Reopened juvenile detention center is success story for Sheriff’s Office

Our Sheriff’s Office, supported by the residents of St. Bernard Parish, has had many accomplishments in rebuilding after taking the brunt of Hurricane Katrina. But one of the most important things we have been able to do, and possibly something many people don’t realize, is the reopening of the Parish's Juvenile Detention Center on Paris Road, next to the Parish prison for adults.

Residents who don’t have a son or daughter who have gotten into some type of trouble might not be aware of what the reopening of the detention center has meant. Quite frankly, too many minors in this parish, some native and some newcomers to St. Bernard, were getting involved in serious crimes after the hurricane, including copper theft, home and vehicle burglaries, and drug-dealing. Part of the problem was our juvenile detention center had been shut down since the storm and we were unable to hold many youthful offenders. The word seemed to get around that if a minor was involved in crime – from misdemeanors such as curfew violations or felonies including burglary and drugs – there wasn’t much the Sheriff’s Office could do with them.We could look for space in other parishes where possible and sometimes hold them in offices guarded by sheriff’s deputies – a drain on our manpower. But often all that could be done was turn them back over to a parent or guardian. And sometimes the parents could do little to keep them in line. We had to find employees with the right background and temperament to work in a facility for juveniles and the process took a while to get to to the point where we could reopen our Juvenile Detention Center in July of this year. What a difference it has made. I’m convinced having the juvenile center open has an impact on the overall crime rate in this parish. I think we are seeing fewer repeat young offenders now that the word is getting around they won’t simply be turned over to their parents or guardians if they are arrested.

The juvenile center can hold up to 36 teens and now has more 20 – some of whom are awaiting trial and some who have been convicted and sentenced to serve time.  Lt. Andre Dominick, who has an extensive background in the sheriff’s detective division dealing with juveniles, is director of juvenile detention, which is under the overall leadership of Col. David Mowers, Director of Corrections including the St. Bernard Parish Prison for adults.

The judges of the 34th Judicial District Court in Chalmette recently went on record confirming what we in law enforcement certainly felt – that reopening the juvenile center was a great crime deterrent as well as being a place where young offenders had a chance for rehabilitation. As one judge said, law enforcement and the courts now have a hammer to hold over the teen-agers who once knew they would likely be released back to the streets after an arrest. Young offenders are now being held in the center under bond and know they face lengthy stays if they continue a life of crime. We are even getting cooperation toward solving crimes. And just as importantly for the teen-agers who end up in the juvenile center, they are possibly in the best situation for them at this time of their lives:  removed from the streets and living in an environment where they attend class with no distractions and with access to medical care and counseling. Teachers and counselors can work to change behavior while the teens still have a chance to lead a decent life.

And St. Bernard residents have a chance to be free from worry about out of control young offenders.