Shelby County Mayor Signs Resolution Removing New Chicago Jail Site Following Community Opposition

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris has signed a resolution officially removing Memphis' New Chicago neighborhood as a potential site for a new jail complex, following significant community opposition and an 8-3 vote by the Shelby County Commission. The resolution reflects residents' preference for investments in education, youth opportunities, and blight reduction over incarceration facilities, underscoring a broader debate over criminal justice infrastructure's impact on neighborhoods. The proposed site at the old Firestone Plant in North Memphis, championed by former city councilman Kemp Conrad as a chance for economic revitalization, faced protests from residents who opposed locating a jail in their community. Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner has advocated for a new jail to address overcrowding and aging infrastructure issues, but recent studies have suggested a new facility may not be immediately necessary. City and county leaders are now searching for alternative sites for the jail, though none have been publicly identified. This decision highlights the growing emphasis on community input and prioritizing social investments over building additional incarceration facilities.