Caddo Juvenile Justice Complex Could Lose More Funding

The Caddo Juvenile Justice Complex has operated at a deficit for the past 19 years. Riverboat fees paid to Caddo Parish are used to help bridge that defecit, however, that money is earmarked for capitol projects not for funding the Juvenile Justice Center. Now, the Caddo Commission could decide to use that money elsewhere; leaving the Juvenile Justice Complex with less operating money. Parish Administrator Woody Wilson says that is one of his biggest dilemas. Caddo`s juvenile justice complex operates on a millage tax established in 1957. It draws in more than $2 million ,but, that still leaves the department $1.6 million short. Yet, every time the juvenile justice complex has put a millage increase on the ballot, it has failed. Now, it`s time for Juvenile Justice administrators like Edwin Scott to make tough decisions. " With the tax failing this time, I think we have to affect the external, meaning our programs," Scott said. For years, fees from Caddo`s riverboats have helped fill their defecit. However, Wilson says depending on riverboat funding as operating funds is a bad idea. "We don`t want to continue diverting funds from the fees we get for the riverboats because it`s forced us to delay completing important capital projects,". Now, commissioners and administrators are working with Caddo juvenile judges to determine how they can trim the budget. Yet, regardless of what they decide to do, certain services will have to be cut. One option they have discussed is booking fewer non-violent misdemeanor offenders into the detention center as a way to save money. However, there will be more meetings to further discuss the problem.