Memphis, Tennessee – November 17, 2025 – The Shelby County Commission has approved a consent agenda that includes a $1 million request from the Sheriff’s Office to replace additional doors at the aged men’s jail at 201 Poplar. The latest funding will be used to replace 92 sliding doors, which have become a major security concern due to their deteriorating condition.
What happened
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) received $6 million earlier this year to replace 636 faulty doors at the facility that inmates learned to open, creating a security risk. The latest request for funding aims to replace the remaining doors with new swinging doors, a safer alternative to the current sliding model.
Commissioner Mick Wright confirmed that each replacement door would cost approximately $10,900, bringing the project’s total spending on door replacement alone this year to more than $7 million. The decision was presented to the commission last week and approved as part of a larger agenda to improve security and living conditions at the facility.
What is being done to improve 201 Poplar Jail?
The work on the men’s prison at 201 Poplar is part of an ongoing effort to address the facility’s deteriorating infrastructure. Assistant Chief Jailer George Askew told commissioners that despite the significant investment in replacing the doors, the project would take another two years to complete. This is due to the complexity of the work and the fact that the number of employees working on the project was recently doubled to speed up the process.
The prison, which houses a large number of prisoners, has faced a number of challenges over the years, with security concerns over the functionality of its doors being a primary issue. The ongoing effort to replace the door is part of a comprehensive plan to address these concerns and improve the overall security of the facility for both inmates and staff.
Financial Considerations and Impact
The cost of replacement doors has increased significantly due to external factors such as tariffs implemented under the administration of former President Donald Trump. According to SCSO Chief Administrative Officer Alicia Lindsay, the cost of repairing each door before the tariffs were imposed was approximately $6,000. The $10,900 increase in cost per door reflects rising expenses associated with construction materials and other related factors.
Approval of the $1 million request is seen as a necessary step to ensure the continued security of the facility and prevent further security breaches.
closure
This story may be updated with more information as it becomes available.
