staff works on a routine basis to ensure compliance, assistin housing, monitor treatment for substance and alcohol abuse andprovide medical services with a goal of establishing stability neededto be a contributing member of the community.The court currently supervises more than two hundred participants,allowing them a fresh start and an opportunity to succeed in life.For Fiscal Year 2017, Mayor Megan Berry included two new positionsto be funded by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville-DavidsonCounty in her budget proposal to the Metro Council. The Councilapproved these new positions, allowing the Mental Health Court toexpand its scope of services and increase the number of NashvilliansVeterans CourtIn 2014, Davidson County was awarded a three-yearimplementation grant from the United States Department of Justice through the Tennessee Department ofMental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Thepurpose is to fund operation of a fully accredited specialty court taskedwith serving Nashville’s Veterans. During the past year, forty-twoVeterans were evaluated by Veterans Court specialists and thirty-sixwere admitted into the program.Veterans specialty courts originated in Buffalo, NY beginning in 2008.Since then, dozens of courts have been established across the UnitedStates to assist with the unique difϐiculties of our service veterans.Judge Melissa Blackburn of General Sessions Division II presides overthe court and supervises its operations.Through a structured program administered by the court, eligibleveterans can ϐind stability and new purpose to be a contributor to thecommunity. Beneϐits offered to assist veterans include mental healthevaluation, alcohol/substance abuse assistance and supervision byclient specialists assigned to work on their particular needs. Veteransagree to participate as a condition of probation or on a diversion program for criminal charges. For the FY 2021 Fiscal Year, 92% of Veterans Court program graduates did not re-offend.The court works in partnership with metro and state governmentagencies and mental health providers, as well as veterans outreach andadvocacy groups. Together, they form a support system that giveseligible veterans an opportunity to address issues brought about bytheir military service.Beginning in Fiscal Year 2017 and continuing in 2021, the State of Tennessee included funding of Veterans Courts in the annual budget. TheDavidson County Veterans Court was fortunate to be one of the courtsselected to receive a portion of the state’s funding. As a result of thisMark WinslowAssistant Director:Patricia BreedingMichael MessmerAdministrative Assistant:Cynthia NelsonClient Service SpecialistsErica GehleDerek DeShaMary Grace CappsSamantha KeelingValerie FisherCourt Of icers:Lovie Hurt Jr.Cases Referred:137Cases Accepted:58Graduates:41Graduate Success Rate:68%Court Costs Waived: 49,821Pat Stockdalesupport, 54 new veterans were supported and received the assistancethey needed to return to life as a productive citizen.In the new battleϐields America faces, those in military service areexposed to warfare and experiences never previously encountered.Growing numbers of veterans returning from service face speciϐicmental challenges as a result of ϐighting to defend our nation in anevolving and dangerous world. The methods by which we work toreturn them to full participation in society are crucial and theDavidson County Veterans Court is employing these new methods. It isthe mission of the court to fulϐill our nation’s commitment to the menand women who chose to defend our way of life.Serving:ALL Armed ForcesCases Referred:33Cases Accepted:21Graduates:33Graduate Success Rate:85%Court Costs Waived: 16,0455

