TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Sep 9, 2025

A new report from from nonprofit Prison Policy Initiative recommends that Shelby County address management of the current jail before spending $1 billion to build a new facility. According to The Daily Memphian, the report argues that issues with processing and staffing are at the heart of problems inside the jail, and that while the jail might need replacing, a lack of capacity is not the issue. According to the findings, many of the jail’s issues — including long booking delays, preventable in-custody deaths and high staff vacancy rates — stem from poor management and staff culture rather than overcrowding or deteriorating infrastructure. The report recommends the county focus on improving hiring practices, oversight and diversion strategies to reduce the jail population before considering construction of a new facility.