Shelby County steps onto a new path as Mayor Lee Harris taps Reese Walker for the interim lead at the Youth Justice and Education Center (YJEC), as confirmed by an official county statement. With 28 years of experience in corrections administration and programs, Walker is set to guide the shift in oversight from the Shelby County Sheriff's Office to the Mayor's Administration, a process aimed for completion by October 2025.
As highlighted in the county announcement, Walker, who began his tenure in 1997 as a Detention Officer at the Memphis & Shelby County Juvenile Court, has contributed to the county's correctional landscape through roles such as overseeing job training and mental health services, however, his recent initiative coordinating a successful COVID-19 vaccination drive among inmates notably pushed the facility's vaccination rates past local averages. Transitioning into his new role aligns with the collective efforts of Mayor Harris and Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon to bring about an evolution in youth detention management, focusing on rehabilitation and community integration.
Endorsements for Walker's appointment abound: Mayor Harris stated, "Through his steadfast work in improving the lives of our Corrections’ population, and in turn our community as a whole, Director Walker has earned the respect of his peers, supervisors, and inmates," and Sugarmon expressed optimism about Walker's impact on the center, conveying his belief in a "brighter course" for the youth and their education. Further backing comes from Shelby County Division of Corrections Director Anthony Alexander, who views Walker as a driving force for programming that will challenge the cycles that youths find themselves trapped in.
Walker himself embraces the weight of his interim position, noting, "Youth detention must be approached not just as a response to behavior, but as a critical part of our community's overall success," recognizing the larger societal implications of his undertakings, in his new capacity, Walker promises a dedication to empowering young individuals for the betterment of the Shelby County community, both during the transition process and thereafter, this should inject new methods and much-needed hope into the system aiming to reform wayward youth.
