TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Oct 28, 2024

The Shelby County Sheriff's Office and Shelby County Juvenile Court remain locked in a dispute over who is responsible for operating the Youth Justice and Education Center. Earlier this month, the court was scheduled to resume in-person hearings at its downtown location but days before the switch, an attorney for the sheriff's office said the office would not transport youth from the detention center to the hearings. According to the Daily Memphian, the letter comes after months of disputes between the two entities about which one should operate the center. Both maintain the other is legally obligated to manage the facility. The paper also reports that Shelby County Commissioner Henri Brooks wants to find funding to solve the transportation issue without impacting either organization's budget, and would seek help from the U.S. Justice Department if necessary. She also expressed concerns about due process issues with the court, such as  inadequate access to attorneys in confidential settings and lack of probation conferences.