(The Center Square) – Louisiana’s Jetson Center for Youth remains unopened months after its planned April reopening, although the state is training employees and continuing to interview candidates for positions at the juvenile detention facility.
It remains unclear when youth will begin arriving at Jetson or when the facility will become fully operational.
The Center Square was unsuccessful prior to publication getting comment from the Office of Juvenile Justice through Public Information Officer Nicolette Gordon.
On Monday, Jetson was interviewing candidates. Well over a dozen cars sat in the parking lot, some with individuals waiting for interviews.
Located in Baker about 10 miles north of Baton Rouge, youth have yet to be admitted and the juvenile justice department has yet to release a population count or provide a definitive opening date.
The state’s fiscal year 2026-27 executive budget said Jetson was expected to open in April 2026 with 44 secure-care beds. Louisiana initially budgeted approximately $15.4 million and 108 positions for the facility. The following budget added $1.9 million and 31 positions to provide full operational coverage.
The office originally expected to close its St. Martinville facility for girls and transfer 31 employees to Jetson. But St. Martinville remained open as the number of girls in state custody increased, leaving Jetson 31 positions short of what the juvenile justice department said it needed to operate properly, according to official budget requests.
Without the additional employees, the juvenile justice department warned it would have to rely on overtime or operate Jetson below capacity.
The Office of Juvenile Justice said Jetson reached a “major milestone” on May 12, when the facility held its first staff graduation ceremony. The graduating group included juvenile justice specialists, social service counselors, teachers and probation and parole employees. The photo includes 23 individuals.
The Office of Juvenile Justice said the employees had completed the training necessary to help bring the facility safely back into operation and described the graduates as a “fully prepared and confident team.”
