Juvenile Assessment Center Announces Closing Due To Lack Of Funding

For the first time in six years, operations at the Juvenile Assessment Center will be suspended on Monday, November 18.

According to a press release from the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office, the closure comes "due to a lack of funding by the Lafayette Consolidated Government."

The JAC began opera6ons on November 1, 2013 based on an intergovernmental agreement entered into by the LCG and the LafayeJe Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Further details are listed BELOW in the official press release:

On Monday, November 18, 2019 opera6ons at the Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC) will be suspended for the first 6me in six years, due to lack of funding by the LafayeJe Consolidated Government (LCG).

The JAC began operations on November 1, 2013 based on an intergovernmental agreement entered into by the LCG and the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office.

This agreement called for the Sheriff to own, control and operate the JAC, with the specific intent of providing risk assessments and diversionary programming to at-risk juveniles.

As part of that contract, the LCG agreed to pay $267,182 annually, by March 1st of each calendar year. Since 2017, the Sheriff’s Office has continued to operate and fund the JAC with no assistance from the LCG.

At this time, the Sheriff’s Office is no longer able to fully support JAC operations financially as the LCG has failed to meet its financial obligation since 2017.

The JAC is an invaluable resource to the Juvenile Justice System, the Lafayette Parish School System, every community within Lafayette Parish and all local law enforcement agencies.