(The Center Square) — Updated numbers show a drastic decrease in the number of Caddo Parish residents in juvenile detention.
Only 12 currently sit in detention, according to a biweekly report given by Chief Administrative Officer Erica Bryant during the Caddo Commission work session meeting on Monday. That’s 10 fewer than the Oct. 21 report when the parish saw a rise in detention numbers.
The decrease shocked even Bryant. “Let me make sure my numbers are right,” Bryant said to the commission. “That sounds low.”
Juvenile Services Director Andrew Randall noted that toward the holidays, detention numbers typically see a decrease.
Other numbers have decreased as well. There are 13 juveniles at the Caddo Correctional Center, 422 probation cases and no reports of juveniles with the Office of Juvenile Justice.
Last month’s report showed 22 juveniles in detention, eight with the Office of Juvenile Justice, 12 at the Caddo Correctional Center and 428 probation cases. Before this, there were 13 in detention, six with the Office of Juvenile Justice, 15 at the Caddo Correctional Center and 423 probation cases.
Bryant has pressed the parish to find additional funding and resources for criminal justice amid a deficit. The Caddo Correctional Center is over capacity with 1,560 inmates as of Oct. 31.
Crime has been declining, which Caddo Commission President Stormy Gage-Watts attributed to a Safe Summer Program. It recently received an additional $50,000 in funding to continue year-round.
