Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris has signed a resolution blocking the construction of a new jail in the New Chicago neighborhood of North Memphis. According to Local Memphis, Harris announced on X that the community prefers investments in education, youth opportunities, and blight reduction over new incarceration facilities.
I'm proud to sign a resolution removing the New Chicago neighborhood from becoming the location for a new jail. Communities don't want jails, they want investments in education, opportunities for youth, and progress on blight. Thank you to the New Chicago residents for making… pic.twitter.com/EhKg3PJLBJ
— Mayor Lee Harris (@MayorLeeHarris) September 22, 2025
Action News 5 reported that the decision followed an 8-3 vote by the Shelby County Commission against the proposal. Commissioners Henri E. Brooks, Erika Sugarmon, and Britney Thornton sponsored the resolution after significant local opposition to moving the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center to the old Firestone Plant site. Former city councilman Kemp Conrad had supported the move, promoting its potential for economic revitalization.
FOX13 Memphis noted that protests from residents underscored the community’s rejection of the proposed location. The resolution reflects a broader debate over criminal justice infrastructure and its impact on neighborhoods. The old Firestone Plant site, just three miles from the current Criminal Justice Center, had been presented as a candidate for development but met with public pushback and has now been removed from consideration.
