MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The head of Shelby County Juvenile Court says the security set-up there is contrary to state law.
Judge Dan Michael told WREG the law states Sheriff Bill Oldham and his deputies should be running security at the court, but they aren’t, and it needs to change.
Wednesday Judge Michael asked the county commission to step in and do the right thing.
Right now, monitors are maintaining control, but the judge said they are short-staffed and could be on the verge of a serious problem.
He stated, “It’s working, but it’s not legal, that’s the problem.”
Judge Michael’s job is upholding the law, but he said that’s njuvenile coot happening in his court house.
And according to state law, Sheriff Oldham must fix that.
“We don’t have enough personnel. They are working back to back shifts. People are getting tired. And we got some tough kids in there,” he said.
Monitors hired by the clerk manned the hallways and detention areas, but they only had enough staff for 60 kids.
The building held 135.
Judge Michael explained, “I can shut it down and tell law enforcement don’t bring me any children because I’ve reached my max or I can operate and keep my fingers crossed in hopes that nothing happens.”
The Judge presented his budget to Shelby County Commissioners Wednesday.
He asked for about a million dollars more than last year.
Some of the major costs came from a Department of Justice mandate after the Feds came in and said the county was locking up too many African American kids in Memphis.
Commissioners said they take that very seriously.
Commissioner Melvin Burgess explained, “We want to make sure that it’s being properly followed and monitored, and we have the right people in place to make sure everyone is betting their fair share.”
As for the cost of the sheriff taking over, Judge Michael had a simple message.
“It takes me $6-million to run the detention center, it’s yours. Take it, and take the people with you,” he said.
The Sheriff didn’t want to comment on this, and is letting the commission decide the next move.
But county officials said the SCSO will need more money to train these monitors to their standards.
