Federal judge decides youth can no longer be held in Angola facility

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - The court fight to decide what to do with violent young inmates and whether or not they should stay in a facility at Angola is over.

Lawyers for the children and their families provided evidence that the youth are routinely held in solitary confinement, deprived of their right to an education, treatment and other rehabilitative services, and have been held in inhumane conditions.

In a packed courtroom, Judge Shelly Dick said the youth’s constitutional rights are being violated and says promises were made and all were broken.

“It’s a win but it doesn’t change the fact that these kids are still being traumatized by the experience,” youth organizer Antonio Travis said.

“Louisiana should be ashamed of how these kids are being treated and with our tax dollars,” continued David Utter, lead counsel and executive director of the Fair Fight Initiative.

Louisiana created the Bridge City Center for Youth in West Feliciana Parish last summer after a series of violent events and breakouts at youth facilities across the state. The Angola site was set up for temporary use until a new facility opens in Monroe this fall.

Office of Juvenile Justice Deputy Sec. Curtis Nelson Jr. released the following statement about the decision:

“Last year, after a series of high-profile and violent incidents at OJJ facilities, the office of Juvenile Justice temporarily repurposed a facility on the grounds of Louisiana State Penitentiary as a transitional treatment facility for high-risk youth. The decision was not made lightly but with inadequate space at existing OJJ facilities, immediate action was necessary to protect the youth, staff, and surrounding communities. OJJ has taken extraordinary measures to ensure the temporary West Feliciana Facility complies with state and federal law requiring the youth to continue receiving education classes, have suitable living conditions, and be completely separated from any adult inmates. The West Feliciana Facility has allowed us to keep community members, staff, and youth in our care safe, but the plan has always been to close the temporary facility as soon as possible and move the high-risk youth upon completion of the new Swanson secure care facility, which is scheduled to open later this year. While we disagree with the court’s ruling today and will be seeking an emergency writ, we will continue to explore every option available to us that ensures the safety of staff, community members, and youth in our care.”
Office of Juvenile Justice Deputy Sec. Curtis Nelson Jr.

“It’s a former death row facility with over 5,000 people convicted of serious crimes,” added Utter.

“Kids were used as an experiment for people to wake up,” continued Travis.

The judge expressed concern that placing the teenagers at Angola is not a path toward public safety but a path toward hardening the juveniles. The state disagrees.

RELATED: Federal judge to decide whether or not to remove youth offenders from facility at Angola

“While it addressed safety and security, it ignored it as a primary concern,” said Lem Montgomery, counsel for defendants.

The state calls the ruling a security risk.

“It is not lost on the youth that West Feliciana might not be available. The aggressive behavior began percolating and will continue to do so,” Montgomery added.

Judge Dick ordered officials to remove the teens by next Friday, September 15th.

“We stand ready to help the state close the facility,” said Utter.

The state says it will appeal the judge’s decision as soon as possible.

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