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Juvenile facility staff report increased programming but cite staffing shortages, background‑check delays and placement limits
Summary
Facility directors and Office of Juvenile Justice staff told the committee they are adding educational and vocational programming but struggle with staff retention, background‑check bottlenecks for volunteers, limited placement beds for juveniles and the need to keep victims separated under PREA procedures.
Directors and social‑services staff from Office of Juvenile Justice facilities described day‑to‑day operations, education and recreation programming, and how the agency responds to allegations that a youth was abused while in custody.
Courtney Myers, assistant secretary for the Office of Juvenile Justice, told senators family‑and‑community liaisons serve as the facility connection to families and community resources, and that OJJ has three statewide liaisons (with one vacancy at Acadiana Center for Youth). Myers said the system has moved to a tiered placement model based on security and treatment needs and that OJJ is working to provide more beds closer to youths’ home communities through partnerships with local detention centers.
Facility directors described available programming. Kevin Lewis, director of the Swanson Center for Youth, said the center provides Monday‑through‑Friday tutoring after school and recreation and seasonal intramural sports; Columbia and other Swanson campuses have partnered with Delta‑area technical programs to deliver vocational training such as heavy‑equipment operator classes. Linda London, director of Bridge City Center for Youth, described on‑site clubs, community‑service outings and organized sports.
Several directors said extracurricular programming is limited by staffing ratios and by security protocols for higher‑tier youth; Columbia and Bridge City reported sports and intramural competition when staffing allows. James Wesley, director at Acadiana Center for Youth, said facility staffing turnover remains a major obstacle to offering consistent activities that require stable staff supervision.
Social‑services staff explained how OJJ handles allegations of sexual abuse in custody. Colonel Roosevelt Johnson, director of investigative services, and Deputy Assistant Secretary Chad Wells said PREA standards preclude treating any custodial sexual contact as consensual; OJJ separates alleged victims and alleged perpetrators during an investigation, refers the matter to investigative services, notifies medical and mental‑health staff, and provides follow‑up monitoring. Investigative services said substantiated PREA allegations are referred to the district attorney for prosecutorial review and that the agency maintains an internal alert system to flag a youth’s record if allegations are substantiated so future placements and staff access are restricted.
Directors and social‑services staff also described barriers to volunteer programs and partnerships. They said background‑check turnaround times vary by parish and by sheriff’s office; several directors reported slow parish background results that limited the number of screened volunteers per week and slowed restarting of volunteer‑led religious and mentoring programs.
OJJ staff and facility directors asked the committee for financial support for staff recruitment, retention and for programming budgets. Senators pledged to review line items and requested budget coding and historical spending details for recreational and programming purchases so the legislature could evaluate targeted investments.
