NCJ Number
206251
Journal
Juvenile Justice Update Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Dated: February/March 2004 Pages: 1-2,12
Editor(s)
Lisa R. Lipman
Date Published
February 2004
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article assesses the current state of Louisiana’s juvenile correctional system and examines the rebuilding and revitalization efforts taking place within the system, specifically the implementation of the Youth Care System (YCS).
Abstract
In 1999 and 2000, alleged abuses in the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, juvenile correctional system forced the Department to review its quality of care for youth, ensure that adequate programs and services were provided and that their institutions were safe, and provide youth with opportunities to ensure their growth and development. This article reports on the results of an external evaluation of Louisiana’s new Youth Care System (YCS), a behavior management system in the managing of youth behavior. The YCS provides a new treatment and operational model for Louisiana’s Youth Development System. The YCS proved to be an effective tool to manage the youth population incarcerated in the State’s juvenile facilities. In addition to the YCS, the department has adopted and trained staff in cognitive behavioral interventions targeted at juveniles, has assessed specific population needs and created targeted interventions, and has explored prevention and aftercare services throughout the system. The State is seen as having made tremendous progress in the rebuilding and revitalizing of its youth correctional system.