It’s official, the state’s most violent juvenile offenders will be housed in the Swanson Juvenile facility in Monroe. The legislature approved SB323, a bill that will set up a tiered system of housing inmates, routing the most dangerous offenders to Monroe.
It’s done, but we don’t think it’s a good idea, because the facility is too close to residential neighborhoods and Swanson has a history of escapes that makes everyone in the African-American community uneasy.
When the issue came up for a vote in the house neither Rep. Pat Moore, D-17 or Rep. Adrian Fisher, D-16 were present. Moore was absent dealing with a family medical issue. Fisher was absent attending a family graduation.
When it came to the Senate, Senator Katrina Jackson, D-34, voted for the measure.
Rep. Micheal Echols of Monroe was one of 12 Representatives that voted against the measure. Rep. Echols said he is opposed to the idea of bringing some of the state’s most violent offenders to a facility that would be sandwiched between residential neighborhoods and medical facilities (Conway Hospital). Rep. Echols first proposed an amendment to prevent such facilities within 100 feet of residential neighborhoods or medical facilities, but he changed his mind. He voted against the measure.
Senator Stewart Cathey of Sterlington voted for the measure along with Senator Jackson. He also supported Senator Jackson’s bill which would treat juvenile offenders as adults if they attacked prison guards.
Our community can appreciate the attention that the state is giving to the problem of juvenile violence. We think the new facility in Monroe will be much safer than the present one. However, the Office of Juvenile Justice still has the same problem, a lack of staffing. Recent reports are that the OJJ is 300 staff members short statewide.
Even with a spanking brand new facility in Monroe, it’s dormitory style housing for 72 youth offenders, is vulnerable to escape because of a lack of staff.
Unlike other areas of the state that usually located penal institutions on the outskirts of a municipality, Monroe’s facility is less than a stone’s throw from both a hospital and residential neighborhoods.
Most of those who spoke in favor of this effort doesn’t live in the area.
Those who don’t live close to Swanson don’t know the fear of those who live near the facility each time they hear of escapes.
We thank Rep. Echols for being one of the few voices to speak on this issue, even though he was outvoted 82-12.
We just don’t believe that Monroe should be the dumping ground for the state’s most violent offenders, in a newly constructed but understaff facility.
But who are we?
We just live here, apparently those who don’t live here know best.
