Savanna’s Law: Is Tennessee’s Domestic Violence Registry a National Model?
Is Tennessee’s Domestic Violence Registry Ready to be a National Model?
Savanna’s Law: Tennessee’s Revolutionary Domestic Violence Registry Should Become a National Model
Tennessee is about to make history as the first state in the nation to launch a public domestic violence offender registry, a groundbreaking tool that could save countless lives and should serve as a blueprint for every state across America. Starting January 1, 2026, “Savanna’s Law” will create a publicly accessible database of repeat domestic violence offenders, marking a pivotal moment in how we protect potential victims and hold abusers accountable.
The Tragedy That Sparked Change
The law bears the name of Robertson County Sheriff’s Deputy Savanna Puckett, a 22-year-old law enforcement officer whose life was brutally cut short in January 2022. When Deputy Puckett failed to show up for work, her colleagues discovered her shot to death inside her burning home. The perpetrator was her ex-boyfriend, James Jackson Conn, who pleaded guilty to first-degree premeditated murder and is now serving a life sentence.
The most devastating revelation came after her death: Conn had a documented history of domestic violence and stalking that remained hidden from view. Despite being a trained law enforcement officer with access to law enforcement databases, Deputy Puckett had no way of knowing about her partner’s violent past. This tragic gap in information cost her life and exposed a critical flaw in how we protect potential victims of domestic violence.
What Savanna’s Law Creates
Savanna’s Law establishes a comprehensive registry managed by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation that will include:
Names and photographs of repeat domestic violence offenders
Dates of birth and conviction details
Counties where offenses occurred
Length of registration (ranging from 2 to 20 years based on the number of convictions)
The registry applies to individuals convicted of domestic violence offenses at least twice, creating a crucial early warning system for potential victims, employers, and community members. Unlike sex offender registries that have existed for decades, this represents the first time any state has created a specific database for domestic violence perpetrators.
Why This Matters: The Hidden Epidemic
The statistics surrounding domestic violence in America are staggering. Tennessee currently ranks fourth in the nation for men killing women, a grim statistic that reflects a broader national crisis. Domestic violence affects one in four women and one in nine men in their lifetimes, yet the patterns of abuse often remain invisible until tragedy strikes.
“Victims always have a fear about their offender going back out and doing the same thing to someone else,” explains Verna Wyatt of Tennessee Voices for Victims. “It gives you a heads up. Domestic violence doesn’t make sense, but the patterns do.”
The registry addresses a fundamental information asymmetry that has long protected abusers while endangering victims. Court records of domestic violence convictions are scattered across multiple jurisdictions, making it nearly impossible for someone to discover if their new partner has a history of violence without extensive, expensive background checks.
A Tool for Prevention, Not Punishment
Lawmakers emphasize that Savanna’s Law is designed as a prevention tool rather than additional punishment. The $150 registration fee ($50 for administrative costs, $100 supporting victim services) represents a modest investment in public safety that could prevent immeasurable human suffering.
State Representative Sabi Kumar, who sponsored the legislation, captured the law’s potential impact during legislative debate: “If there was a registry for such violent offenders, Savannah being involved with law enforcement would have checked it, and a tragedy could have been avoided.”
This prevention-focused approach recognizes that domestic violence rarely occurs in isolation. Abusers typically follow identifiable patterns, escalating their behavior across multiple relationships. By making these patterns visible, the registry empowers potential victims to make informed decisions about their relationships while providing law enforcement with critical information before responding to domestic violence calls.
Why Every State Needs Savanna’s Law
The case for expanding Savanna’s Law nationwide extends far beyond Tennessee’s borders. Currently, no other state maintains a domestic violence offender registry, leaving millions of Americans vulnerable to repeat abusers who move between jurisdictions undetected.
Several compelling arguments support national adoption:
Protection Through Information: Just as sex offender registries have become standard across all 50 states, domestic violence registries would provide consistent protection regardless of where abusers relocate.
Economic Benefits: Domestic violence costs the U.S. economy an estimated $8.3 billion annually in medical expenses, lost productivity, and criminal justice costs. Prevention through early intervention represents significant potential savings.
Law Enforcement Safety: Officers responding to domestic violence calls face heightened risks. Access to registry information could help them prepare for potentially dangerous situations, potentially saving officer lives.
Victim Empowerment: The registry gives survivors another layer of protection and validation, showing that the justice system takes their safety seriously and provides tools to help them stay safe.
Addressing Concerns and Criticisms
Critics of domestic violence registries raise legitimate concerns about privacy, potential for abuse, and effectiveness. However, Savanna’s Law includes important safeguards:
Only repeat offenders (two or more convictions) are included
No home addresses or Social Security numbers are published
Registration periods are limited based on conviction history
The registry focuses on public safety rather than permanent stigmatization
These limitations balance public safety needs with individual rights, creating a sustainable model that other states can adopt with confidence.
The Path Forward
Tennessee’s implementation of Savanna’s Law represents a crucial test case for the nation. As the registry launches and begins operation, other states will be watching closely to evaluate its effectiveness and address any implementation challenges.
Early indicators suggest strong bipartisan support for similar legislation elsewhere. The overwhelming approval Savanna’s Law received in Tennessee’s legislature—passing both chambers with broad support—demonstrates that protecting domestic violence victims transcends political divisions.
A Call to Action
Savanna Puckett’s death was a preventable tragedy that exposed systemic failures in how we protect potential victims of domestic violence. Her legacy should not be limited to Tennessee’s borders. Every state has its own Savannas—victims whose deaths could have been prevented with better access to information about their abusers’ histories.
The time has come for a national movement to adopt Savanna’s Law across all 50 states. This isn’t about creating more bureaucracy or punishment—it’s about giving potential victims the tools they need to make informed decisions about their safety. It’s about recognizing that domestic violence is not a private matter but a public safety issue that affects entire communities.
As we approach the January 1, 2026 launch date for Tennessee’s registry, other state legislatures should begin preparing their own versions of Savanna’s Law. The technology exists, the legal framework has been established, and most importantly, the moral imperative is clear.
No other family should endure the preventable loss that the Puckett family suffered. No other deputy should die because critical information about a dangerous abuser remained hidden. No other victim should face violence that could have been prevented through better access to information.
Savanna’s Law represents more than legislation—it’s a promise that we will do better, that we will learn from tragedy, and that we will protect the vulnerable among us. Every state should make that promise to its citizens by adopting similar registry laws.
The question is not whether we can afford to implement domestic violence registries nationwide. The question is whether we can afford not to. Savanna Puckett’s voice was silenced, but her legacy can speak volumes if we have the courage to listen and act.