SLS 21RS-1788 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 86
BY SENATOR CLOUD
JUVENILES. Requests the office of juvenile justice to report to the Senate Committee on
Finance not later than May 31, 2021, on violent incidents occurring at secure care facilities
and similar housing.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To urge and request the office of juvenile justice, Department of Public Safety and
3 Corrections, to submit a written report to the Senate Committee on Finance not later
4 than May 31, 2021, on each violent incident that has occurred in each secure care
5 facility from January 1, 2016, through May 1, 2021, the date of the incident, the age
6 of the youth involved in each incident, and the housing status of the youth after the
7 incident.
8 WHEREAS, secure care is reserved for youth considered to be a risk to public safety
9 and not amenable to treatment in a less restrictive setting; and
10 WHEREAS, the office of juvenile justice, Department of Public Safety and
11 Corrections oversees state secure care facilities for juveniles, including the Bridge City
12 Center for Youth, the Swanson Centers for Youth in Monroe and Columbia, and the
13 Acadiana Center for Youth in Bunkie, and other contracted housing for juveniles, including
14 secure care, residential care, or other group home facilities; and
15 WHEREAS, an increase in violence in secure care facilities was noted in a 2018
16 legislative auditor report, which cited a one hundred twenty-one percent increase at the
17 Bridge City Center for Youth; and
18 WHEREAS, violent behaviors disrupt treatment and education services and may also
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SLS 21RS-1788 ORIGINAL
1 indicate that youth are not receiving effective rehabilitation services; and
2 WHEREAS, with the increase in violence, one of the highest priorities of secure care
3 facilities and other facilities must be to promote public safety and ensure the safety and well-
4 being of staff and youth.
5 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
6 does hereby urge and request the office of juvenile justice, Department of Public Safety and
7 Corrections, to submit a written report to the Senate Committee on Finance not later than
8 May 31, 2021, on violent incidents in secure care facilities.
9 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the written report shall contain the following
10 information:
11 (1) A list of each violent incident that has occurred at each secure care facility from
12 January 1, 2016, through May 1, 2021.
13 (2) The date of each incident.
14 (3) The age of the youth involved in the incident.
15 (4) Whether the youth remained in the secure care facility after the incident or if the
16 youth was transferred to another facility after the incident, the type of facility the youth was
17 transferred, to and the duration of the transfer.
18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the office of juvenile justice shall provide
19 written notice within ten days of each violent incident at a secure care facility to the
20 members of the Louisiana Senate and Louisiana House of Representatives whose district
21 encompasses the secure care facility where the violent incident occurred.
22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
23 deputy secretary of the office of juvenile justice, Department of Public Safety and
24 Corrections.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Michelle Ridge.
DIGEST
SR 86 Original 2021 Regular Session Cloud
Requests the office of juvenile justice to submit a written report to the Senate Committee on
Finance not later than May 31, 2021, on violent incidents occurring at secure care facilities.
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