ENROLLED
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 47
BY REPRESENTATIVE JONES
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To urge and request the office of juvenile justice of the Department of Public Safety and
Corrections to study the impact of COVID-19 on its operations, specifically as it
pertains to the safety and security of juveniles and staff at its facilities, as well as the
feasibility of releasing low-risk, nonviolent juvenile detainees and its impact on
mitigating the spread of COVID-19, and to report the number of juveniles and staff
that have died as a result of COVID-19.
WHEREAS, according to a letter from the chief justice of the Supreme Court of
Louisiana, juveniles in poor health and those with underlying conditions are particularly
vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus, and juveniles held in facilities are at increased risk of
contracting and spreading the virus to others, including staff and their families and
communities; and
WHEREAS, in the same letter, the chief justice emphasized the importance of
minimizing the number of children held in close quarters, including jails, detention centers,
and secure care facilities, in order to contain the virus; and
WHEREAS, according to information from the office of juvenile justice, in response
to the public health crisis related to the spread of COVID-19, the office of juvenile justice
established quarantine and isolation guidelines to accommodate any determined exposures
within its facilities and is working with its medical provider and the office of public health
of the Louisiana Department of Health to determine the most appropriate treatment for
juveniles in its facilities who may fall ill; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the establishment of these guidelines, the office of
juvenile justice limited the number of visitors, contractors, and deliveries on secure care
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campuses since the onset of the public health crisis and screened each person entering the
secure care facilities; and
WHEREAS, as of April 9, 2020, there were twenty-one juveniles and eleven
employees who tested positive for COVID-19 at office of juvenile justice secure care
facilities; and
WHEREAS, it is important for the office of juvenile justice to strive for and maintain
the safety, security, and well-being of the juveniles and staff in its facilities and to take
necessary precautions to mitigate any potential spread of COVID-19.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the office of juvenile justice of the Department of Public Safety and
Corrections to study the impact of COVID-19 on its operations, specifically as it pertains to
the safety and security of juveniles and staff at its facilities, as well as the feasibility of
releasing low-risk, nonviolent juvenile detainees and its impact on mitigating the spread of
COVID-19, and to report the number of juveniles and staff that have died as a result of
COVID-19.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the office of juvenile justice shall report its
findings to the legislature no later than January 1, 2021.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the deputy secretary of the office of juvenile justice.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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