Memphis, TN – Shelby County officials are pushing back today after a new federal lawsuit alleged two female prisoners were sexually assaulted while in county custody. The lawsuit claims the incidents happened at Jail East, but the sheriff’s office says the women were never held there.
According to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), both prisoners were housed at the Shelby County Correction Center, a facility overseen by the county mayor — not the sheriff. The correction center, historically known as the penal farm, houses men and women who have been convicted and sentenced to that facility. Jail East, meanwhile, is operated by the sheriff.
Officials say the attorneys involved in the lawsuit allegedly named the wrong agency and did not verify where their clients were being held at the time of the reported assaults. SCSO stressed that the employees referenced in the lawsuit work for the mayor’s administration at the correction center, not the sheriff’s office.
According to the statement, the lawsuit also names Sheriff Floyd Bonner, Jr. and Chief Jailer Kirk Fields, despite neither having operational control over the Shelby County Corrections Center. The sheriff’s office argues the inclusion is baseless.
Officials said they will be seeking an immediate dismissal of all allegations tied to the sheriff, the sheriff’s office, and Jail East. They also plan to demand a formal apology from the attorneys representing the plaintiffs.
This dispute adds another layer to ongoing discussions about oversight and accountability across Shelby County’s jail and correctional systems, which split authority between the sheriff and the county mayor.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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