Louisiana Pauses Controversial Plan to Move Juveniles to Adult Prison
The pause allows for a hearing on a motion to stop the transfer in early September, part of a federal lawsuit filed by attorneys representing incarcerated youth and supported by the ACLU.
Landwebs
Louisiana’s Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ) will pause its plan to move youth from a juvenile facility to the Louisiana State Penitentiary, known as Angola, until at least Sep. 15. The pause will allow for a hearing on a motion to stop the transfer in early September, part of a federal lawsuit filed by attorneys representing incarcerated youth and supported by the ACLU.
The lawsuit challenges the office and Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards’ plan to move young people from the Bridge City Center for Youth juvenile facility to Angola prison, an adult prison notorious for violence and mismanagement. The lawsuit argues that the move violates federal law and youth offenders’ constitutional rights. “We are relieved that young people who had been scheduled for transfer to Angola get a temporary reprieve,” said Tammie Gregg, deputy director of the ACLU National Prison Project, in the announcement. “Not only would moving forward with this transfer be unconstitutional and illegal, it would be devastating for young people.”
