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Crime victim advocate pushing for a state witness protection program in TN

Tennessee is one of many states without its own witness protection program at the state level

23 years ago, the Farragut community was rocked by a double murder of a husband and wife.

Now, decades later, their daughter is fighting to keep victims and witnesses safe after violent crimes.

Ever since Jeanne Dotts Brykalski's parents were murdered, she's felt like she's had to watch her back. She doesn't feel safe knowing there are people out there that would kill someone for no reason.

"We'd been all over the paper and the news and our story was out there. It was a little scary," Brykalski said.

After all these years, she recently found out that the state of Tennessee doesn't have its n witness protection program.

"The Federal Witness Protection program is for Federal crimes only, but for the state there's no program here," she said.

According to the District Attorney General in Knoxville, when it comes down to it, it's all about money.

"Those states made it a priority and found the funding for it," Charme Allen, Knoxville's District Attorney General, said.

Charme Allen said a state program would be a step in the right direction because she's seen first hand how witnesses will hold back evidence, scared of retaliation.

"They are fearful to talk about it because they know the individual they are snitching on could come after them," Allen said.

Allen says although they don't have a complete program, many states do offer some of these services.

"Many of the things they do in the states where they have it, we already do it here," Allen said.

Things like stepping up patrols, putting people in hotels during trials and working with local programs to relocate people.

Still, Jeanne Brykalski said there needs to be more, and if that means cutting funds to other programs -- she says so be it.

"I think there's definitely some programs that have lost their usefulness or are being guided in the wrong direction," Brykalski said.

Charme Allen said a state witness protection program is not in the works now, but it’s not off the table for the future.

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