Youth in Secure Care Facilities

Secure care, the deep end of the juvenile justice system, is reserved for those youth deemed to be a risk to public safety and/or not amenable to treatment in a less restrictive setting.

Youth are monitored constantly under direct supervision of staff, and are not allowed to come and go freely. Youth are housed in dormitories, or housing units, with populations from 10-12. Every effort is made to assign youth to the facility closest to home, which meets their identified treatment needs, to encourage family visits and involvement in treatment.

OJJ operates secure care facilities for males in different areas of the state:

• Bridge City Center for Youth in Jefferson Parish
• Swanson Center for Youth in Monroe
• Swanson Center for Youth at Columbia
• Acadiana Center for Youth in Bunkie
• Acadiana Center for Youth in St. Martinville

Intake into a Secure Care Facility

Upon arrival to a secure care facility, the admission staff records the youth’s arrival, signs for the physical custody of the youth, and the Probation and Parole Officer (PPO) provides facility staff with information regarding the youth. A general search of the youth and his/her possessions is conducted and inventoried by facility staff.

At admission, education, medical and mental health staff interview and evaluate each youth. They conduct comprehensive assessments of his/her educational level and medical and psychological conditions.

A treatment plan is developed for each youth based on his/her needs. Parents are contacted and encouraged to participate in developing their child’s education and treatment plan.

All youth are given an Orientation Handbook, and a copy of the Administrative Remedy Procedure policy, a Youth Care Manual, Pledge for Safety booklet, and a Code of Conduct Handbook. They are then allowed to review and discuss these items with a case worker.

A multidisciplinary team staffing is held at the facility and takes place within seven (7) working days of the youth’s admission. The youth’s PPO, the youth’s parent/guardian, the youth, and other facility staff are present during this staffing. The results of the youth’s assessments are discussed at the staffing. The Initial Treatment Plan (ITP) is completed, and the youth is assigned to appropriate housing, based on his initial screening and staff observations. After the youth transfers to his/her assigned housing unit, he/she is oriented into the housing unit.

While a youth is in Secure Placement, PPO, facility staff and the parent(s)/guardian(s) work together in other to ensure positive outcomes for the youth.