Memphis & Shelby County Justice Dashboard
Comprehensive data on our justice system — who's being held, why, and what's happening in our community. Updated regularly from public sources.
Why this matters: Most people in the Shelby County Jail have not been convicted of anything. They are there because they cannot afford bail. Pretrial detention disrupts jobs, housing, and families — and research shows it increases the likelihood of future system involvement. See pretrial data →
Jail & Pretrial Detention
Shelby County Jail — February 2026 · Source: Shelby County Jail Population Report
Jail Population Trend — 24 months
Who Is in the Shelby County Jail?
Racial Composition of Jail vs. City Population
Black residents make up 64% of Memphis — but 100% of the jail population.
Top Charges (Pretrial Population)
The Case for Pretrial Reform
The average person held pretrial in Shelby County spends 84 days in jail before their case is resolved — often losing their job, housing, or custody of children — simply because they cannot afford a median bail of $25,000. Research consistently shows pretrial detention increases the likelihood of conviction, longer sentences, and future system involvement, regardless of the underlying charge.
Crime Overview
Memphis Police Department · Data through June 01, 2026 · Memphis Open Data Hub
Context matters: Crime statistics reflect only what is reported to police. They do not capture unreported crimes, and they reflect policing patterns as much as community safety. High-poverty areas tend to have more police presence and therefore more reported crime. Use these figures alongside the equity and community data below for a complete picture.
Monthly Crime Trend (12 months)
Total Annual Part 1 Crimes
Crime by Type — Year to Date (with year-over-year change)
| Crime Type | Count | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| Shoplifting | 2,031 | 0% |
| Aggravated Assault | 1,800 | 0% |
| Burg/Break & Enter | 1,150 | 0% |
| Theft From A Motor Vehicle | 1,103 | 0% |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 1,042 | 0% |
| All Other Larceny | 1,021 | 0% |
| Theft From A Building | 786 | 0% |
| Theft Of Mv Parts/Accs | 492 | 0% |
| Robbery | 387 | 0% |
| Arson | 94 | 0% |
| Murder/Non-Negl Msltr | 61 | 0% |
| Pocket-Picking | 25 | 0% |
| Purse-Snatching | 15 | 0% |
| Theft From Coin Mach/Dev | 2 | 0% |
Part 1 crimes only. Source: Memphis PD via Open Data Hub. Data subject to revision.
Total Crimes by Police Precinct
Higher reported crime in some precincts may reflect greater police presence, not necessarily greater community safety challenges.
Racial Equity in the Justice SystemSample Data
Data through 2025 · Sources: MPD, Shelby County Jail, U.S. Census ACS
Black residents make up 64% of Memphis — but account for 81.2% of arrests, 78.8% of the jail population, and 76.3% of use-of-force incidents. This disparity is not explained by higher rates of criminal behavior — research shows it reflects systemic over-policing, bias in bail-setting, and structural inequities in poverty and opportunity.
Racial Share at Each Step — Population vs. Justice System
The gap between "City Population" and other bars represents over-representation. Black residents are over-represented at every step of the justice system.
Black Residents: Population Share vs. System Share
Racial Disparity Ratio Over Time (Black:White)
Ratio = Black arrest/incarceration rate ÷ White rate, adjusted for population share. A ratio of 5× means Black residents are 5 times more likely to be arrested or jailed.
Traffic Stop Search Rates vs. Hit Rates
Black drivers are searched at twice the rate of white drivers — yet contraband is found less often, indicating over-policing rather than higher rates of crime.
What Reform Looks Like
Reducing racial disparities requires changes at every step: ending racially targeted traffic enforcement, reforming bail to eliminate wealth-based detention, investing in community-based public safety alternatives, and establishing independent oversight with enforcement power. Disparity is not inevitable — it is a policy choice.
Police AccountabilitySample Data
Data through 2025 · Memphis Police Department
Note: SCORPION Unit Disbanded — January 27, 2023
Following the killing of Tyre Nichols by Memphis Police officers, the SCORPION tactical unit was disbanded. His death brought national attention to policing practices in Memphis and the need for systemic accountability reforms.
Officer-Involved Shootings — Annual Trend
Use of Force by Type (2025)
Civilian Complaint Dispositions
Only 9% of complaints result in a sustained finding. This is typical nationally but reflects structural barriers to accountability.
Use of Force by Race of Subject
City population: Black 64%, White 26%. Black residents represent 76.3% of force incidents.
Accountability Reforms Needed
A sustained complaint rate under 10% reflects systemic barriers to accountability — including investigations handled by the same department being investigated. Independent civilian oversight with real investigative and disciplinary power, full transparency on use-of-force data, and mandatory de-escalation training are proven reforms that reduce harm and build community trust.
Community Safety & Root CausesSample Data
Public safety is shaped by more than policing. These indicators show the community conditions that drive — or reduce — crime and system involvement.
Safety is built, not policed. Research consistently shows that investments in economic opportunity, housing stability, mental health care, and violence interruption programs reduce crime more effectively and sustainably than incarceration. Memphis's poverty rate (24.3%) is more than twice the national average — that gap is the strongest predictor of crime rates.
Memphis vs. National Averages
Community conditions that research links to safety outcomes
Violence Intervention & Alternatives
Community Violence Intervention active participants
Neighborhood-based safe spaces and programs
Of all 911 calls involving mental health — many diverted from police
Point-in-time homeless count; housing instability increases system involvement
Mental Health Crisis Calls — Diverted from Police Response
Co-responder programs dispatch mental health professionals alongside or instead of police. More diversions = fewer inappropriate police contacts, better outcomes.
Active Community Safety Programs
Neighborhoods: Orange Mound, Frayser, South Memphis
Support for people returning from incarceration
Mental health co-responders diverted from law enforcement