LOUISIANA, USA — Ten youth offenders that had been housed at the Bridge City Center for Youth have been relocated to a Youth Center in Monroe and not Angola as first reported, according to the State Office of Juvenile Justice and State Senator Pat Connick.
The Office of Juvenile Justice has announced the completion of the first phase of adjudicated youth transfers to different facilities, according to a press release.
18 juveniles were transferred to facilities around the state. 10 from the Bridge City Center for Youth moved to Swanson Center for Youth at Monroe. Four from Acadiana Center for Youth at St. Martinville and four from Swanson Center were transferred to the temporary West Feliciana Center for Youth facility.
These transfers are part of a "comprehensive" plan to address the safety of the juveniles as well as the staff and surrounding communities.
Connick told WWL-TV that he was under the impression that the youth offenders were being sent to Angola, but he said he is pleased with the action and that the more severe offenders have been removed from Bridge City.
"This is a statewide issue that is being addressed," he told WWL-TV Wednesday night. "OJJ has informed me that the criteria for transferring juveniles to the Angola facility is and will be based in part on the behavior of the juveniles located in other parts of the state that needed the control and safety being offered at Angola more than the Bridge City juveniles.
"I have no problem with this and we need to let OJJ do what they know is best for everyone. The bottom line is that I am pleased that the dangerous juveniles from Bridge City are in the process of being removted from that location."
The OJJ press release said that these transfers were prompted by the Bridge City breakout over the summer and that these are proactive measures to stabilize conditions.
Governor John Bel Edwards had discussed sending the inmates to the Louisiana State Penitentiary, but it was not mentioned as a destination in OJJ's release.
"OJJ is constantly assessing the youth in our care to determine what facility and level of care is best for their development, their safety, and the safety of those around them," the press release said.