House passes Jetson bill

• By MARSHA SHULER
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Jun 14, 2008 - Page: 4A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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The Louisiana House on Friday endorsed legislation that would lead to the closure of troubled Jetson Youth Center as part of an overhaul of the state’s juvenile justice system.

The House voted 94-0 for the Senate-passed bill. It now returns to the Senate for concurrence in House changes.

The House made two changes to the legislation under which Jetson would be shut down in 2009 and its juvenile offenders transferred to smaller community-based facilities closer to where their families live.

State Rep. Michael Jackson, D-Baton Rouge, won approval of an amendment aimed at protecting the jobs of those who work at Jetson, a juvenile facility located near Baker that house about 200 offenders.

Another amendment, pushed by state Rep. Rosalind Jones, D-Monroe, would stop the most violent offenders from being shipped to the same location when Jetson closes. Jones said earlier that she feared the toughest Jetson offenders would be sent to the Swanson Center in Monroe.

Senate Bill 749 sponsored by state Sen. Don Cravins Jr., D-Opelousas, is endorsed by Gov. Bobby Jindal.

State Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans, said the Legislature “has come a long way in juvenile justice reform.” He called Cravins’ legislation “another step.”

State Rep. Elbert Guillory, D-Opelousas, said Jetson is “a relic of the time that is past.”

State Rep. Bodi White, R-Central, said the proposed law moves Louisiana closer to the Missouri model, which has dramatically reduced juvenile recidivism rates and led to offenders getting a high school education or GEDs.

The idea is to change to a community-based system of rehabilitation that involves parents and local resources from education opportunities to mental health services.

Jetson is home to male offenders who range in age from 14 to 20. They are incarcerated for crimes ranging from purse snatching and drug offenses to murder and armed robbery.

Jetson has been plagued by violence with fighting, reported rapes, and guards and juveniles injured during confrontations.

The state would open three 48-bed secure juvenile facilities in different regions into which Jetson residents would be transferred. No more than 12 juveniles could be housed in one of the facility’s units.