Andrew Taber, Director
1045 Mullins Station Rd.
Memphis, TN 38134
(901) 377-4500 
andrew.taber@shelbycountytn.gov

As long ago as 1883, Shelby County maintained a detention facility for criminals convicted in the local courts.

Back then private contractors paid the county 10 cents a day for convict labor to build Tennessee roads and railroads. These jobs plus laundry and cooking chores and raising produce on the Shelby County Penal Farm land made it nearly self-supporting.

Growing from an average of 571 inmates per day in 1985 to a daily average of 2,600 today, the Shelby County Division of Correction has emerged to address the many different needs of the inmates sentenced to serve time. To better address the change and growth in the prison population, innovative methods of rehabilitation and correction have been introduced in Shelby County.

At one time, inmate work was used primarily as a punitive measure. Today, work, along with job and life skills training, is a vital aspect of the multi-dimensional approach to assisting the inmate in a successful rehabilitation and reentry into the community. On a daily basis, about 725 inmates are assigned to work outside the facilities and more than 545 inside the facilities. Those who work outside the facility clean public buildings and parks and help perform necessary roadway work-saving taxpayers money.

In April 1991, the division opened the Adult Offender Center for male offenders serving misdemeanor sentences. Recognizing the fact that the majority of the inmates housed at the AOC are serving time for substance abuse related crimes; the facility is program-oriented and staffed entirely by correction counselors rather than correction officers. The Center can house 768 inmates.

The Division of Correction, with a total staff of about 1000, has received national recognition for its work program concept as well as for other programs including drug and alcohol recovery, mental health, work release, literacy, counseling and religious interaction.

The average length of stay for an inmate at the facilities is four months for those serving time for misdemeanor charges and 18 months for those serving time for felony charges.