MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – Black defendants made up nearly 90% of misdemeanor drug cases entering the Shelby County criminal justice system in May, according to new data from the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office.
These findings come as part of the DA Office’s public analysis using Prosecutorial Performance Indicators, or PPI. This term is similar to KPIs, or key performance indicators. They are standardized metrics that help measure case outcomes, identify patterns, and evaluate results.
These metrics are used to examine how the outcomes differ across racial or ethnic lines. The data points included in this set are: those who enter the system, those who receive reduced charges through plea agreements, and those who receive diversion…