500 days in jail: Shelby County routinely keeps people locked up, without trial, for more than a year
On any given day, the Shelby County Justice Center at 201 Poplar houses roughly 2,000 people. (The Daily Memphian file)
Despite the U.S. Constitution’s sixth amendment guaranteeing a right to a speedy trial, Shelby County’s legal system can leave defendants in limbo for years. And it comes at a cost of millions and millions of dollars.
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Ben Wheeler
Ben Wheeler is an investigative reporter and is a member of The Daily Memphian’s public safety reporting team. He previously worked at the Yankton Daily Press and Dakotan and Herald-Citizen.
Shera Avi-Yonah
Shera Avi-Yonah is an enterprise freelance intern for The Daily Memphian. She has previously reported for Bloomberg News and the American Prospect.
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