Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

In a span of two weeks, the conditions at some of Louisiana’s youth correctional facilities has been in the news, and it hasn’t been good. A fight at a Bridge City facility occurred where a reported forty inmates were involved in violent fights. During the conflict, property was destroyed, and many were injured, leaving the facilities' personnel worried about what could happen next. Bridge City wasn’t alone. Here at the Swanson Youth Correctional Center in Monroe, there have been two reported cases of inmates escaping from the facility, but details of how those escapes occurred have been kept under wraps. Just recently, three inmates escaped from the Christian Acres Juvenile Facility in Tallulah, LA, a small community 50 miles east of Monroe. Officials on the local and state level at the Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ) have given out very little information that may point to the issues that face the system, regarding why there appears to be so much unrest at these facilities. The public is not naïve enough to believe that everything is going well behind the walls of these facilities, but some insight into what official plans may be on the table to improve conditions, would go a long way to instill (perhaps restore) confidence in the public.

There are also issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic that is occurring throughout the state and at some of these youth facilities, in addition to the problems of unrest. A guard that works at the Bridge City facility recently spoke on the condition of anonymity about the circumstances there. The guard reportedly said that he, the staff, and even the young people are afraid of the Coronavirus and what could happen to them. Swanson allegedly has five residents and six staff members that have tested positive for COVID-19, and several have recovered. There have been appeals from some community-based groups that have asked that the population be reduced to help mitigate the spread of the virus, both in adult and youth facilities.

One of the issues facing correctional facilities has been adequate staffing, as the guard noted. Long hours and being in an area where even the smallest incident can exposé employees to dangerous situations is the primary concern. OJJ officials maintain that health and security are top priorities, but after hearing first-hand accounts, many employees still worry. Then there is the issue of pay. Overtime can supplement pay, but according to one official, overtime pay has been suspended due to “budget constraints” of the state. When complaints are brought forward to their superiors, employees are allegedly told that their concerns “are being looked at”. One can only wonder if the conditions in Bridge City are a snapshot of what is happening at other youth facilities (including Swanson) around the state. It’s only after hearing of fights, riots, and daring escapes, that the community gets a reminder that these facilities exist. More can and needs to be done fo