As the Louisiana state government plans to spend nearly $198 million on juvenile incarceration in 2025, grassroots advocates like Operation Restoration are raising urgent questions: Why is the state doubling down on youth prisons while crime declines and communities cry out for investment in prevention?
According to Operation Restoration’s recent campaign, Louisiana is budgeting $197.9 million for juvenile incarceration next year—a staggering sum that includes a $19.5 million increase from the previous year. Despite an 8% decrease in crime among minors from 2023 to 2024, the number of incarcerated youth is rising.
Breaking Down the Budget
Operation Restoration’s reporting reveals that massive amounts of money are being funneled into prison infrastructure instead of public education, mental health, and community programs. In total, $93.6 million is being spent on new and expanded youth detention facilities in parishes across the state:
• Lafourche Parish: $36.6 million for 56 beds
• Rapides Parish: $38 million for 56 beds
• Concordia Parish: $3 million for 56 beds
• East Baton Rouge Parish: $68.7 million over two years for 72 beds at the reopened Jetson Center
These figures reflect a statewide investment strategy focused on expanding incarceration—even as mounting evidence shows that youth prisons are both costly and ineffective.
What’s Missing: Prevention, Not Prisons
Operation Restoration emphasizes that incarceration doesn’t address the root causes of juvenile crime. Their advocacy calls for funding restorative justice programs, mental health care, and community-based solutions that create real opportunities for youth rather than locking them away.
The organization reports that 79% of incarcerated minors in Louisiana are Black, underscoring a deep racial disparity in the juvenile justice system. They argue that continuing to expand youth incarceration reinforces systemic racism and inequity at the expense of meaningful reform.
Who Is Operation Restoration?
Operation Restoration is a New Orleans-based nonprofit that works to support and uplift women and girls impacted by incarceration. Their mission is rooted in dismantling systemic barriers and advocating for alternatives to incarceration that restore dignity and opportunity. Their recent focus on Louisiana’s youth justice system brings attention to how state policy decisions can either break cycles of harm—or perpetuate them.
Join the Movement
Operation Restoration’s campaign urges citizens to:
• Demand investment in prevention, not incarceration
• Hold elected officials accountable for funding priorities
• Raise your voice to advocate for youth, education, and justice reform
The group is asking residents to contact lawmakers, attend public hearings, and spread the message that children deserve support—not jail cells.
As Louisiana moves forward with its budget, the question remains: will leaders choose to invest in locking kids up—or lifting them up?
Learn more or get involved at Operation Restoration.
FAQ: Juvenile Incarceration and Operation Restoration in Louisiana
Why is Louisiana spending nearly $198 million on juvenile incarceration?
The 2025 state budget includes major investments in expanding and reopening youth detention centers, despite a decline in juvenile crime rates. Advocates argue these funds could be better used on prevention, education, and mental health services.
What does Operation Restoration want instead of more youth prisons?
Operation Restoration is calling for investments in restorative justice programs, youth education, mental health care, and community-based alternatives to incarceration that address root causes rather than symptoms of crime.
Where is the money going?
Over $93 million is being allocated for new or expanded juvenile detention facilities in Lafourche, Rapides, Concordia, and East Baton Rouge parishes, including the reopening of the Jetson Center for Youth.
What are the racial disparities in youth incarceration in Louisiana?
According to Operation Restoration, 79% of incarcerated minors in Louisiana are Black, highlighting systemic racial inequality within the state’s juvenile justice system.
How can I get involved or support the cause?
Residents are encouraged to contact elected officials, demand funding for prevention, attend public hearings, and support organizations like Operation Restoration through advocacy, donations, or sharing their message.
