Disrepair of Elevators at Shelby County Jail Raises Safety Concerns - Articles

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Posted by: Azya Thornton on Sep 4, 2024

The elevators at the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center are in a state of disrepair, causing significant inconvenience and safety concerns for employees, visitors and inmates, the Daily Memphian reports. The county plans to replace the elevators, but construction is years away. In the meantime, the paper reports that workers in the building have expressed frustration and concern over the ongoing issues, including the risk of violence when inmates must be escorted through public hallways due to malfunctioning elevators. Earlier this year, Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies relocated inmates after a power surge broke cell locks at the jail. In related news, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is asking the Shelby County Board of Commissioners for $15.5 million for “emergency” jail repairs. That request is set to be considered at the commission's meeting on Monday.