Behind the Headlines Podcast · WKNO/The Daily Memphian

1639: Changes to county juvenile detention include uniforms and toothbrushes

·32 min·3 clips

Host Eric Barnes introduces Shelby County's juvenile justice leaders to discuss detention changes.

This episode of Behind the Headlines examines recent changes to the juvenile justice system in Memphis and Shelby County. Host Eric Barnes of The Daily Memphian is joined by Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Tarek Sugarman and Anthony Alexander, Director of the Shelby County Division of Corrections. Reporter Bill Dries also contributes to the discussion. The conversation centers on the Uke Justice and Education Center, a juvenile detention facility that came under the Division of Corrections' management in October of the previous year. Anthony Alexander clarifies that his division houses state felons sentenced to one to six years, holds a contract with the U.S. Marshal Service, and manages misdemeanants and a reentry office. Judge Sugarman details the specific population at the Uke Center, which holds youth aged 16 to 19 who are being tried as adults for serious offenses like murder, rape, and aggravated robbery. The episode explores the rationale for transferring the Uke Center from the Juvenile Court's administration to the Division of Corrections. Sugarman explains this move was intended to provide a more secure environment and better access to educational and rehabilitative programming for these older teens. Alexander describes the facility's focus on education, offering a full school day with certified teachers and vocational training in fields like horticulture and culinary arts. A significant portion of the discussion addresses the challenges of staffing the facility with qualified correctional officers who are also trained to work with adolescents. Alexander notes the county has increased pay scales to be more competitive and is implementing specialized adolescent development training for staff. The hosts and guests compare the new model to the previous one, where the Juvenile Court directly operated the detention center for younger children. Judge Sugarman emphasizes that the Uke Center's population is distinct, consisting solely of youth certified to be tried as adults, not the general juvenile detainee population. The episode notes that this administrative change was a collaborative decision between the Juvenile Court and the county mayor's office. Bill Dries likely provides journalistic context on the history and scrutiny of Shelby County's juvenile justice system. The most interesting insights involve the operational details of housing this unique demographic. The focus on providing a structured school day within a secure corrections setting is presented as a key improvement. The discussion reveals the complexities of blending a corrections environment with age-appropriate adolescent programming and security. The episode's tone is informational and conversational, structured as a panel interview between a journalist and public officials. The style is focused on explaining governmental restructuring and its intended outcomes for a local audience. Listeners interested in local Memphis governance, criminal justice reform, and juvenile detention practices would find this episode valuable. Those seeking national policy debates or narrative storytelling might find the discussion too locally focused and administrative.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Behind the Headlines Podcast