Reese Walker appointed as interim executive director at Shelby County Youth Justice and Education Center

“It’s an honor to be called to serve in this important role,” Walker said. “Youth detention must be approached not just as a response to behavior, but as a critical part of our community’s overall success. I’m grateful we have leaders in Mayor Harris and Director Alexander who see this and I’m ready to get to work to make sure we are supporting our youth to become empowered, productive, and positive members of society.”

Walker’s career began as a detention officer at the Memphis and Shelby County Juvenile Court in 1997.  He previously worked as the program services administrator at the Shelby County Division of Corrections under Director Anthony Alexander, where he led programs focusing on rehabilitation, including job training for corrections’ residents, mental health and faith services. Additionally, Walker coordinated the inmate COVID-19 vaccination program, expanding healthcare in the division.

This news come as Harris and Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon have begun the process of moving the operations and transportation for the youth at YJEC from the sheriff’s office to the Harris Administration and Division of Corrections — a request from the sheriff’s office.

“Through his steadfast work in improving the lives of our Corrections’ population, and in turn our community as a whole, Director Walker has earned the respect of his peers, supervisors, and inmates,” Harris said. “His decades of work in corrections and programming make him a perfect fit for this role. I’m grateful Director Walker has answered this call. Under his leadership I believe we will be able to achieve a new level of service in youth detention and get more kids back on track.”