TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Apr 8, 2022

Shelby County commissioners recently approved adding $10.9 million to the budget for renovating the former Shelby Training Center for the new Youth Justice and Education Center, which will house a courtroom, educational classrooms, gymnasium and detention facilities. That brings total funding for the project to $28 million, the Commercial Appeal reports. But some are concerned that the design of the building prioritizes incarceration over rehabilitation, News 5 reports. The current juvenile detention facility at 616 Adams has long drawn negative attention. A 2017 report noted that not all cells have natural light and that none are ADA accessible. Poor air conditioning and consistent mechanical problems also have caused issues over the years.