Sheriff’s office to pull out of juvenile lockup, but date is in disagreement

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office says it plans to pull its personnel out of the Juvenile Court’s Youth Education center at the end of this year and relocate them to the county’s adult jails.

But Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon says he doesn’t think the process will happen in 2024.

“We are committed to working closely with the Sheriff’s Department to chart the way forward. However, given the intricate nature of the transition process, we do not anticipate its completion in 2024,” Sugarmon said Wednesday in a statement released to media.

The sheriff’s office agreed to provide support to the Juvenile Court facility in 2015, as Juvenile Court came under scrutiny from the Department of Justice.

In-person visitation to resume for youth inmates in Shelby County

Sheriff Floyd Bonner says that agreement was never formalized — just a “hand-shake” agreement — and those jailers are now needed more at the county’s adult jail facilities, which Bonner’s office is required by state law to staff.

“Like many law enforcement agencies across the nation, SCSO faces challenges regarding staffing,” Bonner wrote in a letter to Sugarmon. “Relocating our youth facilities personnel to adult facilities will support the community’s needs more efficiently in a fiscally prudent manner.”

TN bill would make parents pay for juvenile crime

In a letter sent to county and school district officials this week, Bonner said the deadline to end the agreement with Juvenile Court was Dec. 31, 2024.

Bonner assured Sugarmon he would not pull staff out of the juvenile facility until Sugarmon’s office could find and train new staff.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.