A look inside the Shelby County Juvenile Detention Center shows the human side of controversy
Officer James Bass returns a couple kids to their bunk area at the Shelby County Juvenile Detention Center on Jan. 18, 2019. The detention center, housed in the county's Juvenile Court building, is getting attention again after Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris announced he is making the construction of a new $25 million juvenile facility a top priority. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Shelby County Sheriff's Office chief jailer Kirk Fields (left) and assistant chief Deidra Bridgeforth talk about the intake and processing area during a tour of the Shelby County Juvenile Detention Center on Jan. 18, 2019. Bridgeforth said conditions at the aging center are poor, including not having enough space for the Hope Academy school there. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Officer Al Cousins (left) monitors recreation time indoors at the Shelby County Juvenile Detention Center on Jan 18, 2019. On days when the temperature is below 50 degrees, the children don't get to go outside. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Children are allowed to bring books from the school library into their rooms at the Shelby County Juvenile Detention Center, but nothing else. The center is getting attention again after Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said he is making the construction of a new $25 million juvenile facility a top priority. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Hope Academy principal Eugene Lockhart talks about the school's need for more room during a tour of the Shelby County Juvenile Detention Center on Jan 18, 2019. "We are in dire need of more space in the classrooms," he said. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
Officer Deonte Williams keeps an eye on kids during recreation time at the Shelby County Juvenile Detention Center on Jan 18, 2019. The center is getting attention again after County Mayor Lee Harris announced he is making construction of a new $25 million juvenile facility a top priority. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
A look inside the Shelby County Juvenile Detention Center shows the human side of a facility at the center of a funding controversy.
