The Permanent Record

When someone dies in jail, the system that failed them is often the same one investigating the failure. As part of our Make Them Known campaign remembering the now 70 people who died in the Shelby County Jail since 2018, this episode considers what accountability could look like when someone dies in custody. We spoke with Andrea Armstrong, a 2023 MacArthur Fellow and professor of law at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, whose Incarceration Transparency Project has documented deaths in custody across Louisiana since 2019.Our Executive Director Josh Spickler talked with Andrea about what her research shows, why deaths in custody are undercounted, and what Memphis and Shelby County can do to bring transparency to the process. They also discussed why a new jail won’t save lives on its own, and what families like Linda Franks’s have taught her about building community and demanding better.

In early August of 2026, Just City launched a campaign to remember and honor the 68 people who died in the Shelby County Jail since 2018. We wanted to tell their stories and make them known to the community. So, we went to one of the finest storytellers we know - Scott Hechinger, former public defender and principle of Zealous, an award winning advocacy, media, and education initiative. With Zealous' help, we launched Make Them Known, a living memorial to those we lost.We wanted to go deeper with Scott, so our Communications and Advocacy Manager Laramie Wheeler talked to him about the importance of good storytelling, why he wanted to work with Just City, and, of course, Paw Patrol.

Judge David Pool is a fifth generation Memphian, but his pathway to becoming a state criminal court judge was a little out of the ordinary. As a touring musician, he took to the highways of America, and as beloved music teacher, he roamed the hallways of a local high school, inspiring another generation of musicians. In his latest chapter, he presides over Shelby County Criminal Court, Division VI, where, perhaps unsurprisingly given his past, his demeanor and courtroom presence set him apart. This interview will help you understand why.Oh, and you can still catch him playing live music with his band, Risky Whiskey Boys!

Emily Galvin Almanza is a former public defender and the co-founder and executive director of Partners for Justice and the author of the new book The Price of Mercy: Unfair Trials, a Violent System, and a Public Defender's Search for Justice in America. She was in Memphis recently to promote her book and meet with our local public defenders. We spoke to Emily as part of a book talk at Novel, the East Memphis bookstore.

In advance of the upcoming county elections, we sat down with each of the seven candidates for Shelby County Sheriff to ask questions about the jail, immigration enforcement, and public safety. Here is our final episode in that series, a conversation with Anthony Buckner. Be sure to listen to the other candidate interviews and then vote.Early voting ends April 30th and Election Day is May 5th!

In advance of the upcoming county elections, we sat down with each of the seven candidates for Shelby County Sheriff to ask questions about the jail, immigration enforcement, and public safety. Here is our sixth episode in that series, a conversation with Ricky Pollard. Be sure and check this feed before you vote; we'll post all seven interviews in the coming days.Early voting ends April 30th and Election Day is May 5th!

In advance of the upcoming county elections, we sat down with each of the seven candidates for Shelby County Sheriff to ask questions about the jail, immigration enforcement, and public safety. Here is our fifth episode in that series, a conversation with MarcoYzaguirre. Be sure and check this feed before you vote; we'll post all seven interviews in the coming days.Early voting ends April 30th and Election Day is May 5th!

In advance of the upcoming county elections, we sat down with each of the seven candidates for Shelby County Sheriff to ask questions about the jail, immigration enforcement, and public safety. Here is our fourth episode in that series, a conversation with Michael Pope. Be sure and check this feed before you vote; we'll post all seven interviews in the coming days.Early voting ends April 30th and Election Day is May 5th!

In advance of the upcoming county elections, we sat down with each of the seven candidates for Shelby County Sheriff to ask questions about the jail, immigration enforcement, and public safety. Here is our third episode in that series, a conversation with Keisha Scott. Be sure and check this feed before you vote; we'll post all seven interviews in the coming days.Early voting ends April 30th and Election Day is May 5th!

In advance of the upcoming county elections, we sat down with each of the seven candidates for Shelby County Sheriff to ask questions about the jail, immigration enforcement, and public safety. Here is our second episode in that series, a conversation with Brad Less. Listen to each interview and get out and vote!Early voting ends April 30th and Election Day is May 5th.