Recovery CourtThe mission of the General Sessions Recovery Courtis to promote judicial intervention and rehabilitation to substance abuse offenders to reduce drugrelated crimes among repeat offenders and to improve the life ofthe offender, thereby enhancing the quality of life for their families and community.The Davidson County General Sessions Recovery Court is for legally involved individuals suffering from substance use disorderwho are high risk of re-offending due to their substance use. Recovery Court was created to provide free services to participantswhile under court supervision for criminal offenses. The Honorable Judge Gale Robinson and his Recovery Court Staff, TennesseeRecovery Foundation, Public Defenders Ofϐice, District Attorney’sOfϐice, and numerous partner agencies make up the support system for the Recovery Court. Funded by Davidson County Metropolitan Government and the Tennessee Department of MentalHealth and Substance Abuse Services through the Tennessee Recovery Foundation, the Court provides many services needed forpositive reintegration into the community.Recovery Court accepts candidates who can be supervised underbond conditions prior to any conviction. Upon successful completion of Recovery Court, these open charges are able to be dismissed or otherwise disposed of at the District Attorney’s Ofϐicediscretion. Recovery Court also accepts criminal court, community corrections and General Sessions probation cases. The Courtrequires participants to complete ϐive program phases with asupervision period of about 18 months depending on the participant’s clinical or criminogenic needs. Each phase addresses speciϐic areas of the participant’s life to support the recovery maintenance and societal reintegration into their community.Program Manager Lauren Berens, Probation Ofϐicers TerenaMoore, Kate Ramsaur, and Case Manager Leticia Lozano supervise participants to ensure court-ordered requirements are met.Services provided include substance use treatment and medication assisted treatment as clinically assessed, behavioral healthservices as clinically assessed, a minimum of 8 hours of educational and vocational advancement, HiSet preparations and testing, housing and transportation referrals and assistance, drugand alcohol testing, employment and community service requirements and referrals for any other component in which our Probation Ofϐicers and the Treatment team recommend.While participating in Recovery Court, participants attend ofϐicevisits with their probation ofϐicer at a minimum of once permonth to have a one on one check in and provide a safe space inEnvironmental CourtWhen disputes arise over the enforcement of theDavidson County Metropolitan Code of Laws andRegulations they are brought to the EnvironmentalCourt, a division of the General Sessions Court. This docket wascreated in 2001 to address Metro Code violations pertaining tobuildings, trash, debris in neighborhoods and business sites,and short term rental violations. This court also enforces leashlaw violations, nuisance complaints about dog barking, and atlarge or vicious dogs. Defendants found guilty of violations ofthe Metro Code of Laws are liable for court costs and can be subject to ϐines of 50 per day for every day the property remainsin violation. The court may also order the defendant to spendtime in jail for a maximum of ten days. Once a warrant has beenserved, the defendant is responsible for all costs, including anythe legal arena for participants to visit. Additionally, RecoveryCourt staff complete home and employment visits for all participants on a monthly basis. These visits allow the probation ofϐicerto be further informed on the participant support systems andprovides the participant the opportunity to communicate withtheir probation ofϐice on their own space. Building a strong, saferelationship with participants is a main aspect in the success ofthe Recovery Court model.Recovery Court has multiple graduations each year signifyingparticipants’ achievement of meeting all treatment goals andcourt ordered requirements. Graduation conϐirms the participantis prepared to reenter their community in recovery and independent of legal involvement and substance use disorder. Allgraduating participants are invited to return to the program toprovide support to current participants or seek assistance fromthe Court and partnering agencies if additional services are required or requested.Total Candidates r of random drug/alcohol screenscompleted:3,908100% of all par cipants suffer from Severe SubstanceUse Disorder and prior to admission to RecoveryCourt were abusing alcohol/illegal/non‐prescribedsubstances on a daily basis.ϐines. The Codes Department cannot waive court costs, assessedϐines or release any liens assessed by the court to recover thesecosts. The court meets each Tuesday with three (3) dockets at9:00 am, 10:00 am and 11:00 am in courtroom 3B at the JusticeA.A. Birch Building (408 2nd Ave. North). The 9:00 am dockethandles metro codes cases. The 11:00 AM Metro Citation Docket, handles citations written by departments such as, PoliceAlarms, Fire, Water, Codes and Health, Emissions, Beer Board,Trafϐic And Parking Commission and Animal Control. Specialhearings are conducted on Friday at 10:00 am & 1:00 pm. Thecourt is presided by current General Sessions Court Division IVJudge Allegra Walker and Referee Jim Todd, who served in thatcapacity for 10 years through May, 2017. Judge Walker appointed John Manson to serve as Referee effective June, 2017. In September 2017, Judge Walker appointed Renard Hirsch to replaceJohn Manson.6

