Shelby County is moving toward a new phase in its approach to juvenile justice as the county government steps in to operate the Youth Justice and Education Center (YJEC). According to a news release from Mayor Lee Harris' office, obtained by FOX13, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with the Juvenile Court of Memphis to facilitate this transition from the Shelby County Sheriff's Office to the county government.
The memorandum, as reported by Action News 5, puts the YJEC operations under the jurisdiction of Mayor Harris’s Administration through its Division of Corrections. This comes after Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. expressed a need to redistribute deputies due to "challenges regarding staffing," specifically aiming to get them out of the justice center and back into adult jails, as per a report by Local Memphis.
Already named as Interim Executive Director, Reese Walker will spearhead the YJEC's day-to-day responsibilities. As noted by Local Memphis, these duties include not only transporting youth to and from court hearings, but also rolling out programming aligned with the current laws and policies, as well as securing the well-being of the youth, staff, and visitors at the center.
With the full transition penned for October 1, 2025, Mayor Harris is invested in the mission of offering these youths a chance "to rewrite their story." As mentioned by Action News 5, the Mayor emphatically stated, "This isn’t just about policies or procedures—it’s about people." Past reports have criticized the youth center for barring parental visits and not meeting educational standards, leading to demands from community leaders for a better treatment of the incarcerated youth. Amidst these challenges, the agreement signals a collaborative effort to revamp the youth justice system, emphasizing the treatment and support necessary for the youth to alter their life trajectories.
As forthcoming budget approvals from the Shelby County Board of Commissioners are awaited, Judge Tarik Sugarmon hailed the agreement, telling Local Memphis, "This agreement represents a unified commitment to the well-being of the youth in our care." All parties involved look forward to the potential positive outcomes this administrative change promises for the youth and families of Shelby County.
