Juvenile Detention Standards Bill Hits Governor's Desk
Jun 18, 2010, Louisiana Models for Change
A major, long-awaited step in reform of Louisiana's juvenile justice system is now an imminent reality.
The Senate voted unanimously in late June to pass Rep. Damon Baldone's House Bill 1477, which establishes a plan and timeline for juvenile detention center standards implementation throughout the state. The standards will establish a baseline for all facilities to operate more effectively and provides oversight through compliance monitoring.
The state's previous detention standards were updated in 1997, and licensing by the Department of Social Services stopped in 2000. Although the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2003 (Act 1225) called for the development of a single state entity that would revive detention standards, the idea of a single state entity was ultimately scrapped, and the detention standards were not developed.
During the 2009 Louisiana legislative session, Rep. Baldone passed House Concurrent Resolution 77, which called for a commission, chaired by the Louisiana Supreme Court, to study the issue of detention standards and make recommendations. The Commission drafted the 2010 legislation and sought input from Louisiana Juvenile Detention Association, Louisiana Public Defender Board, Louisiana District Attorney's Association, Louisiana Dept of Social Services, Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, Louisiana Sheriff's Association, Office of Juvenile Justice, Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana, and the MacArthur Foundation's Louisiana Models for Change.
Currently, the state has some model detention centers, including those in Jefferson and Calcasieu Parishes, while others, like Terrebonne's and Orleans', have been plagued by problems and beset by costly litigation. The legislation creates a task force on Juvenile Detention Standards and Licensing, and establishes the following timeline:
· By July 1, 2011, the LA Detention Association shall develop and recommend uniform standards for local juvenile detention centers, with guidance from all relevant stakeholders
· By July 1, 2012, the Department of Social Services will develop and promulgate rules governing the licensing of facilities, with input from the task force
· By January 1, 2013, all juvenile detention facilities shall be licensed.
“The passing of HB 1477 is a success. It creates standards for juvenile detention centers across the state, thereby ensuring a better quality of care for our children. It also is a testament to the power of collaboration among stakeholders,” said Dana Kaplan, Director of the Juvenile Justice Project of LA.
“Because we all worked together, this long awaited step for Law’s juvenile justice reform is finally being taken.”
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