There are 16 article(s) tagged bail reform:

• March 2025

  • New U of M report studies bail in Shelby County

    Bail amounts in Shelby County increased following the passage of a recent state law aimed at peeling back local bail reform efforts.

    By Aarron Fleming March 27, 2025

• February 2025

  • General Assembly hears two proposals to change Tennessee’s Constitution

    The first resolution proposes an amendment to expand the rights of crime victims, and the second would remove a defendant’s right to bail for certain violent offenses.

    By Benjamin Smith February 13, 2025

• November 2024

  • State rep, DA, others advocate for access to juvenile records in setting bail

    Several local officials are backing a new state law that will allow judges and judicial commissioners access to at least some juvenile court records in setting bail.

    By Jody Callahan November 16, 2024

  • Opinion: Crime Commission to host public-safety forum

    The forum will address juvenile crime, bail, truancy and other factors with speakers including representatives from the Memphis Police Department, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, General Sessions Court and the school system.

    By Bill Gibbons November 10, 2024

• October 2024

  • Shelby County DA’s Office to provide more information for bail setting

    The new bail-setting form is the latest change to Shelby County’s bail-setting process, which continues to receive criticism from residents and legislators who claim it often does not do enough to protect the community. 

    By Aarron Fleming October 11, 2024

• August 2024

  • Opinion: New bail law prioritizes safety of the community

    State Sen. Brent Taylor’s new bail law is already enhancing community safety by imposing higher bail and keeping habitual criminals off our streets.

    By Jack Johnson August 17, 2024

  • Judge says Just City bail suit will impact local taxpayers

    The local judge also told reporters Friday, Aug. 2, that local bail reform efforts have been working.

    By Aarron Fleming August 03, 2024

• March 2024

  • Gibbons: Tackle crime by fixing what’s broken

    The president of the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission says we need to change the juvenile justice system’s arbitrary 19th birthday cutoff and use public safety as the overriding factor in bail decisions. 

    By Bill Gibbons March 08, 2024

• June 2023

  • Opinion: In setting bail, follow the law and be transparent

    “Different parts of the criminal justice system tend to operate in silos, and so an easily accessible, easy to understand, transparent reporting system will require the cooperation of many different parties. The public deserves it.”

    By Bill Gibbons June 12, 2023

• May 2023

  • Letter to the Editor: Bail reform will work only if the process is transparent

    “Everyone wants the same thing — a just process for the accused and a safe city. But the truth is the public does not know if judges are being too lenient or even who they are. We need a centralized source of data where everyone can access the same information.”

    By Letters to the Editor May 21, 2023

  • Opinion: For a safer Memphis, bail reform is the right solution

    “Loud and powerful opponents of progress, such as Mayor Jim Strickland, have wrongly claimed that Shelby County’s pretrial policies undermine public safety. There is no data behind his claims.”

    By Josh Spickler, Insha Rahman May 18, 2023

  • Letter to the Editor: Bail reform is not causing more crime

    “Blaming ‘bail reform’ is a political talking point — a red herring — that does nothing to address the problem. We can do better.”

    By Letters to the Editor May 17, 2023

  • Opinion: Bail reform is a disaster, needs to be reversed

    “The DA and our county commissioners need to stand up for the law-abiding people of Memphis and do whatever it takes to reverse this disastrous bail-reform policy.”

    By Leigh Ann Roman May 16, 2023

  • County Commission calls on judges to enact new release restrictions early

    The new state law requiring elected judges to make decisions about releasing defendants accused of violent felonies takes effect July 1. The County Commission is asking General Sessions judges to start doing that immediately.

    By Bill Dries May 16, 2023

• April 2023

  • Bail limit bill awaits Lee’s signature

    The bill requires trial court and general sessions court judges to set bail for certain violent felonies. 

    By Bill Dries April 18, 2023

• November 2022

  • Local, national leaders discuss bail reform, overpolicing

    The discussion was hosted by Ben Crump, the civil rights attorney who has represented the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin and Ahmaud Arbery, one day before the midterm elections.

    By Julia Baker November 09, 2022