(The Center Square) – Juvenile justice in Louisiana lacks the funding needed to properly support the increasing number of youth offenders.
That’s why legislators during the first meeting of the Criminal Justice Priority Funding Commission on Monday discussed ways to prioritize money for juvenile expenses.
The commission was created in June when the governor signed Senate Bill 431. The bill gives the committee the power to decide on another important piece of the legislation – grants.
The legislation creates a specific fund in the treasury to provide for the design, construction, site purchase, refurbishment, site work, and other necessary items or materials for the building, repair or refurbishment of fully operational juvenile detention centers to house both preadjudicated and postadjudicated juveniles.
Lawmakers agreed the broader goal of the commission should be getting back to a regional model for juveniles so they can stay close to their community.
Currently, there are not enough facilities to house the juveniles in their respective cities, which separates them from their families or any support system, and therefore increases the chance of recidivism.