It’s been a busy first six months for Knox County’s State’s Attorney.
In his update of the office, Jeremy Karlin says that his office is expecting an increase in the tempo of trial work in front of judges and juries.
As a result of the suspension of trials during the COVID pandemic, Karlin says, there are approximately 400 defendants still demanding a jury trial.
Despite the high caseload, he says that the office will not resort to plea bargaining to reduce their numbers. Karlin says the office will not dismiss cases or make dangerous plea bargains to reduce caseloads.
During his first six months in office, Karlin launched the diversion and deferred programs, held seminars for law enforcement, and says they’ve modernized the trial presentation strategy and techniques.
He also announced that the office was awarded $25,000 from the Knox County 708 Board of Mental Health to help pay for a part-time coordinator for the Diversion and Deferred Prosecution program.
Karlin says they are grateful for the mental health board’s support and investment in their approach to handling crimes of addiction and mental illness by first offenders.
