Statewide Recommendations for Improving Juvenile Justice: The Louisiana Experience

The results contained herein reflect a statewide process of bringing together practitioners and citizens from all aspects of the juvenile justice system in the State of Louisiana to identify issues and recommendations to improve the lives of Louisiana's children. The results of the process indicate that participants are more interested in prevention and early intervention than incarceration and control methods of overcoming delinquency. The four main areas of concern are: (1) a fragmented juvenile justice system; (2) education; (3) family; and (4) youth empowerment. These results were presented statewide to policy makers through conference presentations. The results of the Think Tank indicate that participants favor expanding services, better use of available resources, and focusing on prevention. Participants hope that the results of this event will serve as a catalyst for change in Louisiana.