In-person proceedings at the Shelby County Juvenile Court have hit a snag, as the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office announced it will no longer provide transportation to youth defendants.
Shelby County Attorney Allan Wade informed Chief Judicial Officer Erica M. Evans of the decision with a letter dropped at 4:30 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 14. According to the correspondence, staffing shortages at the sheriff’s office are the culprit.
The decision to pull the plug on transportation to-and-fro the court also comes as the court resumed in-person sessions, after a five months of renovations to the facility at 616 Adams. Hearings were also held virtually during the fix-up.
Wade’s notification came after failed negotiations between leaders from the SCSO and the juvenile court.
“Over the weekend, Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon spoke to Sheriff Floyd Bonner to ask him to approve the transportation request and the sheriff shared that due to a staffing shortage he would not be able to honor the request. The letter from Attorney Wade indicates that this is also a budget issue,” read a press release from the court.
As a result, hearings were held virtually on Monday, Oct. 17, while court staff scrambled to notify youths’ family and staff of the change. In-person delinquency and detention hearings had previously been on the docket.
“Monday there was a substantial amount of confusion as Juvenile Court attempted to conduct business and adjudicate cases subjected to precipitous and unilateral actions that impinge on their rights,” wrote Attorney Robert Spence, who represents the juvenile court on the matter.
Sheriff’s deputies continue to provide courtroom security for all dockets.
The juvenile court also hears cases concerning neglect, custody, visitation and child support. Overall, 150 cases were set for the court’s docket on Monday, Oct. 17.
In addition to intruding on rights, the letter accused the SCSO of neglecting its duty to provide deputies for “the transportation of youth detainees to Court for which the Sheriff’s Office is responsible.”
Wade balked at the assertion.
“I don’t see how. Their rights are the same rights. They have a courtroom at the detention center that has been used for 25 straight weeks. So any detention hearings held by magistrates at that center can still be held at a timely way to avoid any constitutional infringement on their rights.”
Despite the impasse, the door hasn’t slammed shut on resumption of service. Conversations between the Juvenile Court and the sheriff’s office are ongoing.
“We will continue to work with the Sheriff’s Office on a remedy to this transportation issue and hope to have it resolved quickly,” read the press release.
In his letter, Spence called the current situation “unsustainable.”
One route to a resumption of service would be a funding resolution by the Shelby County Commission.
“The parties have engaged in discussions and those discussions will continue,” said Wade.
