Last month, the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, in partnership with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, hosted a Missing Person Investigation and Alert Training for local law enforcement partners. The training provided critical information to law enforcement on the many resources available when conducting a missing person investigation. This included the various alerts the TBI has the authority to issue, as well as practical investigative tactics for locating missing persons.

The Union County Community Fund (UCCF), an affiliate fund of the East Tennessee Foundation (ETF), announced its distribution of $1,500 in grants to three organizations serving the citizens of Union County.

The three grants awarded support a range of projects enhancing the quality of life in Union County. The 2025 grant recipients are:

On October 2 and 3, District Attorney General Jared Effler and staff, in partnership with the Children’s Centers of the 8th Judicial District, hosted the 10th Annual Dixie Roofing Clays for Children Sporting Clays Tournament at Iron Mountain Sporting Clays in Kodak.

Assistant District Attorneys General Ron Laffitte, Blake Mullins, and Graham Wilson participated in the "Navigating the Waters of a BUI Prosecution" training on July 16, 2025 in Lexington, KY. The course was a collaborative effort between the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), aimed at strengthening the prosecution of Boating Under the Influence (BUI) cases.

Jared Effler, 8th District Attorney General, has been elected by fellow members of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference (TNDAGC) to serve as president of the organization’s executive committee. In this position, Effler will play a crucial role in guiding the overall administration of justice in Tennessee.

Walk 4 Water Union County’s third annual fundraiser is coming to the UC Farmers Market at Heritage Park on Saturday, June 7.

“We invite all Union County residents to come together to celebrate the blessed life we have here and to help spread the blessings to others suffering from extreme poverty and lack of access to clean, safe water in Uganda,” said Desiree Hensley, Walk 4 Water UC chair.

Assistant District Attorneys General Apryl Bradshaw and Lindsey Cadle attended training on April 3 and 4th, 2025 in Sevierville. The training was conducted by the Zero Abuse Project which partnered with the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Tennessee, Safe Harbor of the Smokies, and the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference. Seasoned prosecutors lead the two-day training with essential material focused on trauma-informed investigations and prosecutions when dealing with child abuse.

On Friday, March 28, 2025, District Attorney General Effler and staff, in partnership with the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference, hosted Cops in Court for all law enforcement agencies who work within the 8th Judicial District (composed of Campbell, Claiborne, Fentress, Scott and Union Counties). Cops in Court is a training that focuses on impaired driving detection and prosecution. Officers who attended this training completed a mock trial presentation where they experienced court room scenarios in direct and cross examination.

Office of District Attorney General Jared Effler March 20th, 2025

District Attorney General Jared Effler is pleased to announce the successful completion of specialized training sessions aimed at equipping employees of financial institutions with the skills necessary to detect and prevent elder abuse. The District Attorney General’s Office partnered with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to conduct these trainings across the Eighth Judicial District, emphasizing the importance of community collaboration in protecting our most vulnerable citizens. TBI Special Agent Ramona Smith conducted these training sessions.

District Attorney General Jared Effler is pleased to announce that ADA Joe Duncan and Domestic Violence Prosecutor Chelsea Hatcher attended the 2025 Tennessee District Attorney General's Conference Trial Advocacy course at the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in Memphis, Tennessee. The comprehensive program, designed to enhance the trial skills of prosecutors across the state, provided invaluable training and professional development.