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OJJ seeks staff and bed capacity as senators press for transitions and vocational programs
Summary
Office of Juvenile Justice leaders told the committee OJJ faces pending placements (about 70–80 on any given day), roughly 300 youth in secure care, and needs additional beds and staff; senators pressed for vocational and mental‑health services and more social workers in certain regions.
Courtney Myers, recently appointed deputy secretary at the Office of Juvenile Justice, and other OJJ leaders briefed the Senate Finance Committee on FY‑27 needs and program changes for youth services.
Senate Fiscal summarized the OJJ budget request (about $226.6 million) and identified schedule‑specific adjustments, including funding for 56 additional beds in Vernon Parish and staffing to operate the Jetson facility. Myers described expanded pre‑service and in‑service training, a chaplaincy program, and a statewide Multi‑Agency Resource Center in Lafayette that provides community services and has reduced re‑offense rates for referrals it served.
During questioning, OJJ officials said on a typical day about 300 youth were in secure care statewide and roughly 70–80 youth were pending placement in local detention centers. Committee members asked about staffing gaps in social work and mental‑health services; Myers acknowledged shortages in some regions and said OJJ plans to add social workers and transitional coordinators to improve program continuity and community re‑entry. OJJ and committee members described vocational expansions (welding, CDL training, culinary, community college partnerships) intended to give older youth skills and credentials for employment after release.
Lawmakers raised program design questions about using community providers (Youth Challenge Programs) and the legal/operational limitations when youth remain under parental custody or are adjudicated. OJJ leaders said they would continue to refine placement strategies and staffing to reduce pending placements and better serve youth in appropriate treatment tracks.
The committee did not take votes during the session; senators requested additional operational detail and cost estimates to evaluate budget requests.
