Shelby County will open a new Youth Justice and Education Center within the next month that will give detained delinquent children a larger, brighter and more modern facility.

The 85,626-square-foot facility located at 3420 Old Getwell Road in Oakhaven has 146 beds and features nine classrooms, outdoor recreation areas, a new dental office and a courtroom. 

The current juvenile detention facility – on the second floor of the juvenile courthouse at 616 Adams Ave. in the Downtown area – is 40,000 square feet with 114 beds, no windows, two classrooms and only an indoor recreation area.

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“Even though the kids are being allegedly accused of things, the community should realize that they’re still kids and what we want to offer them is some type of stability and sense of safety while they’re in our facility,” said assistant chief jailer Takietha Tuggle of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

Shelby County government purchased the youth justice center building from CoreCivic, a Maryland-based company that owns detention facilities throughout the country, in 2020 for $3.4 million. 

Built in 1980, the building had been abandoned for about 10 years before the county purchased it, said Cliff Norville, the county’s director of public works. 

The new center is replacing the crumbling Downtown facility, which was built in 1935.

The bulk of the $31.5 million renovation project was spent updating the pods and classrooms, Norville said.

“Even though the kids are being allegedly accused of things, the community should realize that they’re still kids and what we want to offer them is some type of stability and sense of safety while they’re in our facility.”

Takietha Tuggle
Assistant chief jailer

The county chose the Old Getwell Road location over three other options: renovating the existing space for $50 million, building a new detention facility adjacent to the courthouse on Adams Avenue for $66 million, or building an entirely new facility for $80 million.

The Adams Avenue facility is budgeted to receive $27.5 million for renovations between fiscal years 2022 and 2026, according to Shelby County’s five-year Capital Improvement Plan.

Norville said the courtrooms there will be reconfigured to allow more space for magistrates to oversee non-delinquent matters, such as truancy or negligence.

The new facility will have one courtroom for delinquency and detention hearings as well as offices for defense attorneys and prosecutors. There are also office spaces for the clerk, judge and victim-witness coordinator. 

Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon said in an April 14 episode of WKNO-TV’s “Behind the Headlines” that the courtroom at the new facility will be used for detention and delinquent hearings.

Sugarmon declined to discuss the new facility in more detail for this story.

“The new detention center is under the direction of the Sheriff’s Department,” said Stephanie White, executive director of media for the juvenile court. “Once they have finalized all of their details, then there would be further conversations that will determine next steps for the Court.” 

‘It’s a wonderful opportunity to make sure that we’re doing what’s best for the children’

The Daily Memphian toured both facilities. One stark distinction is the new juvenile center is more modern with high ceilings and light gray walls. Windows and skylights throughout the building bring in natural light, including in the classrooms.

“I’m just happy that we have all these windows that the kids will be able to see and be able to enjoy themselves, despite the circumstances they’re in,” Tuggle said.

Each of the nine classrooms has colorful chairs, up-to-date technology and tables for collaboration. The children will rotate classes throughout the day just as they would in a regular school. 

There will also be a computer lab and a therapeutic music room. 

Tuggle said the facility’s officials will ask volunteers to teach music classes.

“We have had some of the old members from the Bar-Kays come in,” Tuggle said.

A culinary kitchen with commercial-grade appliances — including a fryer, ice cream machine and popcorn machine — will provide cooking opportunities for detainees.

Roger Jones is the principal of Hope Academy, the school inside the detention facility operated by Memphis-Shelby County Schools. He looks forward to providing more learning opportunities in the new space.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to make sure that we’re doing what’s best for the children,” Jones said. “And that’s what it’s all about, doing the best for the kids to make sure they are continuing their education and learning.”

‘They still have a chance’

The center, which sits on more than 10 acres of land, will feature an expansive, fenced-in outdoor recreation area for basketball, volleyball, soccer, yoga, gardening and more. There is also an indoor basketball court with a stage.

Tuggle said she asked the kids what recreational opportunities they would like in the facility. They voted for air hockey, basketball and volleyball.

“I just want them to feel a part of that process as well,” Tuggle said. 

Minors in detention also will be able to visit with their parents in an outdoor courtyard. 

The old facility had a medical office, but the dental office is a new addition. Juveniles will still be taken off-site for vision exams. 

Youth will sleep on single bunk beds in eight different pods. They will have washing machines and dryers in their dormitories so that they can do their laundry, Tuggle said. 

Tuggle hopes children who come through the center will realize it’s a place for rehabilitation, second chances and future opportunities.

“The kids are going to know that there are better things in life, even though they’re in this facility,” Tuggle said. “They still have a chance. And that’s our goal is to let them know you can be anything you want.”