PRESS RELEASE

Evacuated Youth Return to Bridge City Center for Youth
BATON ROUGE, La. (September 10, 2008) – The Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ) today returned 100 youth evacuated from Bridge City Center for Youth to the Jefferson Parish facility, from Jetson Center for Youth in Baker.  OJJ evacuated the BCCY residents to Jetson for safety on Aug. 30, ahead of Hurricane Gustav’s landfall.  Eleven youth brought to Bridge City from St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes’ detention centers before the storm were also returned from Jetson today.

OJJ operates three secure care facilities for adjudicated youth, including Bridge City Center for Youth near New Orleans, Jetson Center for Youth in Baker, near Baton Rouge, and Swanson Center for Youth in Monroe.  OJJ has 11 regional probation and parole offices located throughout the state.

OJJ also coordinated movement of youth housed in coastal parish juvenile detention centers to safer locations inland.  The parishes of Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, St. James, Lafourche, Terrebonne, St. Martin, Lafayette and Calcasieu moved their youth, who were housed in facilities from Baton Rouge to north Louisiana during the emergency period.      

“OJJ staff in every office statewide pulled together as a team to support one another, maintain public safety and provide excellent care for our youth,” said Interim Deputy Secretary Mary Livers.  “Staff from Bridge City left their homes and families to carry out their duties.  Jetson and Swanson staff put in long hours.  Probation and Parole staff from around the state provided support at Jetson and other locations.  Central Office staff pitched in to support operations at Jetson and the shelter housing evacuated staff and their families.  The team’s dedication to our mission, to one another and to the youth in our care was truly inspiring and impressive.” 

OJJ youth arrived at Jetson with medical and legal records, clothing, personal items and supplies.   Staff from BCCY accompanied the youth to Jetson and remained there until moving back today.  Youth received needed medical, dental and mental health services at their temporary domicile.  Staff from Swanson Center for Youth in Monroe went to Jetson Aug. 30 to assist with the evacuation.

A facility was set up to house OJJ staff who worked temporary duty at Jetson, as well as staff and families who needed to evacuate from New Orleans and coastal areas.  That shelter will close tomorrow.

St. James Detention Center evacuated its youth to Swanson before the storm.  Those youth returned to St. James today. 

Probation and Parole Officers from OJJ’s regional offices throughout the state provided support at Jetson, and at Ware Youth Center in Coushatta, which housed youth evacuated from coastal parishes.    

Parents may call 225.287.7900 or 800.594.3941 for information.

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