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 PoplarThank you for reading The Daily Memphian. Your support is critical.
Did you know we are a 501(c)3 nonprofit news organization? We rely on a mix of revenue from subscriptions (50%), advertising, events and other earned income (25%) and fundraising (25%).
Please consider making a fully tax-deductible donation or other contribution to The Daily Memphian today.
👉🏽 Your subscription pays for you to read all our journalism.
👉🏽 Your donation powers the work we do to reach everyone else with the news.
We believe an informed Memphis is a better Memphis. If you agree, join our growing list of donors now.
Aarron Fleming
Once an intern, he never left, joining the staff full-time in 2022 as an education reporter. He moved to public safety in 2023, where he covered some of the city’s biggest court cases, including the criminal trials for those charged in the deaths of Tyré Nichols and rapper Young Dolph. He also chronicled the Shelby County Jail and the deaths that have occurred at the facility.
He now provides suburban coverage, focusing on Desoto County and the surrounding municipalities.
Public Safety on demand
Sign up to receive Public Safety stories as they’re published.
Enter your e-mail address
Comments
Want to comment on our stories? If you’re a subscriber, scroll down to the comments. If you’re not a subscriber, only paid subscribers can add their thoughts, so subscribe now. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.