South Louisiana Community College and Lafayette City Court have launched a pilot program allowing Judge Roya Boustany to sentence some eligible defendants to short-term workforce training as an alternative to penalties such as fines or community service. The first classes begin Saturday.
The program does not serve as a pretrial diversion program. Defendants are referred after sentencing, once Boustany has reviewed the case and heard from both attorneys and the prosecutor.
Through the partnership, eligible participants can complete certification courses through SoLAcc, including forklift operator, mental health first aid, SafeLand and CDL-related training. Participants without a high school diploma can instead work toward a HiSET equivalency credential…