Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Bill Powell

Opinion: The Shelby County Jail's 'long and shameful history'

billpowell55@gmail.com (Bill Powell) — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 04:00:07 -0500

“In the past couple years, the Jail has seen troublesome population increases and has left key positions vacant ... the family of Gershun Freeman has called for a DOJ investigation into his homicide.”

Attack on critics of the justice system is 'irresponsible'

billpowell55@gmail.com (Bill Powell) — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 06:25:23 -0500

U.S. Attorney Michael Dunavant falsely claims activists seek the “indiscriminate, wholesale release of prisoners.” Activists, nationally and locally, have called for a plan to release anyone who can be safely released. A very different thing indeed.

The juvenile detention center needs to be replaced

billpowell55@gmail.com (Bill Powell) — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 04:00:00 -0600

The question ultimately is not whether we can afford a new facility but whether we can afford not to have one.

Shelby County’s juvenile justice system limits our youth, our community

billpowell55@gmail.com (Bill Powell) — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 04:05:01 -0600

The high rate of juveniles transferred to adult court in Shelby County is not due to differences in Shelby County youth. It’s due to differences in the operation of our juvenile justice system.