In this series, The Daily Memphian’s team of reporters dives deep into the pressing issue of juvenile crime. 

Introduction to “Minor Offenders, Major Offenses” 

Metro editor Jane Donahoe offers an overview of stories in the series, explaining that the issue of juvenile crime is “complex and uncomfortable, with outsize effects on the city, its citizens and its very future.”

No ‘more pressing’ issue in Memphis community than juvenile crime 

In the 1980s, juvenile offenses were mostly crimes like shoplifting, petty theft and auto thefts. Now, children currently held in detention are accused of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, carjacking, rape of a child and other crimes.

‘Trying to survive:’ Chronic absenteeism, more than truancy, concerning to local educators

Criminalizing students for frequently missing school can actually make things worse: “You label a kid as delinquent, you actually create a future criminal.” 

‘The kids that did this to us’: Juveniles driving car crimes higher 

A large part of the area’s current juvenile crime issue centers on car thefts and thefts of property from vehicles.

Juvenile Justice

Here’s how Tennessee lawmakers plan to target juvenile justice this session

In this installment of “Minor Offenders, Major Offenses,” we look at how lawmakers intend to build on the mandatory-minimum “truth in sentencing” law with bills that treat juveniles as adults in more circumstances. Many of the tough-on-crime proposals pivot from former Gov. Bill Haslam’s moderate juvenile justice reform effort in 2018. 

‘Not in the best condition': Tennessee looks to replace youth detention center

The Daily Memphian takes a look at Tennessee’s only state-run, hardware-secure juvenile detention facility currently in use. Wilder Youth Development Center opened in 1971, and various officials say it needs to either be replaced or expanded. 

Juvenile Court

A primer: How Shelby County Juvenile Court works

In this story, we answer some of the basic questions about Juvenile Court and its responsibilities. Despite it being a court of record, “there is little standardization in juvenile court size, case management procedures and court administrative practices” across the state. 

When the Justice Department came for Shelby County Juvenile Court

Much of the current framework of the Memphis and Shelby County Juvenile Court is the result of a 2012 agreement between Shelby County elected leaders and the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Department.

““Sometimes we walk out of there scratching our heads because we don’t have all the answers, and all answers don’t rest within the Memphis Police Department,” Davis said.”

— MPD Chief Cerelyn Davis

Officials work to increase juvenile transparency amid tight state laws

The limited access to juvenile court proceedings and case records may change as local leaders push for publicly available data and other case records. 

Solutions

‘It’s not going to go away unless we do something:' Local leaders eye juvenile crime solutions

In Memphis, leaders seem to agree that youth are able to get guns too easily and that they are seeing a trend of younger juvenile offenders and more violent offenses. But there are varying opinions on how to deal with those trends.

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. 

“Minor Offenders, Major Offenses” Sources

The Daily Memphian’s reporting team interviewed 37 individuals as sources for this series.