QUESTION: WHAT OR WHO IS THE "ALLIANCE AGAINST FAMILY VIOLENCE" THAT IS SO ACTIVE WITH PUBLICITY IN THE OAK RIDGER? IS IT AN ARM OF THE DA'S OFFICE?ANSWER: The ALLIANCE AGAINST FAMILY VIOLENCE is a vigilance committee organized by its Incorporators to "...hold accountable any individual or organization who denies or interferes with a victim's legal or fundamental right to be free from violence in Anderson County and the surrounding area." ( see provision 11 of charter)
By its provision 7 the ALLIANCE AGAINST FAMILY VIOLENCE has no members.
The activities of the ALLIANCE AGAINST FAMILY VIOLENCE are extrajudicial.
The ALLIANCE AGAINST FAMILY VIOLENCE is not affiliated in any way with the DA's office and we have taken steps to disassociate this office and its employees from its activities because we are obligated to follow legal and ethical rules of court, including avoidance of participation in pretrial publicity in criminal cases which is prejudicial to the defendant's right to due process of law.
Jim Ramsey, District Attorney General
(see the Merriam-Webster definition of vigilante)