‘Not in the best condition': Tennessee looks to replace youth detention center
“We really need a new facility,” said state Rep. Torrey Harris (D-Memphis). “It’s not in the best condition. It’s hard to treat them right in a bad place.” (Ian Round/The Daily Memphian file)
As part of our “Minor Offenders, Major Offenses” series, 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.
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Wilder Youth Development Center Subscriber Only Torrey Harris Gov. Bill LeeWe’re in the final countdown of 2025. ⌛🪩🎉
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Ian Round
Ian Round is The Daily Memphian’s state government reporter based in Nashville. He came to Tennessee from Maryland, where he reported on local politics for Baltimore Brew. He earned a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland in December 2019.
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