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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 148
BY SENATOR BROOME
JUVENILE JUSTICE. Requests the DPSC, Youth Services, office of juvenile justice to
report to the legislature on Louisiana's progress in conforming to and complying with the
original goals and purposes for juvenile justice reform outlined in Act 1225 of 2003.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request that the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Youth Services,2
office of juvenile justice report to the Legislature of Louisiana on or before February3
1, 2015, on Louisiana's progress in conforming to and complying with the goals of4
juvenile justice reform outlined in Act No. 1225 of the 2003 Regular Session of the5
legislature.6
WHEREAS, the Legislature of Louisiana directed in the Juvenile Justice Reform Act7
of 2003 that Louisiana should work toward accomplishing certain reforms in Louisiana's8
juvenile justice system; and 9
WHEREAS, those reforms include periodic review of every juvenile in the custody10
of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to determine whether the juvenile is11
placed in the least restrictive placement most appropriate to their needs and consistent with12
the circumstances of the case and the protection of the best interests of the society and the13
safety of the public within the state; and 14
WHEREAS, those reforms include the creation of a single state entity for the15
delivery of services to children and their families to facilitate: more effective coordination16
and collaboration, a better system of service delivery with a single point of financing, a17
single point of entry, a comprehensive system of case management and wraparound services18 SCR NO. 148
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for children and families, along with savings from the elimination of redundant1
administrative and programmatic functions; and 2
WHEREAS, those reforms include developing and recommending uniform standards3
and licensing procedure for local juvenile detention facilities, which standards should4
comport with nationally recognized and accepted standards for practice in juvenile facilities;5
and 6
WHEREAS, those reforms include interagency sharing and integration of data and7
information relating to child protection, delinquency, families in need of services and other8
concerns provided in the Louisiana Children's Code, for the benefit of the children and9
families involved in the juvenile justice system; and 10
WHEREAS, the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2003 lists at least thirteen different11
state and local agencies which are encouraged to facilitate such interagency agreements12
regarding the sharing of juveniles' information; and 13
WHEREAS, reforms sought in the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2003 further14
include greater communication, coordination, and collaboration between and among state,15
city, parish, and other local public school systems and juvenile justice agencies to address16
effectively issues affecting the behavior and disciplining of students, especially with respect17
to safe school planning, mental health service delivery, family strengthening, alternative18
schools, special education, school zero tolerance policies, school suspensions, and positive19
behavioral supports; and 20
WHEREAS, the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2003 includes these and other21
reforms which the legislature directed should be implemented within Louisiana's juvenile22
justice system; and 23
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Youth Services, office24
of juvenile justice, is responsible for the custody of, evaluation of, such rehabilitation25
programs as the department deems appropriate for, and post-release monitoring of26
adjudicated delinquent youth.27
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby28
urge and request the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Youth Services, office29
of juvenile justice to prepare a written report including findings and recommendations on30 SCR NO. 148
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Louisiana's progress in conforming to and complying with the goals of juvenile justice1
reform outlined in Act No. 1225 of the 2003 Regular Session of the legislature, and how best2
to proceed moving forward to achieve the Act's remaining goals not yet achieved. 3
BE IT FURTHER RESOL VED that the Department of Public Safety and4
Corrections, Youth Services, office of juvenile justice shall report its findings and5
recommendations to the Legislature of Louisiana on or before February 1, 2015.6
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Dr.7
Mary Livers, Deputy Secretary of Youth Services, office of juvenile justice.8
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Julie J. Baxter.
DIGEST
Broome SCR No. 148
Requests DPSC, Youth Services, office of juvenile justice to report to the legislature on or
before February 1, 2015, on Louisiana's progress in conforming to and complying with the
goals of juvenile justice reform outlined in Act 1225 of the 2003 Regular Session, and how
best to proceed moving forward to achieve the Act's remaining goals not yet achieved.