DomesticCourtViolenceIn response to a city-wideDomestic Violence SafetyAssessment, the Davidson County GeneralSessions Court’s docket structure wasreorganized in 2014 to allow for a dedicated Domestic Violence Court. While theCourt has been hearing cases involvingDomestic Violence with Judge GaleRobinson presiding over such dockets formore than 24 years, the current docketstructure provides an efϐicient and timelyprocessing of cases involving domesticCHERISHED H.E.A.R.T.S.Healing Enslaved and Repressed Trafϐicking SurvivorsHUMAN TRAFFICKINGINTERVENTION COURTIn February 2016, Assistant District Attorneys Tammy Meade and Deb Smith, underthe leadership of District Attorney GeneralGlenn Funk, created an innovative intervention court titled Cherished H.E.A.R.T.S.This court was created in response to aclear social issue where survivors of human trafϐicking were caught in a criminalcycle due to their traumatic experiences,criminal records and, for some, substanceabuse disorder. This court is open to allwomen, men and transgendered survivorsof human trafϐicking and is one of the fewtrafϐicking courts in the country. The program is voluntary and participants agreeto a twenty four month supervision. Whenthe survivor successfully completes theprogram, their offense(s) may be dismissed and expunged at no expense.The Honorable Judge Ana L. Escobar presides over Cherished H.E.A.R.T.S. She haspartnered with the Tennessee RecoveryFoundation, End Slavery Tennessee, TheOfϐice of Family Safety and the GeneralSessions Probation Department. The Da-violence, and simpliϐies the court process The dedicated Domestic Violence Courtfor all parties involved.began operation on September 2, 2014.All Orders of Protection and criminal casesinvolving domestic violence in the GeneralSessions Court are docketed in thededicated Domestic Violence Court whichoperates daily in Courtroom 4B and 4C ofthe Justice A.A. Birch Building. The three(3) judges assigned to preside over thededicated Domestic Violence Court on arotating basis are Gale Robinson andAllegra Walker and Ana L. Escobar. TheCriminal Court Clerks for DomesticViolence docket preparation is MatthewDu, Mary McKinnie, and Malcom Nevils.vidson County Drug Court Foundation andEnd Slavery Tennessee help provide safehousing, substance abuse treatment andsupport, trauma and mental healthcounseling, medical treatment, assistancein receiving government aid, and employment assistance all at no cost to thesurvivor. Melanie Taylor, the ProgramManager, and the General SessionsProbation Department provides the supervision of program compliance and helpscoordinate court requirements, community partners, incentives and sanctions.Cherished H.E.A.R.T.S. is partnered withEnd Slavery Tennessee, the DavidsonCounty Attorney General’s Ofϐice, thePublic Defender’s Ofϐice, the Ofϐice ofFamily Safety, Averhealth, DavidsonCounty Criminal Court Clerk, Rest Stop,Mending Hearts, The Next Door, RenewalHouse, Independence Again, EmanuelHouse and others to further supportparticipants in the program.While in Cherished H.E.A.R.T.S., survivorsattend court regularly and completesubstance abuse and mental healthtreatment as clinically recommended.Participants gain employ-Number of Drug TestsFY 2020‐21% Positive4414ment and receive assistance with physicalhealth needs and any other needsidentiϐied are attempted to be met throughourthoroughcasemanagement.Consistent support is crucial to creatingself-worth as survivors move toward acrime free and independent lifestyle.FY 2020‐21Candidates Screened for Cherished Hearts10Candidates Denied for Cherished Hearts2Candidates Accepted into Cherished Hearts8Cherished Hearts Graduates2Cherished Hearts Unsuccessful Terminations47

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Homeless CourtThe Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County General Sessions Courts along with several non-proϐits and BakerDonelson Legal Clinic have launched the Nashville Homeless Court program to assist our homeless.NHC is a diversionary court that routes individuals who struggle with homelessness out of the traditional legaloutcomes of convictions, incarceration, and probation and toward connection with service providers that can further assist withremoving barriers to employment and housing. Judge Lynda Jones is the Homeless Court Presiding Judge. Judges Blackburn,Coleman and Higgins also assisted.Eligible Charges:The charges eligible to go to the new Homeless Court includeCriminal Trespass (T.C.A. §39-14-405)Trespass - Motor Vehicles (T.C.A. §39-14-407)Obstruction of a Passageway (T.C.A. §39-17-307)Disorderly Conduct (T.C.A. §39-17-305)Public Intoxication (T.C.A. §39-17-310)Open Container Violation (T.C.A. §55-10-416)Criminal Littering (T.C.A. §39-14-504)Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (T.C.A. §39-17-425)Possession of a Legend Drug without a Prescription (T.C.A. §53-10- 105)Aggressive Panhandling (ϐirst and second offenses) (T.C.A. §39-17- 313)Judge Lynda Jones (right) presiding over theHomeless Court docket at Room in the InnTotal Candidates FY 2020‐2021Candidates Screened416Candidates Accepted339

Judicial MagistratesFive judicial magistrates—each possessing the qualiϐications of a judge—comprise what is known collectively as “NightCourt,” a viable and productive extension of the General Sessions Court. The identifying label is derived from the fact thatthe Magistrates preside over proceedings that take place after normal business hours. But it is misleading in that thepanel is actually on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, serving a broad range of functions relevant to the criminaljustice process.In addition to their other job responsibilities, the magistrates: Conduct probable cause hearings, issue warrants and set bail bonds in criminal casesDetermine probable cause for judicial committals from county psychiatric facilitiesIssue Ex Parte Orders of Protection, as well as warrants for violations of such ordersIssue property seizure warrants upon probable causeEach magistrate is appointed by the court for a one-year term that dictates seven-day work weeks and alternating eight-hour workshifts.Night Court ActivityMagistrateBruce KesslerFY 2019‐20 FY 2020‐21Warrants & Summons IssuedConditions of Release / OrdersEmergency CommittalsMittimus of AppearanceEx Parte Orders of ProtectionParole ViolationsOrders of Protection ViolationsProperty Seizure HearingsSearch WarrantsMagistrateCarolyn ,54331,7498,80134,6413,1691266722011,612Source: Criminal Justice Planning Of ice, Criminal & Civil Clerk’s Of icesPower ShiftMagistratesJeffrey DaigleChris HofstetterDan MastenKyle ParksMarie StaceyMagistrateJohn MansonCMagistrateSteve HolzapfelMagistrateEvan HarrisNight CourtMagistrate’s Of ice440 3rd Avenue NorthNashville, TN 37201Phone: (615) 862-8304Part‐TimeMagistratesUmeka ForemanEdward HastingsTim LeeChelsea NicholsonNicholas Waiteourt Information Technology—Fiscal Year Report(July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021)Software Support: Microsoft, Oracle, Adobe,Power Builder Custom Applications, Solar Windsand Court Smart Digital, CISCO and ZOOM.Hardware Support: Dell (Desktop/Laptop),CISCO, COURT SMART, RJ Young Copier/Printer/Scanner/Fax, Cell Phones and Tablets.Helpdesk Phone NumberCategory20202021Phone ,9665,954TotalsBrad FreemanInformationSystems AdvisorTerry HanserdI.S. ApplicationAnalyst(615) 880‐368010

