NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — WeGo Public Transit and the Davidson County District Attorney's office have teamed up to help witnesses make their court appearances.

City officials kicked off the new program Thursday. News 2 spoke with some who helped put it in motion.

"This is just a crucial piece in getting people there so that they can, in fact, fight for what they deserve — to give them access to justice," Mary Griffin, the Davidson County Assistant District Attorney, said.

The program is designed to make it easier for some, like people in the Vulnerable Adult Protective Investigative Team, who need to go to court to make their appearances. WeGo Access will provide free rides through the rideshare partner zTrip for those who are mandated to appear in-person.

For those who don't have access to their own transportation, Griffin said this closes a major gap.

"For example, in a domestic violence case, the car may be shared with the perpetrator, for example," said Griffin. "These are folks that not only need to be able to have a method to get to court, but to get to court safely."

Those with Victim Witness and Prosecution Support Divisions will also benefit from the program, as will elderly people and people with disabilities. Officials with the DA's office said the program has been made possible with funding through Nashville's transit referendum.

"If you have somebody subpoenaed — which these are the folks, the witnesses we're talking about — it means they're mandatory. They're needed for that proceeding," Griffin said. "I think we will see our numbers go up of cases that we are able to prosecute."

The DA's office will request the free ride and provide door-to-door service. The rides can also be tailored. For example, if a survivor of domestic violence would prefer a driver of the same gender, or wheelchair access is necessary, those can be accounted for in the ride.

"It doesn't put a target on them — that they are a witness in a particular case [and] that they're going to the government [or] anything like that, either," Griffin said. "It just simply provides them with what people with more resources have: reliable transportation to get to the courthouse."

Griffin told News 2 the idea for the program was launched in January and she credited several agencies with helping make the program come together within just a few months.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/wego-partnering-with-the-davidson-county-das-office-to-help-witnesses-make-court-appearances/