The transfer of youth to an adult facility during Hurricane Ida in August of 2021 provides a case study of how systems in Louisiana—including our public welfare and assistance, education, and justice systems—continue to fail to protect children and serve families with the most needs. Families and Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children (FFLIC) offers 5 key solutions:

A full implementation of Act 1225 would provide community-based supports to prevent youth criminal involvement and provide rehabilitation.

State and local entities must look to the Juvenile Justice Reform Act Implementation Commission for guidance and review.

We must ensure that the proper accountability mechanisms are in place to oversee services and care for youth.

Louisiana must make access to quality education a greater priority.

The Office of Juvenile Justice must continue to downsize by closing youth prisons.

In 2003 our legislature took a major step forward in passing Act 1225 to transform our youth justice system from an abusive, violent, and ineffective system into a holistic model of support that would prevent crime and provide rehabilitation. This law is a blueprint for a youth justice system that is based on best practices and research. But our lawmakers have never fully committed to its implementation and as a result, we continue to continue to experience youth justice disasters.

We are calling upon policymakers and systems leaders to prevent further and continuing harm, by fully implementing Act 1225 and the infrastructures, policies, and principles, of the Act, including its recommendations for coordination of services. The implementation of this bill is long overdue. We must stop investing in an ineffective and harmful incarceration system and begin to invest in the community-based services and supports we know work to improve outcomes for youth and our communities.