§902.3.  Juvenile placement review process

A.  The legislature hereby finds that in order to improve our juvenile justice system it is necessary that every juvenile in the custody of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections be reviewed periodically in order to determine whether the juvenile is placed in the least restrictive placement most appropriate to their needs and consistent with the circumstances of the case and the protection of the best interests of society and the safety of the public within the state.  In order to facilitate the transition of the Swanson Correctional Center for Youth-Madison Parish Unit and Jetson Center for Youth-East Baton Rouge Parish Unit to alternate adult offender utilization as provided in R.S. 15:902.2, and facilitate the conversion of Jetson Center for Youth-East Baton Rouge Parish Unit to a regional treatment facility, the provisions of this Section shall be applicable.

B.  The placement review shall be conducted by the department through such multi-disciplinary review panel as the secretary of the department shall designate.  This placement review shall include an assessment of the needs and progress of the individual juvenile, the risk of danger to society, and the community resources needed to serve the best interest of the child and society and a recommendation for placement and services.

C.  The secretary of the department shall establish and promulgate rules, regulations, and procedures to govern the placement review process.  Such rules shall include provisions for the department to notify appropriate law enforcement communities and any registered crime victim of the placement review recommendation at the time the recommendation is provided to the judge.

D.  When the assessment results in a determination that the juvenile be transferred to a less restrictive setting, including but not limited to release pursuant to R.S. 15:906 or transfer pursuant to R.S. 15:907, the department shall develop recommendations for placement, care, and treatment in accordance with the assessment.

E.  If the recommendation includes placement in a less restrictive setting, the department shall file a motion with the court and serve a copy of the motion on the district attorney in accordance with Children's Code Article 911.  The motion shall include all of the following:

(1)  The recommendation of the department.

(2)  All relevant documentation supporting the recommendation including but not limited to the needs and risk assessments.

(3)  An aftercare plan developed by the department when the recommendation is for release pursuant to R.S. 15:906.

F.  The recommendations shall be implemented by the department unless the court, within fourteen legal days of receipt of the motion and accompanying documentation does any one of the following:

(1)  Rejects the recommendations and denies the motion.

(2)  Notifies the department in writing that there is no objection and the recommendations have been accepted as orders of the court.

(3)  Schedules a hearing and issues an order rejecting or modifying the recommendations of the department.

G.  Juveniles adjudicated delinquent and given a disposition under the provisions of Children's Code Article 897.1 shall not be eligible for consideration under the provisions of this Section.

Acts 2003, No. 1225, §2; Acts 2008, No. 565, §1; Acts 2009, No. 253, §1.