Hamilton County’s regular grand jury has ended its four-month term and written a grim report of its frustrations to Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Barry Steelman.
“We cannot help but wonder if most of this isn’t a senseless exercise in futility,” the report stated. “Law enforcement works very hard to get the criminals off of the street; the lower courts generally do what they can at their level; the grand jury does its duty in deciding which cases should be sent to Criminal Court; and then, far too often, Criminal Court quickly releases them to begin the whole catch and release process once again. What is wrong with this picture?”
Marsha Crabtree, foreman of the grand jury, said the report was presented to Judge Steelman on Wednesday.
Steelman could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening.
Crabtree declined further comment on the report, which echoes many previous reports in its criticism of revolving doors in the justice system and punishments that grand jurors deem too soft.
The Silverdale Detention Center, the report states, is “too ‘laid back’ without any semblance of punishment or correction.”
The report also states the grand jurors met for 15 days and heard testimony on 648 cases.
Pam Sohn has been reporting or editing Chattanooga news for 25 years. A Walden’s Ridge native, she began her journalism career with a 10-year stint at the Anniston (Ala.) Star. She came to the Chattanooga Times Free Press in 1999 after working at the Chattanooga Times for 14 years. She has been a city editor, Sunday editor, wire editor, projects team leader and assistant lifestyle editor. As a reporter, she also has covered the police, ...
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