Juvenile crime in Louisiana has consistently made the headlines in the last two years, with multiple escapes from youth detention centers and what appears to be more violent crimes committed by teens. Louisiana Corrections Secretary Jimmy Le Blanc attributes the increase to multiple factors.
“A failed education system, poverty levels, parenting is nonexistent, and I think the two years of COVID has some impact on that,” said Le Blanc.
After multiple escapes from the Bridge City Center for Youth in Jefferson Parish, a plan to move violent juvenile offenders to a more secure location at Angola is on hold pending a hearing. Le Blanc said however when you compare juvenile crime to incarcerated adults in Louisiana…
“The recidivism rate is dropping, there are fewer people coming back to prison coming out of our systems,” said Le Blanc.
And with construction underway for a new women’s prison, the Office of Juvenile Justice is having to look at ways to make existing youth facilities more secure. Le Blanc credits the correctional system’s rehabilitation and reform efforts for helping reduce the recidivism rates of adult inmates.
“And most of the violent crime that’s going on out there is that younger group unfortunately for us,” said Le Blanc.
A federal hearing on the state’s plan to move violent youth offenders to Angola is scheduled for today and tomorrow. The state has agreed not to transfer 25 troubled juveniles to Angola until at least September 15th.
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