Public Affairs Division
The Public Affairs Division is the central communications hub for the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office. Our mission is to ensure that the public remains informed about the Office’s work to enhance public safety, deliver justice, and support crime prevention and accountability efforts across Shelby County.
What We Do
Inform the Public: We communicate the DA’s Office’s priorities, initiatives, and case outcomes through accessible and transparent messaging.
Support Media Relations: We serve as the primary point of contact for all media inquiries, coordinating interviews, providing timely statements, and organizing press conferences.
Advise Leadership: We provide strategic guidance to the District Attorney and senior staff on all aspects of public messaging and crisis communication.
Coordinate Communications: We work with internal units and external partners to ensure consistent, accurate, and timely messaging across platforms.
Maintain Transparency: We ensure that public communications comply with legal and ethical standards, safeguarding ongoing investigations, the rights of individuals, and community trust.
Our Responsibilities
Draft and distribute press releases and public statements
Manage press conferences and media events
Respond to journalist inquiries and coordinate interviews
Review and approve public-facing content from internal departments
Maintain digital content across official channels, including social media and the DA’s website
Our Commitment
We are committed to delivering clear, accurate, and respectful communication. We believe that public trust begins with transparency—and that timely, fact-based communication is essential to fostering community confidence in the justice system.
If you are a member of the working media and would like an interview with the District Attorney or you need information on a certain case please contact media@scdag.com.
Office Hours are Monday-Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, excluding holidays.
Public Affairs Director | Erica Williams | 901.222.1337
MEDIA REQUEST GUIDELINES AND EXPECTATIONS
Response Timing & Prioritization
Our office receives on average 20-25 media inquiries per day across a wide range of topics and cases.
To ensure accuracy and fairness:
Requests with clear deadlines or breaking news relevance are prioritized
Requests without deadlines or tied to non-urgent matters may not receive immediate responses
A delayed response does not indicate a lack of engagement—it may still be under review
Accuracy Requires Coordination
Information is not always immediately available to the Communications Office.
To ensure accuracy:
Coordination with prosecutors is often required
Prosecutors are typically in court during the morning hours
Complex requests require internal verification before response
This process ensures fact-based, legally sound communication.
Affidavits, Records & Data Requests
For the most efficient access to information:
Affidavits & court documents → Clerk’s Office
Public records & data requests → Formal request process
While our office may occasionally provide documents as a courtesy:
This is not standard practice
This is not guaranteed
Deadlines & Planning Expectations
To assist with timely responses:
Clearly indicate whether your deadline is hard or soft
Provide 24–48 hours’ notice for interviews when possible
Requests requiring significant coordination or submitted late in the day will typically be addressed the next business day unless urgent.
Office Hours & After-Hours Requests
Office Hours: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday–Friday
After Hours: Communications Director available for breaking news/emergencies only
Clarifying “No Response”
We ask that media outlets avoid stating the office “did not respond” unless:
A clear deadline was provided
Reasonable time was given for a response
Requests may still be:
Under review
Pending verification
Submitted without sufficient turnaround time
Use the Right Source
Clerk’s Office: Court documents, filings
MPD: Arrest details, incident reports
DA’s Office: Charges, case status, official statements
Our Commitment
We are committed to:
Accuracy over speed when necessary
Transparency within legal and ethical standards
Timely communication whenever feasible