The bill amends R.S. 15:909 to enhance the reporting requirements for escapes from juvenile institutions in Louisiana. It expands the definition of institutions to include facilities that house juvenile offenders on behalf of the state, thereby broadening the scope of accountability. The superintendent or highest-ranking employee at these facilities is required to notify law enforcement agencies and local media outlets within ten minutes of an escape. Additionally, a detailed record of each escape must be maintained, including information such as the date and time of the escape, the number of offenders involved, and the law enforcement agencies notified.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that reports of escapes be made available for public inspection, including a history of prior escapes from the institution or facility within the last five years. The secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections is tasked with ensuring the immediate reporting of all escapes, and definitions for "law enforcement agency" and "local media outlets" are provided to clarify the entities involved in the notification process. The language changes include the insertion of terms like "facility that houses juvenile offenders on behalf of the state" and the deletion of outdated references to "state juvenile institutions."

Statutes affected:
SB7 Original: 15:909(A)
SB7 Engrossed:
SB7 Enrolled:
SB7 Act 87: