Symposium to Focus on Reducing Crime

October 16, 2017 - On Tuesday, Oct. 17, the Public Safety Institute (PSI) at the University of Memphis will host a symposium on Breaking the Cycle of Delinquency. The event is co-sponsored by the Urban Child Institute.

Beginning at 8:30 a.m. and lasting until 2 p.m. at the University Center Ballroom on the main UofM campus, the event will focus on creation of a juvenile assessment center for Memphis and Shelby County as a way of reducing juvenile crime through in-depth assessments coupled with the provision of appropriate services to youth facing non-violent delinquency (criminal) charges.

Guest speakers will include Jack Calhoun, a national leader and advisor on juvenile justice matters; Jim Henry, deputy to Gov. Bill Haslam; and Judge Dan Michael of the Juvenile Court.

Other participants include Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, District Attorney Amy Weirich, Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings and Shelby County Sheriff Bill Oldham.

UofM President M. David Rudd will make opening remarks.

The proposed juvenile assessment center is a key component of the local Operation: Safe Community plan to curb crime in the Memphis community. A Memphis Shelby Crime Commission working group organized by Mayor Luttrell has been developing the concept. The symposium is being held to share the work of the group with a broader audience of stakeholders from the community.

The PSI is an interdisciplinary part of the University community committed to identifying and advancing best practices in the field of public safety. Under a partnership with the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission, the PSI is charged with spearheading evaluation of the local Operation: Safe Community crime plan.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Linda Russell | 901.385.4230 | lrssell8@memphis.edu