MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- On the heels of the U.S. Justice Department announcing measures to overhaul the Shelby County juvenile justice system, Juvenile Court Judge Curtis Person remains upbeat and positive.

And he is encouraging his staff to do the same.

The Commercial Appeal reports Person gathered his 254 employees just before the holiday break and told them to focus on doing their best in 2013.

The speech comes after the Justice Department announced on Dec. 18 that it had entered into a comprehensive memorandum of agreement with the Shelby County system to resolve "serious and systemic failures" that violate children's due process and equal protection rights.

The agreement stems from an investigation into a complaint several years ago alleging that African-Americans were being treated more harshly than children of other races.