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Mobile County to assume oversight of Strickland Youth Center after judge urges transfer
Summary
Presiding juvenile court judge Edmond Naiman urged the Mobile County Commission to assume supervision of the Strickland Youth Center, saying the county’s juvenile system is overburdened; a resolution to assume administration was on the conference agenda pending legal review.
Presiding Juvenile Court Judge Edmond Naiman urged the Mobile County Commission on July 24, 2025, to assume supervision and administration of the Strickland Youth Center, saying the county’s juvenile detention system is overburdened and the change would remove conflicts that hamper the court’s work.
“I think this is the culmination of about 18 years that we have been discussing this and trying to find a way that we could make it happen,” Judge Edmond Naiman said. “When I get back today, I will deal with 41 cases of abuse and neglect dependency petitions involving kids. Just yesterday, 13 children slept on the floor of the Department of Human Resources building because there was no place for them.”
The judge told commissioners he is the only presiding juvenile court judge in the nation who also has direct oversight of a detention center and that dual responsibilities create conflicts of interest and take time away from his judicial duties. He said he is “a little bit reticent to turn my back on it,” but expressed support for the county taking over administration.
The commission’s conference agenda included an item described as “Adopt resolution for the Mobile County Commission to assume supervision administration of the detention Strickland youth center and its related employees pending legal review.” The transcript of the conference shows the resolution listed for consideration but does not record a formal vote on the item during the conference session.
Officials and staff noted the change will require legal review and administrative work; the judge thanked commissioners and staff for their assistance over years of discussion. Commissioners at the conference offered public thanks to the judge and his staff for their work with young people.
The commission’s next regular meeting or subsequent agenda packet will be the likely forum for any final action after legal review and any required administrative steps are completed.
