201 Poplar more crowded since Memphis Safe Task Force
It’s unclear how the additional Memphis Safe Task Force arrests have affected booking and processing time at the jail, something the facility has also struggled with historically. (Courtesy Shelby County Sheriff’s Office)
Law enforcement officers and federal agents have made hundreds of arrests in the city since the launch of the Memphis Safe Task Force at the tail end of last month.
But those arrests have also caused an increase in the number of inmates at the Shelby County Jail, also known as 201 Poplar, exacerbating long-standing overcrowding issues at the facility.
Documents obtained by The Daily Memphian show that on Oct. 1, the jail population was 2,643 at its lowest count that day. As of Thursday afternoon, Oct. 16, there were 2,911 people booked into the jail, according to a spokesperson for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, representing an increase of about 10%. The jail’s population fluctuates throughout the day.
In September, the average daily population was 2,804, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The jail’s stated capacity is 2,400 inmates.
This is an excerpt of this story. To read more, please click here and subscribe.
Topics
Subscriber Only Shelby County Jail 201 PoplarAre you enjoying your subscription?
Your subscription gives you unlimited access to all of The Daily Memphian’s news, written by nearly 40 local journalists and more than 20 regular freelancers. We work around the clock to cover the issues that impact your life and our community.
You can help us reach more Memphians.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we provide free news access at K-12 schools, public libraries and many community organizations. We also reach tens of thousands of people through our podcasts, and through our radio and television partnerships – all completely free to everyone who cares about Memphis.
When you subscribe, you get full access to our news. But when you donate, you help us reach all Memphians.
Pay it forward. Make a fully tax-deductible donation to The Daily Memphian today.
Thank you for reading the local news. Thank you for investing in our community.
Aarron Fleming
Aarron Fleming covers public safety for The Daily Memphian, focusing on crime and the local court system. He earned his bachelor’s in journalism and strategic media from the University of Memphis.
Public Safety on demand
Sign up to receive Public Safety stories as they’re published.
Enter your e-mail address
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.