ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - The family of William ‘Jake’ Embert who waited more than a decade to receive full justice in connection to his 2014 shooting death, have submitted legislation to the Georgia General Assembly.

The family said the core purpose is to strengthen investigative integrity, establish clear professional standards, and to ensure victims families are heard, protected, and treated with dignity.

“The ball was dropped on so many occasions when it came to the judicial system. There’s so many systematic gaps that need to be filled and my father’s case exposed all of them,” Rachel Embert said. “Change is absolutely necessary, required, and it should be implemented.”

The William ‘Jake’ Embert Act addresses early investigative inconsistencies, lack of standardized oversight, and gaps in coroner training, qualifications, and protocols. It also addresses prolonged procedural delays that create emotional and financial strain, and breakdowns in communication with victims families.

For those who don’t know, Susan Embert was found guilty twice in connection to the death of her husband, Jake Embert.

She was first found guilty in 2019, but she was released in 2024 due to speedy trial and improper juror concerns.

In January of 2026, Susan Embert was sentenced for her husband’s death for the second time.

Not too long after the sentencing, Dougherty County Police Department released a statement to their Facebook:

The Dougherty County Police Department acknowledges renewed public interest following recent national media coverage regarding the death of William “Jake” Embert.

In response to media inquiries, the department provided the following official statement:

“The Dougherty County Police Department is aware of questions that have been raised regarding its investigation of the unfortunate death of William ‘Jake’ Embert.

This case has been fully adjudicated through the court system, where all available evidence, investigative actions, and witness testimony were examined in detail. A jury rendered a verdict after considering the totality of the facts presented.

Out of respect for the integrity of the judicial process, the Dougherty County Police Department declines to further comment on the matter. We remain committed to ensuring all of our investigations are conducted in good faith and in accordance with applicable policies and the law.”

The department recognizes the continued impact of this case on the Embert family and the community and extends its respect to all those affected.

Rachel Embert, the daughter of the victim says her family had to endure a ton of unreasonable delays.

“Respectfully, I want to know have they done any investigative internal review of what they could have done better at,” Rachel Embert said. “In less than an hour, I don’t even want to call it an investigation, because it was nothing of the sort. This is a human life that we’re talking about.”

In the legislation the family detailed primary reform areas including investigative accountability and independent review of safeguards.

They’re also calling for mandatory coroner qualifications, certification, and oversight. Enforceable victims’ rights protections and communication standards, and safeguards against unreasonable delays aligned with Marcy’s Law.

The legislation is now submitted, the family is waiting to see if it’ll get passed.

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