Office of Juvenile Justice The Office of Juvenile Justice protects the public by providing safe and effective individualized services to youth, who will become productive, law-abiding citizens. Type Southeastern Region

OJJ Mission The Office of Juvenile Justice protects the public by providing safe and effective individualized services to youth, who will become productive, law-abiding citizens. Page 2

Juvenile v. Adult Correctional Interventions OJJ’s mission differs from adult corrections Treatment focused, not punishment focused Constitutional right to treatment Undeveloped physical, emotional, and mental capacity Page 3

OJJ Youth Page 4

Organizational Structure OJJ Deputy Secretary appointed by the Governor and Cabinet level position Central Office in Baton Rouge 11 Regional offices with Probation and Parole Officers throughout the state 3 Secure Facilities and 1 satellite campus in Columbia Approximately 1,000 employees Page 5

OJJ Central Office Page 6

Juvenile Laws Louisiana Children’s Code –Contains all laws affecting juveniles Constitutional rights intact –Except right to trial by jury –No death penalty Federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act Page 7

Juvenile Court System Youth may be petitioned to court and adjudicated for any criminal act an adult may be charged with. Youth may be charged with an offense if they are between the ages of 10 and 16 years old. Youth may also be charged as a status offender, i.e. runaway, truant and ungovernable, until their 18 th birthday. Page 8

Juvenile Court System Attorneys –Vast majority of youth are represented by counsel in juvenile court Confidentiality issues Timelines –Juvenile proceedings have stringent timelines courts must follow Most juvenile cases are resolved through agreements with the DA and don’t result in trials. Page 9

OJJ Population Serve youth through: –Supervision: Probation and Parole –Custody: out of home placement Residential: non-secure out of home placement, group homes Intensive Residential: secure care facilities Serve at-risk youth through prevention and diversion programs in communities In the last fiscal year, over 6,000 youth were served OJJ may serve adjudicated youth until their 21 st birthday Page 10

Status Offenders Conduct that would not be crimes if committed by an adult, but when committed by a youth are grounds for FINS adjudication. –truancy (not attending school) –ungovernable (not obeying parents) –runaway behavior (being absent from home without parental permission) –violation of law by a child under age 10 Page 11

OJJ Youth Page 12

Evidence Based Practices The highest form of evidence is empirical evidence – research, data, results from controlled studies, etc., not stories, opinions, and testimonials. Encourages the use of researched, validated tools and assessments with evaluations. Program integrity makes a difference. Page 13

Research Most researchers who study correctional interventions have concluded: Without some form of human intervention or services there is unlikely to be much effect on recidivism from punishment alone. The evidence also indicates that while treatment is more effective in reducing recidivism than punishment, not all treatment programs are equally effective. Page 14

Research - Risk/Need Principles Risk refers to risk of reoffending and not the seriousness of the offense. You can be a low risk felon or a high risk felon, a low risk misdemeanant or a high risk misdemeanant. Page 15

Research - Risk/Need Principles 1.Target those youth with higher probability of recidivism 2.Provide most intensive treatment to higher risk youth 3.Intensive treatment for lower risk youth can increase recidivism Page 16

OJJ Youth Page 17

Probation Process A Probation and Parole Officer (PPO) supervises, advocates, refers, and coordinates services for youth and their families. The PPO helps youth adhere to the conditions set forth by the court and holds youth accountable for his actions. Page 18

Probation Process Services youth receive include: –serve as case manager –conduct a risk/needs assessment –attend court, testify, and provide information to the court –conduct curfew checks, drug screens –regular contact with youth and family Page 19

OJJ Secure Care Facilities Page 20 Swanson Satellite in Columbia

Secure Care Facilities Secure care is only utilized if the youth poses a threat to public safety Major transformation to therapeutic treatment LaMod Program - a national model Physical and mental health care provided Specialized treatment programs for mental health, substance abuse and sex offenders Moving toward regionalized services so youth may remain engaged with their families Page 21

Secure Care Facilities Page 22

Educational Services BESE approved schools in all 3 facilities Year round school, 6 hours a day Certified teachers 12:1 student teacher ratio or better Youth obtain Carnegie units if returning to school after release or obtain GED (certified GED test site) Opportunities to participate in college level classes Vocational classes Page 23

Educational Services Secure Care ClassroomSecure Care Graduation Page 24

La Mod New approach: Therapeutic Model, not correctional Characteristics for youth and staff –dignity and respect –relationship-building –homelike environment –consistency Outcome: decreasing recidivism for youth exiting secure care Page 25

OJJ Accomplishments National Partners Focus on evidence based practices Increased expectations of staff and training Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY) Nationally recognized Service Coordination Model Performance-based Standards for Facilities and Contract Providers Decreasing recidivism for youth exiting secure care ACA Golden Eagle Award Page 26

OJJ Goal OJJ’s goal is to reduce the number of youth that reenter the system. The vision for our future is to become the leading system of juvenile justice in the country. For every youth diverted from a life of crime, the state will save $1.6 million over their lifetime. Page 27

Office of Juvenile Justice The Office of Juvenile Justice protects the public by providing safe and effective individualized services to youth, who will become productive, law-abiding citizens. Type For More Information, Visit