The Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ) says they will resume in-person visitation at its secure care facilities for males on Saturday, February 12, 2022.
The change comes following new guidance from the CDC and the Louisiana Department of Health. The revised practices, they say, will be in place to allow for social distancing and safety standards in line with Covid-19 guidelines.
All families must preschedule a 45-minute time slot for visiting. Extended visitation hours will be held on Saturdays and Sundays between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. Special visits outside of those time periods may be requested by families and will be provided on a case-by-case basis.
They say staff will be on hand to sanitize visitation areas in-between visits. Hand sanitizer stations will be accessible at all sites.
General rules normally applicable for visitation can be found at ojj.la.gov.
The following additional rules will also be in place:
- All visitation will take place in visitation areas suited for proper social distancing. All visitors must follow social distance rules put forth by the facility.
- Each youth will be limited to two (2) visitors that must be verified as family members.
- In addition to normal entry checks, all visitors must pass a temperature check and Covid-19 screening.
- Visitors and youth will be provided disposable protective face masks that must be worn at all times.
Families must contact the secure care facility they wish to visit to schedule a time slot for visitation.
- Bridge City Center for Youth, (225) 394-9623
- Swanson Center for Youth in Monroe and Columbia, (318) 953-4445
- Acadiana Center for Youth in Bunkie, (318) 346-0134
The Office of Juvenile Justice says they will continue to work closely with its medical provider, Wellpath to monitor youth in the secure care facilities. The continuation of in-person visitation is subject to reevaluation based on active Covid-19 cases in each secure care facility.
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