CCourtAdministratorKyle SowellAssistant to theAdministratorGina FoxLourt AdministrationOf ice According to the Metro Charter,the ofϐice of the Court Administrator assists the presiding judge with the improvement in the efϐiciency and operation of theMetropolitan General Sessions Court. These duties,include but are not limited to, the following: dailyoperations, budget and ϐiscal management,personnel management, ofϐice automation management, manage multiple courtrooms’ digitalrecording system, assist in resolving court facilityissues, court interpretative services coordination,manage supplemental court security personnel andpreparation of the annual report. Over 1,600 revenue transactions totaling over 1 millionOver 2000 personnel cost transactions (Payroll& Beneϐits) totaling over 11,550,000.The estimated number of total phone callshandled in 2020-21 by all services: Over 12,000Manage Master Calendar for all Courtrooms forspecial hearings/events: 382The number of web e-mails received from thepublic and acted upon: 199The number of General Services work orderssubmitted by the Court Administration ofϐice:114AdministrativeAssistantAngie Von MannOverview of Principal ServicesDaily manage the Court’s budget for FY 2021 of 12,763,000 with a total of 147 court personnelreview, oversee, and/or process various Metro R12 Business system transactions: Over 2,211 payment transactions totaling over 762,500anguage InterpretationsTennessee Supreme Court Rule 41 was promulgatedto assist the courts in providing equal access toparticipants who have limited ability to speak orunderstand the English language. It is the responsibility of thecourt to determine whether a participant in a legal proceedinghas limited ability to understand and communicate in English.For the ϐiscal year 2020-2021, the General Sessions Court’slanguage interpreter coordinator scheduled 3,511 total courtinterpretations with 3,258 of those requiring Spanish interpretations. This computes to an average of 293 court interpretationsmonthly. The predominant foreign languagesinvolved include Spanish, Arabic, Vietnamese,Laotian, Korean, Chinese, Kurdish and Somalian.The number of Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA) accommodations made: 26Court InterpreterCoordinatorDelma Aguilar 12 Criminal docket related 8 Civil, Trafϐic School/other 6 Order of Protection relatedOur Address:General Sessions CourtAdministration OfϐiceJustice A.A. Birch408 2nd Ave. N., Suite 1140P.O. Box 196300Nashville, TN 37219Phone: (615) 862-8317Of ice Supportfor MagistratesNight CourtDarrenn VarnadoCFinance Of icerTadayoshi Kawawaourt SecurityEach “in-courtroom” security ofϐicer maintains order and decorum in the courtroom atall times and prevents unauthorized entryinto the private secured hallways adjacent to thecourtrooms. Security related incidents: 19 Medical related incidents: 7 Defendants taken in custody forOutstanding Warrants: 148Security Of icerCoordinatorAssistant SecurityOf icer CoordinatorChris EdmondsonSherman CecilCourtroom Security Of icersJoseph FarnsworthTorrian HallMonica JohnsonJames KellyJohn A. KentJason L. StackGabriel SantiagoWilliam StevensonPatrick WoodRobert VirgaWEB: WWW.GSCOURT.NASHVILLE.GOV11

Traf ic Safety Education Fiscal Year Report: 7/1/20—6/30/2021General Sessions Trafϐic Education - Johnetta Nelson, DirectorGeneral Sessions Trafϐic EducationPrepared by: Johnett

The Metropolitan General Sessions Court of Nashville-Davison County serves as a very important "spoke in the wheel" as the basic foundation in the local justice system. It is a high volume limited jurisdiction Court that hears civil, misdemeanor, felony, traf Ðic, environmental, and metropolitan ordinance violations. This court is served by