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NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)\u2014 From escapes to overcrowding and violence, the state\u2019s juvenile justice system has many problems. Lawmakers in Baton Rouge are proposing changes to the Office of Juvenile Justice.<\/p>\n
Senator Heather Cloud stated, \u201cNo one within OJJ denies that there are problems. With the stories coming out about escapes and violence within the facilities prove that it\u2019s necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cloud is the co-sponsor of Senate Bill 323 which, in part, seeks to move away from the current method of housing juveniles by geography to a system of determining tiers based on the severity of the crime. The bill is making it\u2019s way through the legislature this session but advocates of system-involved juveniles and their families disagree that this change would help.<\/p>\n
Ernest Johnson of the Ubuntu Village stated, \u201cI think it\u2019s getting away from the therapeutic model of the
Missouri Model that indicates that the closest the kids are to their specific families, the more likelihood for their behavior to change.\u201d<\/p>\n
That Missouri Model<\/a>, seen by advocates as a guide for meaningful reform was adopted by the state in the early 2000\u2019s. According to Sen Cloud, the model is currently not working.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a problem with the egregiousness of crimes with the crimes that have been committed that they have been adjudicated for and also ages, and they\u2019re all kind of meshed together within the facilities and that I believe is providing for the lack of workplace safety and employee recruitment, and the safety of our juveniles,\u201d said Cloud.<\/p>\n Johnson and other advocates say the bill would emphasize punishment over rehabilitation for juveniles, \u201cI question whether or not if you have a tier and you think the most violent kids need to be in one place that it becomes more punitive. It\u2019s like we need to treat these kids different that we treat other kids and that\u2019s been a part of the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n Another problem that Johnson and other juvenile advocates want to stray away from is the opening of more facilities across the state. Cloud said this is a possibility if it makes staff and juveniles safer.<\/p>\n SB 323 is currently in committee in Baton Rouge.<\/p>\n In response to the most recent escape from Bridge City Center for Youth<\/a>, and the subsequent calls for closure of the prison from Sen. Pat Connick<\/a>, Gina Womack, the Executive Director of Families and Friends of Louisiana\u2019s Incarcerated Children (FFLIC), issued the following statement:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThis week\u2019s news about another young person escaping Bridge City\u2019s prison adds to the Office of Juvenile Justice\u2019s never ending string of failures. While Senator Connick and other lawmakers seem aware that the youth prison system needs radical reform, including the closure of Bridge City Center for Youth, we must be intentional in planning safer, more compassionate alternatives to incarceration.<\/em><\/p>\n The prison does need to be closed, but not at the expense of putting the youth in worse conditions. During this legislative session, a number of policymakers have expressed the need for changes, and in particular changes that facilitate rehabilitation\u2013but true rehabilitation or systemic transformation will never happen by putting youth behind bars. More than 40% of youth are incarcerated for non-violent offenses, even though research shows that these children can do better in their community with a range of supports like mental health resources, job training, quality education and restorative justice practices that mitigate the root causes of crime and prevent further harm.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n That change starts with divesting from our current, broken system, and fully implementing Act 1225\u2013an unfilled promise to transform our youth justice system into a model of holistic support and coordinated care. It\u2019s clear OJJ is unfit<\/a> to provide safe conditions for youth and staff, yet Governor Bel Edwards has proposed adding $9M to OJJ\u2019s budget.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n We know that prisons don\u2019t keep our kids or communities safer. The effective, evidence-based solutions t<\/em>o Louisiana\u2019s systemic shortfalls exist. We urge Senator Connick, and all Louisiana lawmakers, to accept their responsibility in transforming the state\u2019s massive failure of a youth prison system into a model that actually lowers crime, strengthens communities, and keeps children safe.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t