About 5,000 youths enter the juvenile criminal court system every year, says Dr. Bernard Williams, Chief Probation Officer of the Shelby County Juvenile Court. To decrease the number of youths being arrested and held in detention centers, local governments and organizations have come up with several tactics - including a new Family Resource Center, precinct liaison, deferment letters, and more.
Dr. Williams along with Dr. Cedrick Gray, Shelby County Director of Education, and Jerri Green, Policy Advisor for Shelby County Mayor's Office, join this week's Behind the Headlines with host Eric Barnes and Daily Memphian reporter Bill Dries.
Guests discuss efforts to support the at-risk youth in Shelby County, as well as share what they believe could be improved to better help local youth.