Driving the V11: A Fast Track to Justice

How many times have you read or listened to a report about a murder or serious shooting only to find out that the suspect had a prior criminal record AND had pending court cases for additional serious crimes? Perhaps, the suspect was unlawfully in the country.

I readily admit that it’s a rhetorical question, and since this isn’t a test, I’ll highlight two cases in the next section that I found doing a quick Google search.

The Warning Signs of the Road to Impunity

The two cases below are warning signs of the road to impunity. They reflect acts of criminality committed before the incident being reported occurred.

What if they had been placed on a fast-moving “rocket docket” and convicted as charged? It’s probable, that a fair period of incarceration could have prevented them from engaging in these violent crimes thus sparing the lives of the victims.

But no—none of that happened here:

• March 2025, the 21-year-old suspect was arrested in connection with a mass shooting at a Houston nightclub. Multiple shots from a rifle were fired into the club's entryway, injuring three men and two women. At the time of the shooting, the suspect had pending charges of aggravated assault from a previous incident.

• March 2025, Two suspects were arrested in Los Angeles for the February 25 murder of Juan Miguel Sanchez. The victim was trying to stop them from stealing a catalytic converter. Both suspects were in the country illegally and had extensive criminal records, including multiple arrests for grand theft, gun charges, drugs, and burglary.

While the circumstances in the foregoing cases are disturbing, I’ve read about many crimes in which the offenders had far more prior arrests, convictions, and serious pending cases.

In my last Substack article “Stop the Impunity: Before it Spreads” I wrote about a menacing type of freedom. Freedom from accountability.

The suspects in the two cases above had pending criminal cases involving acts of violence. Despite this, they remained free to use deadly force in the commission of additional crimes resulting in murder and serious physical injury.

Cases like these and innovative efforts to prevent the spread of criminal impunity, like Shelby County’s V11-Fast Track Violent Crime Initiative, motivate me to share this information. Violence-prone criminals must be held accountable to prevent future crimes and save lives.

V11-Fast Track Violent Crime Initiative

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy, supported by local law enforcement officials, delivered a firm message to criminals: Any behavior threatening public safety will be met with swift and decisive action. This declaration followed recent updates on Mulroy’s Fast Track Violent Crime initiative, designated as V11, which has made significant strides since its launch in January 2024.

The V11 initiative prioritizes and expedites the prosecution of 11 violent crime categories. The goal is to hold violent offenders accountable and ensure that their crimes are handled with urgency and thoroughness. Since its inception, the DA's office has identified 411 cases for special V11 priority, which accounts for at least 15 percent of the felony cases filed in the district during this period.

In 2024 over half of these cases have progressed through General Sessions and are now set for adjudication in Criminal Court. This achievement underscores the office’s commitment to fast-tracking the legal process and delivering justice to the victims and community members affected by violent crime.

“Every case is a step closer to ensuring that criminals who jeopardize public safety face the consequences they deserve,” said DA Mulroy during a recent press conference. “We will not tolerate violence in this community. Our focus is on getting dangerous offenders off the streets and into court as quickly as possible.”

V11 in Action: A Case Study

The V11’s effectiveness was highlighted through the recent case of Roderick Harvey, who is currently incarcerated on charges of rape and kidnapping. Prosecutors discovered through jail monitoring that Harvey had been planning further violent acts and illicit drug deals to finance his bond. Assistant District Attorney Forrest Edwards promptly alerted law enforcement, which led to the revocation of Harvey’s bond in a court hearing on Monday.

“This case exemplifies the rapid response and vigilance that defines our approach under V11,” said DA Mulroy. “We are committed to monitoring individuals who pose a threat to our community and to ensuring that they do not have the opportunity to continue their criminal activities.”

A Collaborative Effort

At the press conference, DA Mulroy was joined by Shelby County Chief Deputy Anthony Buckner and Memphis Police Department Homicide Commander Major Renwick Cowans, reinforcing the vital collaboration between the DA's office and local law enforcement agencies in the fight against violent crime.

The V11 initiative focuses on 11 priority violent crimes, including murder, carjacking, aggravated robbery, and smash-and-grab robberies. By expediting the prosecution of these offenses, the DA’s office aims to reduce the backlog of pending cases, which, upon Mulroy's assumption of office in 2022, totaled 500 cases.

Streamlining the Legal Process

The V11 initiative sets clear and rigorous deadlines for prosecutors to ensure timely resolution of cases. Key deadlines under the program include:

• General Sessions: Cases must be moved through General Sessions within 60 days from the date a defendant obtains an attorney.

