The Shelby County Criminal Justice Center has been without working air since Monday, March 24.

The HVAC issues have affected both the jail and the courthouse, according to statements from local officials.

The Shelby County Division of Public Works was notified Monday two air-conditioning chillers at 201 Poplar were temporarily out of service, said Kelly Roberts, a spokesperson for Shelby County.

After 4 recent deaths at 201, Sheriff’s Office takes media inside jail

“Crews are working around the clock to get two temporary chillers fully operational. One became operational today, and the other is expected to be operational by the end of today. All efforts are being made to pump cool, external air into the building,” Roberts wrote in an email. “We ask that judges and other elected officials use their best judgment regarding appropriate responses to the impact this may cause in their respective areas and to their employees.”

In response to the issues, Shelby County General Sessions Court Clerk Tami Sawyer issued a statement saying the court’s criminal division, which is housed at the justice center, would remain closed Wednesday afternoon, March 26.

All cases scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday will be rescheduled, Sawyer said.

Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk Heidi Kuhn said criminal court divisions were already out of session this week due to a previously scheduled judicial training.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement fans and blowers are being used to cool the jail and water coolers are being used inside housing units for inmates.

During a February tour of the jail when outside temperatures were in the mid-40s, a Daily Memphian reporter noted warm conditions inside the facility. A large industrial-sized fan was working overtime to blow cool air into the intake room, and it wasn’t the only fan stationed throughout the jail during the tour.

On Wednesday, afternoon temperatures reached the mid-70s.