Tennessee Pioneers Nation’s First Domestic Violence Offender Registry: A Milestone for Victim Safety

On January 1, 2026, Tennessee became the first state to launch a public registry for repeat domestic violence offenders, marking a historic step in protecting potential victims and raising awareness about this pervasive issue. Known as Savanna’s Law, the legislation establishes a database maintained by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) that lists individuals convicted of multiple domestic violence-related offenses. The registry includes key details such as the offender’s name, date of birth, photograph, conviction dates, and counties of conviction. Notably, it excludes sensitive information like home addresses or Social Security numbers to balance public safety with privacy concerns.

Savanna’s Law targets “persistent domestic violence offenders”; those convicted of a qualifying offense (such as domestic assault, stalking, or related crimes) committed on or after January 1, 2026, with at least one prior conviction (which can predate the law). Offenders remain on the registry for periods ranging from 5 to 20 years, depending on their conviction history, and must pay a $150 fee that funds prevention programs. This focus on repeat offenders aims to prevent escalation, as statistics show that prior abuse is a strong predictor of future violence. Per a memo released by the Tennessee General Assembly, it is estimated that approximately 40% of DV convictions are for repeat offenders, which means that using previous data, 1,838 convicts will be required to register during 2026 alone. 

The law is named in honor of Robertson County Sheriff’s Deputy Savanna Puckett, a 22-year-old officer tragically murdered in January 2022 by her ex-boyfriend, James Conn. Conn, who had a prior history of domestic violence arrests and convictions, shot Puckett multiple times in her Springfield home before setting it on fire. He later plead guilty to premeditated murder and is serving a life sentence. The tragedy highlighted how scattered court records can obscure an abuser’s history, leaving potential victims unaware of the risks. 

Puckett’s mother, Kim Dodson, had been a driving force behind the law, testifying that her daughter, despite being in law enforcement, might have avoided the relationship had such a registry existed. In an interview , her mother said, “I honestly feel that if she had known, she could still be here.” 

We hear constantly from (gun control) advocates/protestors and politicians alike, “if it saves one life, it’s worth it.” This mantra is frequently used to remove or infringe on personal freedom; however, Savannah’s Law will help to inform society without harming our Constitutional rights. To anyone who may be upset at another law being added, I will admit that sadly, those who are intent upon committing acts of violence towards intimate partners will likely continue to reoffend regardless of any consequences. Just like convicted felons who are prohibited from possessing firearms will always find a way to arm themselves, this law focuses more on providing a resource for vetting potential intimate partners instead of the government trying to become intrusive in individual privacy concerns. Unlike “red flag laws,” there is no opportunity to “abuse the system” without full due process or respect individual rights, as the registry is tied to convictions,.  

As a survivor of DV, I am thrilled to see this law enacted. I feel that it will allow individuals, especially those entering new relationships, an opportunity for due diligence and evaluation of their intuition regarding warning signs quickly and easily without having to pay for the verification. 

This registry is like the existing sex offender registries that exist nation-wide, which have overwhelming support. As this law pertains to only repeat  offenders, it emphasizes prevention over punishment. Statistically, with DV affecting millions nationwide (one in four women and one in seven men experiencing severe physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime), this legislation is a low-effort, low-cost mechanism to empower individual choices, as well as creating an additional step in incentivizing non-recidivism.