Juvenile Court Judge-Elect Taps WCS Leader for Transition Committee

From the Daily Memphian and the Commercial Appeal.

Incoming Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon has assembled a transition team to assist him with recruiting leadership and assessing current operations in the juvenile system. 

Whole Child Strategies Executive Director Natalie McKinney has been asked to join Sugarmon's volunteer transition committee. The committee will assess and review current juvenile court process and provide a report to Sugarmon and his executive staff within 30 days.

Sugarmon campaigned on a promise to overhaul current juvenile court practices and punitive measures in favor of earlier intervention. Addressing root causes and offering early support of young people who get in trouble are key strategies to reversing Shelby County's rate of violent crime committed by youth.

"If a child is charged with committing a delinquent act, let the counselor start to work with the family and the child at that first instance — so we get them on a track of rehabilitation immediately," Sugarmon told The Commercial Appeal.

Sugarmon is the first African American to be elected as Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge; he took office on September 1.

Photo credit: Ziggy Mack/Special to The Daily Memphian