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Last week, I discussed that we have a jail overcrowding problem at the Shelby County Jail. The Jail has 2900 people in a facility with a normal capacity of 2500. The jail population has been rising for over a year now. All agree that the situation is unacceptable.
I mentioned several different causes of this problem. The first is the fact that the state prison authority takes too long to pick up inmates who have been convicted of a crime and are set to be sent off to state prison. (Most Jail detainees are awaiting trial and haven’t been convicted of anything, but there are some who have been convicted and are awaiting transfer to state prison.) I noted that I had a proposed legislative fix to this problem which I would discuss in an upcoming newsletter.
Currently, the State has to reimburse the County only approximately $40 per day per inmate for such prisoners, even though the actual cost to the County is closer to about $100 per day. The State is in effect getting a bargain at the expense of the County.
I have been working with State Rep. John Gillespie on legislation to address this problem. The idea is to provide that once the County notifies the State that a prisoner is ready for transport, there is a deadline of __ days (which could be worked out to be 30, 60, or 90 days) for the State to retrieve the prisoner. For every day past the deadline that the County has to house the prisoner, the State Department of Corrections (TDOC) must reimburse the County at the full rate, not the discounted rate.
This will incentivize the State to expedite prisoner pickups to alleviate the Jail overcrowding problem. But it is flexible. There may be times when TDOC is unable to transfer a prisoner, perhaps because it is concerned about its own overcrowding. This proposed law would not force the TDOC’s hand. Rather, it would say that after a reasonable period of time, the County is entitled to full reimbursement for housing State prisoners.
This will not by itself entirely remedy the Jail’s overcrowding problem. As I mentioned in last week’s newsletter, we must also address (a) long delays in processing new arrestees as part of “jail intake”; (b) delays in court regarding resolving cases; and (c) the presence of at least some nonviolent persons stuck with unaffordable bail that do not belong in jail. But it is a good start.
The current situation isn’t fair to the Sheriff or the County. Nor is it fair to persons housed in the Jail, especially persons who have not been convicted of any crime and are waiting for their day in court under unpleasant and overcrowded conditions. We can do better.
Court Finds Probable Cause Following Hearing On Trio Charged with Especially Aggravated Robbery: Following a successful argument by our office at a July 25 preliminary hearing, the court held Ayed Khawaf, Hmaida Saleh, and Said Awad to state on charges stemming from a violent robbery. Awad was also held to the additional charge of Aggravated Assault.
Bond is set at $250,000 for Saleh, $500,000 for Khawaf, and $350,000 for Awad.
Two out-of-state victims traveled to testify during the hearing, describing how the defendants pistol-whipped and assaulted one victim, and shot the other in the leg.
Assistant District Attorney Cody Tolbert handled the hearing.
Shelby County Jury Convicts Man of Aggravated Rape and Kidnapping: A Shelby County jury swiftly returned a guilty verdict against 38-year-old Dontel Morgan, convicting him of two counts of Aggravated Rape and two counts of Aggravated Kidnapping after a brutal assault involving both a knife and a handgun. The verdict followed a three-day trial and came after a successful prosecution led by Assistant District Attorneys Dru Carpenter and Nicole Germain.
The case centered on a violent attack in which Morgan approached a woman with a knife, dragged her while threatening to harm her, and ran the blade across her back when she screamed. He then forced her into a secluded area, pulled out a handgun, and raped her after demanding she perform sexual acts.
Morgan will be sentenced at a later date.
Assistant District Attorneys Dru Carpenter and Nicole Germain handled the case.
Court Finds Probable Cause on Attempted Murder Charge in American Deli Shooting: After a successful argument by our office, the court found probable cause to hold Malik Wills on charges of Criminal Attempt: Second Degree Murder and Employing a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony, stemming from a June 19 shooting at American Deli.
Following the preliminary hearing in General Sessions Court, the state also moved to increase Wills’s bond. The court granted the request, raising bond from $400,000 to $1,000,000. Assistant District Attorney Bill Hill handled the matter for the state.
The victim testified that while picking up a DoorDash order inside the business, Wills pulled a handgun and fired at him, striking him approximately twice. Surveillance video capturing the incident was shown in court during the hearing.
Assistant District Attorney Bill Hill handled the hearing.
DA Mulroy Visits MPD Training Academy
 Last week, District Attorney Steve Mulroy toured the Memphis Police Department Training Academy, where he also spent time at the department’s firing range.
DA Mulroy Attends Tennessee Business Forum at FedEx Forum
 District Attorney Mulroy attended the Tennessee Business Forum, hosted by the Tennessee Business Association at the FedEx Forum. The event brought together business and political leaders from across West Tennessee. Pictured here with Adam Christopher of AutoZone.
Shelby County DA’s Office Partners for Annual School Supply Drive
 The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office has partnered with the National Black Prosecutors Association for the annual “Classroom and School Supply Drive.” This ongoing initiative aims to support students and educators in under-resourced communities. This year, donations will benefit the scholars and teachers of Springdale-Memphis Magnet School, continuing a valued partnership that helps create a stronger foundation for learning.
Assistant District Attorneys Present Seminar on Financial Crimes Targeting the Elderly at Pickering Center
Assistant District Attorneys Jack Gould and Dan Buchanan recently spoke at the Pickering Center on the growing threat of financial crimes targeting the elderly. Their seminar shed light on current trends, prevention strategies, and the importance of community awareness in protecting our most vulnerable citizens. Thank you to The Bank of Fayette County for supporting this event.
 DA Mulroy attended the University of Memphis Law School retirement reception for Dean of Admissions Sue Ann McClellan, who requested a farewell limerick to mark the occasion.
Mulroy said two of the top reasons for the issue are delays by the state Department of Corrections picking up convicted inmates slated for transfer to state prison; and the need to speed up the time cases take in court. The DA said while many consider a new jail the solution to the problem, he said that's not a quick fix and more viable short-term options are needed.|201 Poplar continues to suffer from intake issues| via FOX13
A man was found guilty by a jury Monday, 11 years after a violent attack on a woman in 2014. Dontel Morgan, 38, was found guilty of two counts of Aggravated Rape and two counts of Aggravated Kidnapping, the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office said. |Jury convicts man on 2014 rape charges| via WREG3
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy asked the TBI to investigate the circumstances leading to McDaniel's death. No cause of death was immediately available, and the TBI said that an autopsy was being performed on McDaniel. |Shelby County Jail inmate dies, TBI says| via FOX13
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