{"id":1497,"date":"2024-11-04T18:57:23","date_gmt":"2024-11-04T18:57:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stand.org\/tennessee\/?p=1497"},"modified":"2026-06-10T23:03:03","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T23:03:03","slug":"community-organizations-challenge-sheriffs-actions-on-youth-transportation-and-detention-center-transition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stand.org\/tennessee\/blog\/community-organizations-challenge-sheriffs-actions-on-youth-transportation-and-detention-center-transition\/","title":{"rendered":"Protecting Our Youth: An Open Letter calling for an end to abuses in the Youth Justice and Education Center Transition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On Friday, November 1, a coalition of youth justice and community organizations has issued an open letter to Sheriff Floyd Bonner addressing two urgent crises: the abrupt cessation of youth transportation services to court hearings and a rushed timeline for transitioning the Youth Justice and Education Center (YJEC). The letter raises serious concerns about how these decisions compromise both youth rehabilitation and community safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just days before Juvenile Court resumed operations following a five-month closure, the Sheriff’s Office announced it would no longer transport youth to court hearings, forcing an emergency shift to virtual proceedings. This decision comes amid ongoing disputes about the Sheriff’s unilateral announcement to transfer detention center operations to Juvenile Court by December 2024, despite mid-budget cycle constraints and the need for proper transition planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“These operational decisions have real consequences for young people and their families,” said Ala\u2019a Alattiyat of the Youth Justice Action Coalition. “When we deny youth proper court access and rush critical transitions without adequate planning, we’re not just affecting their legal rights \u2013 we’re sending a message about how little we value their future opportunities.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The coalition’s letter documents that the YJEC is currently operating below its 144-youth capacity, raising questions about claims of staffing constraints. “The Sheriff’s Office’s sudden decision to stop transportation, followed by an arbitrary and hasty deadline for transitioning facility control, suggests decisions are being made for administrative convenience rather than for youth wellbeing and community benefit,” added Aerris Newton, Government Affairs Director of Stand for Children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The coalition emphasizes two immediate priorities in the letter:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Resume Transportation Services:<\/strong> Reinstate safe, private transportation to Juvenile Court, with appropriate protocols to ensure court access.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Develop a Responsible Transition Timeline:<\/strong> Extend the rushed December 2024 transition deadline to align with the County\u2019s fiscal year, allowing time for proper budget planning, staff training, and a clear operational framework.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Copies of the letter were also sent to Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon, Mayor Lee Harris, and the Shelby County Commission, calling for immediate collaborative solutions. “We’re asking all stakeholders \u2013 the Sheriff’s Office, Juvenile Court, county leadership, and community organizations \u2013 to come together and develop realistic solutions that prioritize youth development while ensuring public safety,” said Newton. “We need a structured transition plan that aligns with our county’s fiscal reality and maintains essential services throughout the process.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Stand for Children and partners are still waiting for the Sheriff’s response to the open letter. Action News 5 published this story about the open letter<\/a>, and we are planning to follow up with more actions to increase pressure on the SCSO in the coming weeks. The full letter with the signatures we have received so far is below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n