TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Jun 23, 2025

The Shelby County Division of Corrections and the mayor's office will take over operations of the Youth Justice and Education Center, where children charged with crimes are detained, by October. In a press release last week, the mayor's office confirmed the change and announced the appointment of Reese Walker to oversee the center on an interim basis. The Commercial Appeal reports that Walker has worked in corrections for 28 years, previously serving as administrator of program services at the Shelby County Division of Corrections. The move comes more than six months after the plan to transfer oversight from the Shelby County Sheriff's Office was announced. Months after the facility opened, the sheriff's office said it could no longer operate the center.