NEW ORLEANS -- A contentious legal battle against the city of New Orleans over conditions at the juvenile detention center seemed to be resolved last week. But now talk over the size and makeup of the facility is sparking a whole new controversy.
The New Orleans juvenile detention facility, more commonly known as the Youth Study Center, bounced back from Hurricane Katrina's hit and the legal blow of a two-year lawsuit into deplorable conditions at the site, but inside City Hall another battle is brewing.
"It's so egregious, it's laughable at this point," said an irritated Councilwoman Shelley Midura.
She along with council members Arnie Fielkow and James Carter made up a frustrated trio of council members who Wednesday took on the Nagin administration and its plans to rebuild the study center, putting the Mayor's Office on the defense.
"There are a lot of logistics and details that need to be worked out," said Cynthia Sylvain-Lear, deputy chief administrative officer. "The city has not said we are absolutely opposed to anything."
The facility reopened partly after the storm, but much of its campus was demolished -- cutting the bed count from 82 to the current 32. The council is now holding off on releasing the nearly $15 million needed to rebuild the facility because those in the juvenile justice now are condemning the administration's plans to bring back those 82 beds. The council only wants half the bed count, reserving the rest for juveniles with mental health or shelter needs.
Sylvain-Lear testified on behalf of the Nagin administration, saying the "design, we hope, will meet everyone's needs."
City Council President Arnie Fielkow interrupted, saying, "No, that's not correct, it's not meeting everybody's need."
“May I finish?" Sylvain-Lear asked.
"Yeah," said Fielkow. "But your assumption is wrong ... the experts to your right, who are national experts, are telling you that, that model, from that foundation from what you’re building, is not what is in the best interest of the kids."
A nationally renowned consulting firm, area judges, and criminal justice advocates in attendance collectively recommend less detention beds in order to make room for other rehabilitation programs in the center. The average detention load in the parish, they say, is only 27.
"The capacity does not need to be larger than what the need is," said Dana Kaplan, executive director of the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana.
But the Nagin administration cites a long list of road blocks.
"One, would be funding," said Sylvain-Lear. "Two, would be the logistics to provide the services and third is actually for the security standpoint."
Not true, say council members, who clearly wore their agitation on their sleeves.
"This is ridiculous what you're seeing here," said Midura.
"Anyone watching, I hope you can see through the smoke and mirrors here—the lip service that we get paid is atrocious."
Council members hope to take back up the issue during this month's budget hearing process.
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