There are 32 article(s) tagged criminal justice:

• February 2025

  • Former Memphis woman named Trump’s ‘pardon czar’

    Former Memphian Alice Marie Johnson, who spent 21 years in prison for drug trafficking before being released in 2018, has been named the new presidential administration’s “pardon czar.”

    By Jody Callahan February 21, 2025

• October 2024

  • Alleged drag racer in fatal case arrested on Little Rock warrant

    Although deemed incompetent in Memphis, Cordero Ragland will be extradited to Little Rock for his alleged role in a mass nightclub shooting. 

    By Jody Callahan October 17, 2024

• January 2024

  • Former officer accused in Tyre Nichols’ death wants trial outside of Memphis

    No attorneys for the officers have yet filed requests to have separate federal trials, so it’s unclear if this motion would apply to all of them if granted.

    By Aarron Fleming January 18, 2024

  • The Department of Justice releases a guide for specialized police units

    The guide was written as part of a review from the U.S. DOJ Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office, which was requested by the City of Memphis and the Memphis Police Department.

    By Julia Baker January 11, 2024

• December 2023

  • Suspended judge pleads not guilty in criminal court

    Suspended Shelby County Criminal Court Division 9 Judge Melissa Boyd’s attorneys say the allegations against her are an “intentional political move.” 

    By Julia Baker December 21, 2023

• October 2023

  • Memphis Tigers signee Mikey Williams to face additional felony charges

    Williams, a four-star signee in the Tigers’ 2023 class, now faces a total of nine felony charges in relation to the March 27 shooting outside his home.

    By Parth Upadhyaya October 25, 2023

  • Prosecutors push court to block use of allegations about Tyre Nichols

    Federal prosecutors want to block the use of references to Tyre Nichols’ alleged “bad” character and conduct by defense counsel for the officers accused of beating him to death in pretrial motions and during trial.

    By Aarron Fleming October 20, 2023

• August 2023

  • Man charged in ambulance theft; pedestrian critically injured

    At least two others suffered lesser injuries when their vehicles were struck by a Crittenden EMS vehicle that was stolen outside Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. The suspect is in custody.

    By Julia Baker August 11, 2023

• June 2023

  • Local, state officials take ‘hard look’ at Memphis criminal justice system

    Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright and state Sen. Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) both have pushed legislation to address bail, bail hearings, trial backlogs and more.

    By Julia Baker June 02, 2023

• May 2023

  • Memphis Police Department lieutenant accused of rape pleads guilty

    He has been out on bond since Nov. 14, 2019, the day he was booked.

    By Julia Baker May 17, 2023

• January 2023

  • Four of five officers fired after Tyre Nichols’ death had previous infractions

    An analysis of the personnel records of the five officers included mainly procedural violations, car accidents and accidental damage of department equipment for four of the officers.

    By Julia Baker January 31, 2023

• August 2021

  • Local charter school network ends expulsions, police presence

    Frayser Community Schools officials are hoping a new initiative will create a better atmosphere leading to higher academic performances this year when students fully resume in-person learning.

    By Omer Yusuf August 04, 2021

• May 2021

  • State GOP aims to reform criminal justice system

    Tennessee jails people at a higher rate than average, but hasn’t seen results in reducing crime or recidivism. Republicans have responded with reforms they argue will lead states to save money and keep people out of jail who don’t need to be there.

    By Ian Round May 19, 2021

• April 2021

  • Opinion: The Chauvin verdict is about more than one bad cop

    Derek Chauvin’s conviction should continue the reckoning on race that started after Floyd’s murder shocked the world 11 months ago. A reckoning we have longed for since the night Thomas Moss and his companions were taken out and lynched in Memphis.

    By Otis Sanford April 21, 2021

  • Ex-Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin found guilty on all charges

    The jury reached its verdict on the George Floyd case Tuesday after deliberating about 10 hours over two days in a city on edge against another outbreak of unrest.

    Related story:

    Local activists react with tears of joy to guilty verdict in Minneapolis trial

    By The Associated Press April 20, 2021

  • Local activists react with tears of joy to guilty verdict in Minneapolis trial

    Local activists shed tears of joy after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted on murder and manslaughter charges in the death of George Floyd. 

    Related story:

    Ex-Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin found guilty on all charges

    By Yolanda Jones April 20, 2021

• August 2019

  • Latoshia Daniels arraignment reset due to financial trouble

    Latoshia Daniels appeared in court for arraignment Wednesday on a homicide charge, but the arraignment was postponed due to financial issues. Daniels is accused of killing Brodes Perry, a pastor at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church.

    By Abigail Warren August 21, 2019

  • Movie, panel discussion highlight flaws of criminal justice system

    A panel discussion and viewing of the film "Brian Banks" gave young people a lesson in how the criminal justice system works and how they interact with it.

    By Linda A. Moore August 15, 2019

• July 2019

  • Latoshia Daniels reports to court following indictment

    Latoshia Daniels reported to Shelby County Criminal Justice Center Thursday. She reported for assaulting and fleeing from officers after allegedly killing Brodes Perry, Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church executive pastor.

    By Abigail Warren July 18, 2019

• June 2019

  • County Commissioners back resolution to decriminalize small amounts of pot

    Commissioners Mickell Lowery and Tami Sawyer proposed the resolution because they believe criminalizing low-level marijuana offenses has significantly contributed the county’s jail population of more than 2,300.

    By Omer Yusuf June 10, 2019

• May 2019

  • Commissioners continue push for more SkyCop camera funding

    County Mayor Lee Harris' budget proposal contains funding for 130 new SkyCop cameras, fewer than half the commission's request of 325 SkyCop cameras. 

    By Omer Yusuf May 19, 2019

  • A RELUCTANCE TO RECORD

    An investigation by the Institute for Public Service Reporting at the University of Memphis reveals MPD is a prominent outlier in a national movement among police departments to fully record the questioning of suspects during homicide investigations, making its detectives frequent targets for allegations of impropriety.

    By Marc Perrusquia May 17, 2019

• April 2019

  • Harris proposes creation of technology startup fund

    Mayor Lee Harris' $1.3 billion budget proposal includes funding for a new tech startup fund, raises for county employees and one of the county's largest investments in prekindergarten. 

    By Omer Yusuf April 30, 2019

  • New chief public defender’s vision built around ‘client-centered representation’

    Phyllis Aluko is the first woman to lead the Shelby County Public Defender's Office in its 102-year history. She was sworn in Tuesday.

    By Omer Yusuf April 16, 2019

  • Shelby County adds a third grand jury to reduce case backlog, jail wait times

    Shelby County has added a third grand jury in hopes of reducing the length of time defendants wait in jail while also whittling down the case backlog.

    By Omer Yusuf and Yolanda Jones April 03, 2019