• Indictments: Once a case is ready, an indictment must be secured within 30 days.

• Trial or Plea: Trials must commence, or plea agreements must be reached, within 15 months.

“Prosecutors who fail to meet these deadlines must explain why,” DA Mulroy said. “If there is no good reason, they will be expected to do better.”

In addition to stringent timelines, DA Mulroy has emphasized the importance of thorough investigations. Prosecutors are encouraged to enhance communication with law enforcement, carefully monitor jail calls, and stay vigilant to uncover critical information that could lead to more swift justice.

The 3 Pillars of the V11 Initiative

The V11 plan is built upon three main pillars designed to expedite the legal process and ensure rigorous oversight:

1. Bail: Ensuring that appropriate bail decisions are made and defendants who pose a danger to the community are not granted bail or are monitored via GPS or other tracking systems.

2. Trial Speed: Expediting the trial process to meet the set deadlines, ensuring that cases are resolved without unnecessary delays.

3. Investigation Oversight: Implementing proactive investigation practices, including constant communication with law enforcement, monitoring jail calls, and utilizing nationwide databases like NIBIN for ballistic analysis.

Priority Offenses under V11

The V11 initiative focuses on 11 violent criminal offenses, including:

1. First Degree Murder (and Attempt)

2. Second-Degree Murder (and Attempt)

3. Carjacking (and Attempt)

4. Aggravated Robbery

5. Aggravated Assault (gun fired)

6. Violent Sex Offenses

7. Convicted Violent Felon Possessing a Firearm

8. Stolen Car and Simultaneous Possession of a Firearm

9. Possession of a Glock Switch

10. Retail Smash-and-Grabs

11. New Violent Offense While Out on Bond

Prioritization and Relentless Follow-up

The DA’s office has developed internal procedures to ensure that violent crime cases are given the attention they deserve. This includes:

• Speed: Enforcing internal deadlines for each stage of the legal process, from General Sessions to trial.

• Internal Procedures: Weekly docket reviews, monthly case tracking reports, and close monitoring of critical cases.

• Investigation: Prioritizing constant communication with law enforcement, monitoring jail calls, and leveraging investigative tools like the NIBIN database.

Additionally, the DA’s office pushes for timely victim outreach, ensuring that victims of violent crimes are contacted within 48 hours of case assignment.

V11 First Year Highlights

• Crime Reduction Across the Board

  • Overall crime: down 10.4% (2023-2024)

  • Violent crime: down 2%

  • Property crime: down 20.3%, including a 31% drop in auto thefts

• Strategic Public Safety Initiatives

  • V11 Initiative: Prioritizing 11 categories of violent crime for faster prosecution and tougher bail recommendations.

  • CARS Program: Targeting youth offenders involved in car thefts and break-ins with intervention programs to prevent escalation into violent crime.

  • Meaningful Supervision: Embedding rehabilitation requirements (mental health treatment, job training, GED programs) into plea agreements to reduce recidivism.

• Speedier Justice & System Improvements

  • Launched the “The State Is Always Ready” policy, preventing unnecessary trial delays

  • Achieved a 60% increase in jury trials compared to 2023.

  • Eliminated the backlog in body cam video processing, cutting delays from months to real-time efficiency.

  • Exceeded the total number of jury trials from all of 2023 by August 2024.

• Justice & Fairness

  • Successfully prosecuted high-profile cases, securing convictions in the murders of Liza Fletcher, Young Dolph, and John Materna ("The Watermelon Man")

  • Expanded diversity in staffing, now operating with the most diverse legal team in the office’s history.

  • The Justice Review Unit overturned wrongful convictions and conducted unbiased officer-involved shooting reviews.

Conclusion: A Commitment to Justice

DA Mulroy’s V11 initiative signals a firm commitment to fighting violent crime and safeguarding Shelby County’s residents. By combining swift legal action, collaborative efforts with law enforcement, and strict oversight of the legal process, the DA’s office strives to ensure that offenders face justice without unnecessary delays.

“Our approach is clear,” said Mulroy. “We are relentless in our pursuit of justice for the victims of violent crime, and we will continue to do everything in our power to ensure that criminals who threaten our safety are held accountable.”

End Note:

“From all of us at the RF FACTOR to DA Mulroy, his team, and law enforcement partners, thank you and Godspeed as you drive the V11 - a fast track to justice with no off-ramps to impunity.”

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