There are 47 article(s) tagged Juvenile Court:

• June 2025

  • Deepfakes, pet abandonment and laser pointers: New state laws take effect July 1

    Several new state laws are taking effect on July 1, including measures regarding child abuse, animal abuse and using cellphones in schools.

    By Jody Callahan June 30, 2025

• December 2024

  • Juvenile Court sues Sheriff’s Office

    Juvenile Court filed a lawsuit Tuesday requesting the Shelby County Chancery Court stop the Sheriff’s Office from terminating its oversight of Shelby County’s juvenile-detention center.

    By Laura Testino December 31, 2024

• October 2024

  • Circuit Court Clerk wants 14% pay raise for her employees

    The County Commission delayed consideration of Jamita Swearengen’s request for more money for her staff. Lakeland and Arlington TIFS and Juvenile Court were also on the agenda.

    By Bill Dries October 29, 2024

  • County Commission returns to Juvenile Court requests and pay raises

    Also on commission agenda is a vote to help fund traffic roundabouts near the next phase of the Lakeland Meadows development. The roundabouts have been a source of controversy before Lakeland’s city commission.

    By Bill Dries October 27, 2024

• May 2024

  • Juvenile Court building made staff members sick, clerk says

    Shelby County’s Juvenile Court clerk said Friday building conditions had been making employees sick prior to mold, asbestos and lead being discovered there last week. 

    By Aarron Fleming May 03, 2024

• February 2024

  • Teen accused of killing ‘watermelon man’ transferred to adult court

    Demarion Tackett, 16, is accused of shooting 76-year-old John Materna, who was known for selling watermelons in The Heights neighborhood, on May 15, 2023. Materna died in the hospital two weeks after being shot.

    By Aarron Fleming February 07, 2024

• January 2024

  • County Commission makes up for meetings lost to weather

    Topping the commission agenda Monday, Jan. 29, are final votes on a review board to hear complaints of misconduct by Sheriff’s deputies and deputy jailers as well as changing the county Land Bank to a “real estate department.”

    By Bill Dries January 29, 2024

• December 2023

  • County Commission approves jail mental health funding but with doubts

    Shelby County commissioners also funded 21 new “youth development specialist” positions at Memphis-Shelby County Juvenile Court, and a rugby field for Memphis Inner City Rugby.

    By Bill Dries December 19, 2023

• July 2023

  • Strickland says juvenile curfew violation pilot program is underway

    Strickland said children caught violating curfew are being detained at the Downtown precinct until a parent or guardian comes to pick them up. He also said the numbers of those detained are low.

    By Bill Dries July 05, 2023

• March 2023

  • Advocate knows change is possible in Juvenile Court because she’s seen it

    Stephanie Hill, a “fierce” advocate for children and youth, sees the best in the children she works with and also believes it is our responsibility to do what we can to give them opportunities to succeed.

    By Jane Roberts March 20, 2023

• January 2023

  • Opinion: Let’s not limit our thinking to ‘dealing with juvenile crime’

    Let’s execute on our mission as adults, and we will draw closer to becoming a community that is safe, connected and a place all children can be embraced.

    By Dr. Stephanie R. Hill January 27, 2023

• August 2022

  • Sanford: As Sugarmon assumes Juvenile Court judgeship, a different history begins

    Tarik Sugarmon ushers in a new era for Juvenile Court in Memphis and Shelby County.

    By Otis Sanford August 31, 2022

  • Tarik Sugarmon announces transition team

    Sugarmon, who unseated Dan Michael in the Aug. 4 election, is the first African American to be elected as Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge. He will take office Sept. 1. 

    By Julia Baker August 25, 2022

  • Opinion: We need a third option for handling violent juveniles

    A new sentencing system should emphasize enhanced services and appropriate treatment designed to reduce the likelihood of a juvenile becoming a repeat offender.

    By Bill Gibbons August 17, 2022

  • Three suspects in slaying of Rev. Autura Eason-Williams appear in court

    Miguel Andrade and Brayan Carrillo, both 15, and Eduard Rodriguez Tabora, 20, have been charged with first-degree murder.

    By Julia Baker, Shera Avi-Yonah August 01, 2022

• July 2022

  • Juvenile charged in carjacking and slaying of faith leader had prior charges

    The juvenile had two previous charges in November and December.

    By Julia Baker July 22, 2022

  • Opinion: How and why some juveniles are transferred to adult court

    Former district attorney explains the laws, guidelines and considerations that officials make when assessing juveniles accused of violent crime.

    By Bill Gibbons July 21, 2022

• May 2022

  • Sanford: Time to start paying attention to campaign for Juvenile Court judge

    The battles for district attorney and county mayor will get most of the headlines, but the race to determine who oversees judicial proceedings at Juvenile Court is the most important overall to the community.

    By Otis Sanford May 26, 2022

• April 2022

  • What a Democratic District Attorney’s office would look like

    Each of the three Democratic primary candidates for Shelby County District Attorney General pledge to make deep reforms in the prosecutor’s office.

    Related story:

    What change in the DA’s office could look like on first day

    By Bill Dries April 04, 2022

• January 2022

  • Commission considers Juvenile Court and a return of federal oversight

    Shelby County commissioners voted Monday, Jan. 24, to make a return of federal oversight of Memphis-Shelby County Juvenile Court a part of its legislative agenda in Washington D.C.

    By Bill Dries January 24, 2022

• June 2021

  • County budget shifts funding as part of approval process

    Here are some of the highlights, including additional funding for MATA, from the county budgets for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

    By Bill Dries June 13, 2021

• October 2020

  • Meeting in the middle: ‘Who doesn’t want less juvenile crime?’

    Mercy for young criminals and rehabilitation needn’t be at odds with justice for victims, but those those working with Shelby County Juvenile Court face challenges.

    By Don Wade October 16, 2020

  • Opinion: Teen offenders need immediate intervention

    To determine root causes for juvenile criminal behavior and map out more positive life plans, Shelby County needs a facility independent from Juvenile Court to provide immediate and evidence-based intervention for every youth who comes in contact with law enforcement. 

    By Amy Weirich October 05, 2020

• August 2020

  • Plans for new youth detention center up in air amid talk of renovation

    Shelby County officials, who last year approved funding for preliminary work to build a new juvenile detention facility, are now exploring alternatives such as renovating a closed youth facility in Southeast Memphis.

    By Yolanda Jones, Linda A. Moore August 26, 2020

• April 2020

  • Juvenile court using video conferencing to keep cases moving

    Juvenile Court is using video conferencing to get cases moved through the court during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

    By Yolanda Jones April 22, 2020