SCSO Addresses Concerns Over Visitation at Juvenile Detention Center
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) provides updates regarding concerns surrounding visitation at the Shelby County Juvenile Facility. The concerns mainly surround the fact that parents are being denied visits with their children currently housed in the facility. Chief Deputy Anthony Buckner, on behalf of the SCSO, assures that they are on the cusp of beginning a “robust visitation program.”
Concerns Raised Over Visitation at Juvenile Center
A number of organizations had previously sent a letter to the SCSO outlining their concerns at the Shelby County Juvenile Facility. The primary issue was visitation. It was alleged that parents were not being permitted to see their children in detention.
SCSO’s Response to Visitation Concerns
In response to these allegations, Chief Deputy Buckner stated that the institution had been working over the past month on a comprehensive visitation program. He expressed confidence in the successful implementation of this program in the near future at the juvenile center.
“I think the hangup right now is who the court allows to visit these youth, we’re not privy to that information and certainly we don’t want to have a kid in custody on some type of welfare case and we allow an abuser to visit with that child,” said Chief Deputy Buckner, addressing the primary challenge they are currently facing.
Other Factors Influencing Visitation Practices
Besides the challenge of identifying authorized visitors, another factor affecting visitation is the current population at the correctional facility. According to a letter from Sheriff Floyd Bonner, there were 110 children in the center on a recent Monday – a number much higher than anticipated. Normally anticipating between 40-60 youth, the center seldom has fewer than 100 present.
Sheriff Bonner’s letter further revealed that the office was considering the option of using outdoor spaces for visitation, dependent on the weather conditions.
Need for Collaborative Efforts to Improve Conditions
Improving conditions at the juvenile justice center is going to require a group effort. The Sheriff’s Office expressed interest in partnering with non-profit organizations to help bring about beneficial changes.
“That’s going to take non-profit organizations to come to the table with their best ideas. We want to be in partnership with them.”, mentioned Chief Deputy Bucker, emphasizing the importance of joined hands for positive impact.
