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2024 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 7
BY SENATOR CONNICK
CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. Provides for reporting of escapes from juvenile
institutions. (8/1/24)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 15:909, relative to state juvenile institutions; to provide relative
3 to reporting of escapes from juvenile institutions; to expand reporting requirements
4 for juvenile escapes to facilities that house juveniles on behalf of the state; and to
5 provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 15:909 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
8 ยง909. Reporting of escapes from state juvenile institutions; records
9 A. The superintendent or highest ranking employee of the Department of
10 Public Safety and Corrections, Corrections Services corrections services, or the
11 person acting on behalf of the department, or the operator of a facility that houses
12 juvenile offenders on behalf of the state, who is physically present at and in charge
13 of a juvenile institution or facility that houses juvenile offenders on behalf of the
14 state at the time of an escape from that institution shall, within ten minutes after
15 being notified that a child or offender has escaped from or left the premises or
16 grounds of the institution without authority, notify or take necessary steps to insure
17 ensure the notification of every law enforcement agency, as defined in this Section,
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1 and local media outlets.
2 B.(1) The superintendent or person in charge of a state juvenile institution or
3 facility that houses juvenile offenders on behalf of the state shall maintain a
4 record and description of every escape from the juvenile institution or escape from
5 a facility that houses juvenile offenders on behalf of the state of which the
6 superintendent or other person has control. The record shall list the date and time
7 of the escape, the number of offenders who escaped, the offenses for which the
8 escapees were placed at the institution, the name of each law enforcement agency
9 notified of the escape, the time each law enforcement agency was notified and the
10 name of the person receiving the notice, and the name of the department employee
11 or agent who notified that law enforcement agency.
12 (2) The report provided for by this Subsection shall be available for public
13 inspection and shall list all prior escapes, if any, from the institution or facility that
14 houses juvenile offenders on behalf of the state within the last five years of prior
15 to the date of the last most recent escape. A copy of the report shall be delivered to
16 each law enforcement agency as defined in this Section and made available to local
17 media outlets and the general public upon proper submission of a public
18 records request.
19 C. The secretary of the department shall promulgate rules and regulations to
20 insure ensure the immediate reporting of all escapes from juvenile institutions and
21 facilities that house juvenile offenders on behalf of the state as required by this
22 Section.
23 D. As used in this Section,:
24 (1) "law Law enforcement agency" means the sheriff's office, all police
25 departments in the parish, and the office of state police.
26 (2) "Local media outlets" means local news services, including but not
27 limited to print, broadcast, and online platforms.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 7
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The original instrument was prepared by Alden A. Clement, Jr. The
following digest, which does not constitute a part of the legislative
instrument, was prepared by Alan Miller.
DIGEST
SB 7 Engrossed 2024 Regular Session Connick
Present law requires that the superintendent or highest ranking employee of the Dept. of
Public Safety and Corrections, corrections services, or the person acting on behalf of the
department, who is physically present at and in charge of a juvenile institution at the time
of an escape, within 10 minutes of being notified that a child or offender has escaped the
institution, notify or take necessary steps to insure the notification of every law enforcement
agency as defined in present law.
Proposed law retains present law and makes present law applicable to facilities that house
juvenile offenders on behalf of the state. Proposed law further requires notification of
escapes be made to local media outlets.
Present law requires provides that the superintendent or person in charge of a juvenile
institution maintain a record and description of every escape from the juvenile institution.
Present law further provides that this record list the date and time of the escape, the number
of offenders who escaped, the offenses for which the escapees were placed at the institution,
the name of each law enforcement agency notified of the escape, the time each law
enforcement agency was notified and the name of the person receiving the notice, and the
name of the department employee or agent who notified the law enforcement agency.
Proposed law retains present law and makes present law applicable to facilities that house
juvenile offenders on behalf of the state.
Present law requires that the report of escapes be available for public inspection and list all
prior escapes from the institution within the five years prior to the date of the most recent
escape, and provides that a copy of the report be delivered to each law enforcement agency.
Proposed law retains present law and makes present law applicable to facilities that house
juvenile offenders on behalf of the state. Proposed law further requires the report of escapes
be made available to local media outlets and the general public upon proper submission of
a public records request.
Present law requires that the secretary of the department promulgate rules and regulations
to ensure the immediate reporting of all escapes from juvenile institutions.
Proposed law retains present law and makes present law applicable to facilities that house
juvenile offenders on behalf of the state.
Present law defines "law enforcement agency".
Proposed law retains present law and defines "local media outlets" as local news services
including but not limited to print, broadcast, and online platforms.
Effective August 1, 2024.
(Amends R.S. 15:909)
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 7
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Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Judiciary B to the
original bill
1. Makes technical changes.
2. Adds definition of "local media outlets" to include local news services,
including but not limited to print, broadcast, and online platforms.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.