SOLUTIONS
FFLIC advances a dual strategy of youth justice reform and educational justice. We believe that by divesting from the youth justice system and investing in educational systems, including keeping youth at home and in our communities, we will move closer to our vision.
We know that piecemeal approaches to youth incarceration don’t work. We need a comprehensive plan to address youth justice. Fortunately, a blueprint already exists. 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 coordinated care that would prevent crime and provide rehabilitation. The legislation was modeled after the leading approach for care at the time, which was in Missouri, and focused on changes to Louisiana’s education, public welfare, and youth justice system.
As part of the effort, the not-for-profit organization, Missouri Youth Services Institute, came to Louisiana to help the state implement the new model of care. As a result of the visit and Act 1225, the “Missouri Model” was modified into what was called the “Louisiana Model” for Secure Care (or LAMod). But our lawmakers have never fully committed to its implementation and as a result, we continue to continue to experience an ongoing youth justice crisis.
That’s why FFLIC continues to call upon policymakers to focus on the solutions we know work that are laid out in the following resources:
These resources call 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 across the education, welfare, and youth justice systems. We must stop investing in an ineffective and harmful incarceration system and begin to invest in the community-based services and supports and opportunities we know work to improve outcomes for youth and our communities. Moreover, FFLIC seeks to do this through building Black political power with youth and their families as we understand that those closest to the problems are closest to the solutions and that sustainable and meaningful reforms will only come through truly shifting power in our communities.