Court Watch
See how trained volunteers observe proceedings and document what happens in court.
How Court Watch works →ACCOUNTABILITY • TRANSPARENCY • DATA
A MORE TRANSPARENT
& SAFE MEMPHIS.
We work to reduce crime in Memphis by promoting transparency and accountability throughout the criminal justice system, identifying inefficiencies and delays, and highlighting opportunities to improve how the system operates.
WHAT WE DO
THREE WAYS WE
WORK FOR MEMPHIS.
Data Analysis
Explore court, crime, long-running case, jail, and disposition information in plain language.
Explore the data hub →Community Engagement
Learn, volunteer, attend meetings, and connect with Memphis Crime Beat.
See Community Engagement →OUR FRAMEWORK
Follow a crime from
offense to outcome.
Memphis Crime Beat studies the full path of a crime—from the moment it is committed through reporting, arrest, bail, prosecution, case result, sentence, rehabilitation, and the possibility of reoffending.
Follow the system from beginning to end.
The flowchart is the backbone of how we organize our research. On the dedicated page, visitors can connect stages of the process to the data Memphis Crime Beat tracks.
Explore Life of a Crime →MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Become a Court Watcher.
Getting involved is simple. We'll prepare you before your first day in court.
- 01GET STARTEDTell us you're interested in becoming a Court Watch volunteer.
- 02GET TRAINEDComplete a brief introduction and training so you know what to expect and what to observe.
- 03GO TO COURTJoin an experienced Court Watcher for your first visit and begin observing the system firsthand.
WHY THIS WORK MATTERS
INFORMATION
WITHOUT CONTEXT
ISN'T ENOUGH.
Crime and the criminal justice system affect the entire Memphis community, but understanding what happens from arrest through case resolution isn’t always easy. Memphis Crime Beat works to make that information more accessible through court observation, data analysis, and public reporting—giving residents a clearer picture of how the system operates.
TransparencyMaking information about crime and the criminal justice system more accessible.
AccountabilityHelping the public understand how cases move through the system and what outcomes occur.
Community AwarenessGiving residents factual information they can use to form their own opinions.
DATA & REPORTS
THE NUMBERS
BEHIND THE SYSTEM.
Each section explains what the information means before showing you the numbers.
MPD Crime Stats
Reported Memphis crime trends and categories.
Explore →TBI Crime Stats
Offense and clearance-rate information from TBI.
Explore →Crime Rates by City
Put Memphis trends in context with other cities.
Explore →MSTF
Memphis Safe Task Force case filings and warrants served.
Explore →Jail Stats
Jail population, booking time and recidivism measures.
Explore →Court Stats
Criminal Court dispositions and court-system analysis.
Explore →OUR PARTNERS
Working together
for Memphis.
Organizations that support Memphis Crime Beat and help strengthen community access, engagement, and our work across Memphis.
Premium ParkingCommunity Partner
THE100CLUB of Memphis
The 100 Club of MemphisCommunity Partner
SafewaysCommunity Partner
A Better WhitehavenCommunity Partner
We are grateful for the organizations that help expand the reach and impact of Memphis Crime Beat.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Tyler Daniels
Program Manager (901) 326-6686
Questions about volunteering, training, scheduling, or what to expect during your first Court Watch session? Reach out directly.
Join Our Email List
Receive Memphis Crime Beat reports, case highlights, volunteer news, and organization updates.