Program Authorization: R.S. 46: 1901-1923

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The mission of the Contract Services Program is to ensure that youth receive services in the most appropriate, least restrictive manner, including residential, day treatment, in-home, or other programs that will promote the well-being of the youth and provide for public safety. The Contract Services Program provides a community-based system of care that provides a humane environment and addresses the needs of youth committed to custody and/or supervision. Particular attention is given to the appropriate placement of offenders who are suitable for placement in the community. This is accomplished through the development and implementation of risk assessment models to determine levels of custody and supervision.

The Department of Public Safety and Corrections has developed standard operating procedures (SOPs) to be followed by community contractors who house juvenile offenders in residential or nonresidential facilities. These SOPs include provisions for American Correctional Association (ACA) accreditation.

As a result of a cooperative endeavor agreement between the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Corrections Services, and the Town of Tallulah to provide additional secure beds for juvenile males, the Tallulah Correctional Center for Youth (TCCY) opened on November 16, 1994. The capacity of the center is 620 beds. Included in these beds is a boot camp/shock incarceration program, the Louisiana Intensive Training and Education Program (LITE), for juvenile offenders who are committed to the state's custody. LITE is an intensive program in a secure setting, designed to facilitate a positive change in serious juvenile offenders who, upon successful completion of the program, can return to their communities under intensive supervision. Program design provides discipline and structured activities designed to control behavior and to teach self-control, which is essential for completing any academic, pre-employment, and treatment components of the program.

The goals of the Contract Services Program are:

1. Continue to develop, coordinate, and implement a community-based residential and nonresidential system of care treatment for juvenile offenders consistent with the needs of the youth and their families as well as public safety.
2. Continue the cooperative endeavor agreement for the Tallulah Correctional Center for Youth to ensure that the unit operates safely, efficiently, and effectively through management's leadership, adherence to departmental regulations and procedures, and by meeting ACA standards.
3. Maximize public safety through appropriate and effective correctional, custodial, and supervisory programs.
4. Provide for the safety of the correctional staff and inmates by maintaining an organized and disciplined system of operations that promotes stability in the institution.
5. Ensure that basic services relating to adequate food, clothing, and shelter are provided to the offender population.
6. Provide the maximum available bed space allowable by the State Fire Marshal, Department of Health and Hospitals, ACA requirements, budgeted resources, and good correctional practices.
7. Increase the probability of inmates being successful when reintegrated into society by providing literacy, academic, and vocational educational programs, and religious guidance programs.
8. Provide benefits to the state and local government by requiring all able-bodied offenders to participate in institutional programs and on-the-job training.

OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Unless otherwise indicated, all objectives are to be accomplished during or by the end of FY 1999-2000. Performance indictors are made up of two parts: name and value. The indicator name describes what is being measured. The indicator value is the numeric value or level achieved within a given measurement period. For budgeting purposes, performance indicator values are shown for the prior fiscal year, the current fiscal year, and alternative funding scenarios (continuation budget level and Executive Budget recommendation level) for the ensuing fiscal year (the fiscal year of the budget document).

RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR THE PROGRAM

SOURCE OF FUNDING

This program is funded with State General Fund, Interagency Transfers, Fees and Self generated Revenues and Federal Funds. Interagency Transfers are derived from the Division of Children, Youth and Family Services for the cost of placement of children who are eligible under the Title IV-E guidelines and from the Department of Transportation and Development for security costs associated with inmate road cleanup crews through the Tallulah Correctional Center for Youth. The Fees and Self-generated Revenues are derived from the parents of children who are assessed a fee to pay for their children in placement. Federal Funds are derived from Social Security for Supplemental Security Income payments for eligible offenders as reimbursement to the agency for the offender's cost of placement.

ANALYSIS OF RECOMMENDATION

The total means of financing for this program is recommended at 107.7% of the existing operating budget. It represents 80.4% of the total request ($64,499,877) for this program. The increase in the recommended level is attributed to the increased cost of the Residential and Non-residential contracts expiring on 12/31/98, the transfer of funds from the LSU Medical Center - Health Care Services for the Adolescent Rehabilitation Program operated by the Rapides Parish Law District and the annualization of the Jena Juvenile Justice Center for Youth.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

OTHER CHARGES

ACQUISITIONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS

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