District Attorney in Shreveport Has Strong Message for Governor

👀What Is the Answer to Juvenile Justice Problem?

👀Who Should Be Appointed to the Blue Ribbon Panel?

SHREVEPORT, LA - The District Attorney in Caddo Parish has a strong message for the Governor and other leaders in Louisiana. He says our state needs to take action now to address juvenile crime and rehabilitation.

D.A. James Stewart says Caddo Parish leads the state with the highest number of incarcerated juveniles in its juvenile prisons at 108.  The numbers in East Baton Rouge are currently at 90 while 72 juveniles are locked up in Orleans Parish. Calcasieu Parish is next on the list with 54 teens behind bars.

D.A. Stewart also says 50 other Caddo juveniles are currently out of jail, but wear electronic ankle monitors.

Stewart says our system must do better. He says:

As our Caddo Parish juvenile court has toughened up with the times, what is sorely needed is analysis of and investment in the programming these juveniles receive while incarcerated.

Stewart points to the tragic case in our area that happened on Thanksgiving Day.  He says a young man killed in a violent episode on that day was just released from juvenile prison in March 2024 following a five-year sentence for armed robbery. That crime happened when the teen was just 14 and too young to be moved to adult court.  Stewart says this violent incident in west Shreveport has left two young Black men dead.

What Is the Answer to Juvenile Justice Problem?

Stewart is now pushing hard for the establishment of a statewide panel of experts to analyze the programming of inmates in the Office of Juvenile Justice custody.   Stewart says "whether it is by our Governor or legislature, it is past time for immediate action to be taken to develop and implement programs and counseling for incarcerated youth to learn better decision making, and then to also envelope these youth who often grow up in blighted crime ridden communities surrounded by traumatic violence, and where they ultimately return after serving their prison time."

DA Stewart says these young men need post release tracking to make sure they are getting the services they need. He says this will help keep them from turning to a life of crime. He says the cost of these kinds of programs are ultimately cheaper than the cost of building of more prisons.

Who Should Be Appointed to the Blue Ribbon Panel?

Stewart says this panel should include the Office of Juvenile Justice Secretary, lawmakers from both sides of the isle, psychologists, sociologists, community leaders from larger parishes, former inmates, DA's, police chiefs, sheriffs and even some admired Louisiana sports stars and entertainers.

What Would this Juvenile Panel Do to Address the Problem?

Stewart says this group will meet on a regular basis, tour facilities, interview current and former juvenile inmates, and then issue an annual report to the Governor and lawmakers about the needs across the state to address the needs of troubled youth across the state. Stewart says this could be the beginning of redirecting the lives of these troubled teens.