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Regular Session, 2014 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 148
BY SENATOR BROOME
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To urge and request that the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Youth Services,
office of juvenile justice report to the Legislature of Louisiana 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 No. 1225 of the 2003 Regular Session of the
legislature.
WHEREAS, the Legislature of Louisiana directed in the Juvenile Justice Reform Act
of 2003 that Louisiana should work toward accomplishing certain reforms in Louisiana's
juvenile justice system; and
WHEREAS, those reforms include periodic review of every juvenile in the custody
of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to determine whether the juvenile is
placed in the least restrictive placement most appropriate to their needs and consistent with
the circumstances of the case and the protection of the best interests of the society and the
safety of the public within the state; and
WHEREAS, those reforms include the creation of a single state entity for the
delivery of services to children and their families to facilitate: more effective coordination
and collaboration, a better system of service delivery with a single point of financing, a
single point of entry, a comprehensive system of case management and wraparound services
for children and families, along with savings from the elimination of redundant
administrative and programmatic functions; and
WHEREAS, those reforms include developing and recommending uniform standards
and licensing procedure for local juvenile detention facilities, which standards should
comport with nationally recognized and accepted standards for practice in juvenile facilities;
and SCR NO. 148 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, those reforms include interagency sharing and integration of data and
information relating to child protection, delinquency, families in need of services and other
concerns provided in the Louisiana Children's Code, for the benefit of the children and
families involved in the juvenile justice system; and
WHEREAS, the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2003 lists at least thirteen different
state and local agencies which are encouraged to facilitate such interagency agreements
regarding the sharing of juveniles' information; and
WHEREAS, reforms sought in the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2003 further
include greater communication, coordination, and collaboration between and among state,
city, parish, and other local public school systems and juvenile justice agencies to address
effectively issues affecting the behavior and disciplining of students, especially with respect
to safe school planning, mental health service delivery, family strengthening, alternative
schools, special education, school zero tolerance policies, school suspensions, and positive
behavioral supports; and
WHEREAS, the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2003 includes these and other
reforms which the legislature directed should be implemented within Louisiana's juvenile
justice system; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Youth Services, office
of juvenile justice, is responsible for the custody of, evaluation of, such rehabilitation
programs as the department deems appropriate for, and post-release monitoring of
adjudicated delinquent youth.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Youth Services, office
of juvenile justice to prepare a written report including findings and recommendations on
Louisiana's progress in conforming to and complying with the goals of juvenile justice
reform outlined in Act No. 1225 of the 2003 Regular Session of the legislature, and how best
to proceed moving forward to achieve the Act's remaining goals not yet achieved.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Public Safety and
Corrections, Youth Services, office of juvenile justice shall report its findings and
recommendations to the Legislature of Louisiana on or before February 1, 2015. SCR NO. 148 ENROLLED
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Dr. Mary Livers, Deputy Secretary of Youth Services, office of juvenile justice.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES