TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Jan 29, 2025

An agreement to temporarily transfer administration of Shelby County's juvenile detention center from the sheriff's office is awaiting approval from Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr., The Daily Memphian reports. According to Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, if the sheriff agrees, the county corrections division and mayor’s office would take over operations on an interim basis, subject to the Juvenile Court judge’s authority. This would include transporting minors for court hearings and providing training for correction guards transitioning from handling adult prisoners to managing juvenile detainees. The agreement would end a court dispute stemming from Bonner’s 2024 announcement that he would cease operating the Youth Justice and Education Center and stop transporting juveniles to court for hearings. In response, Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon filed two lawsuits against Bonner.