MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Shelby County bail practices are leading to higher bonds and fewer charge reductions, according to a report from the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, a spokesperson announced Thursday.
Lt. Gov. Randy McNally sent a letter on February 28, 2024, asking the comptroller and the Administrative Office of the Courts investigate Shelby County’s criminal justice system, expressing concerns about the following:
- The length of time it takes to dispose of cases.
- The number of career criminals committing additional crimes while awaiting case disposition.
- The apparent discrepancy between the charges at arrest and the charges for which defendants are prosecuted.
- The final disposition of cases not meting out proportional judgment, resulting in an overall lack of deterrent to crime.
The March report — resulting from an investigation by the Office of Research and Education Accountability (OREA) — examined bail reform and charge reductions in the state’s largest counties, finding that in Shelby County’s bond amounts have exceeded Nashville while its percentage of reduced charges decreased.
Felony charges filed in Shelby County between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2024, were analyzed, comparing the charges to felony charges filed in the 10 other most populated counties in Tennessee within the same time period, according to the report, which noted that “OREA analyzed charges that were initially filed as a felony because felony charges move through both General Sessions Court and Criminal Court, allowing the functions of both courts to be considered.” OREA officials also interviewed more than 70 individuals, spent over 100 hours at the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center to conduct research and observe court proceedings, and examined datasets from at least 22 state and local entities…