ST. LANDRY PARISH — Elected officials from across St. Landry Parish packed the Indian Hills Country Club Wednesday morning, asking questions and weighing options about a proposed juvenile facility that could soon be placed before voters.
The meeting focused on plans for a new center that would house kids ages 10 to 17. According to organizers, the goal is rehabilitation — not just detention.
Plans show the facility would include classrooms, counseling space, and vocational training workshops designed to give young people structure and skills while in custody. The opportunity to earn a GED will also be given.
While not formally advocating for the project, Judge Charles Cravins said juvenile crime and housing options remain a concern in the parish.
“And there are issues on how to house these juveniles,” Cravins said. “Most of the time, we send them home — and that’s where they get in trouble.”
St. Landry Parish President Jessie Bellard said the proposed facility would offer education and training aimed at helping kids succeed long-term.
“While they are incarcerated in a facility like the one we are trying to build, they’ll get schooling, training — everything necessary to become taxpaying citizens and become better people,” Bellard said.
When asked who would oversee the facility, Bellard said it would fall under the Acadiana Regional Juvenile Justice District.
The district was created by the state in 2023 and includes judges, sheriffs, and leaders from nine parishes: Acadia, Allen, Evangeline, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, St. Martin, St. Mary, Vermilion, and St. Landry.
If approved, the facility would span about 30,000 square feet and be built on 12 acres of land north of Interstate 10.
While supporters say the center would fill a critical gap in juvenile services, not everyone agrees.
“This is an attack — a flat-out attack on our children,” said Shauna Sias, an anti-bullying expert and advocate.
Sias believes efforts should focus on prevention within schools rather than detention centers.
“Education isn’t just a book and a test,” she said. “It’s extracurricular activities, It’s mental health. That’s where the work needs to happen.”
St. Landry Parish President Jessie Bellard acknowledged that not everyone supports the proposal.
“To some degree, I agree with them — we do need to do better with our school system,” Bellard said. “If there’s a tax to help schools, that’s important. But we also have to face the reality of the system we have right now. Too often, juveniles are placed in jail cells and, frankly, they’re forgotten.”
Bellard said without a dedicated environment focused on education and rehabilitation, many young offenders leave the system only to end up back in trouble.
“If we don’t put these kids in a place where they can learn, do better, and know better, they’re released from a traditional jail setting and wind up right back where they started,” he said.
If the project moves forward, voters would decide its future through a proposed one-cent sales tax expected to fund construction of the facility.
The one cent sales tax would generate about $81 million dollars. After than another quarter cent sales tax would before a ballot to generate around 20 million to run and operate the facility.
If you want to learn more about this project you can read the information below provided by the Acadiana Juvenile Justice District:
What to know about the Acadiana Regional Juvenile Justice District proposal
According to information provided by the Acadiana Regional Juvenile Justice District, the district was created during the 2023 Regular Legislative Session and includes nine parishes: Acadia, Allen, Evangeline, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion.
The district’s goal is to establish a new juvenile facility designed to provide a rehabilitative environment for youth offenders across Acadiana. Officials say the focus would be on education, mental health services, and skill development — with the goal of reducing repeat offenses and helping young people successfully reintegrate into their communities.
Why a new facility is being considered
District leaders say there is currently no dedicated juvenile detention facility serving the nine-parish region. As a result, youth offenders are often housed in adult facilities or sent out of state — situations officials say can pose safety and developmental concerns.
According to the district, housing youth far from home also creates challenges such as higher transportation costs, limited family visitation, and added strain on local resources. Supporters argue a regional facility would provide a safer, more appropriate environment closer to home.
Facility details
Plans call for a facility built on approximately 12 acres of land north of Interstate 10. The proposed center would be about 30,000 square feet and designed to house up to 96 youth, with the ability to expand in the future.
Design features outlined by the district include:
- A 96-bed facility with single-room housing pods
- Classrooms and GED education space
- Counseling and mental health rooms
- Recreational areas
- Vocational training workshops
Programs and staffing
The district says the facility would offer educational programs, mental health services, vocational training, and reentry support aimed at addressing the root causes of delinquent behavior.
Staffing would include a facility director, licensed counselors and therapists, certified educators, and support staff for administration, maintenance, and security.
Cost and funding
The projected construction cost for the facility is estimated at $75 million, with site acquisition costs ranging from $500,000 to $1 million. The district estimates an annual operating budget of about $11 million.
Funding would come from a proposed one-cent sales tax that voters would be asked to consider.
Election timeline
The Acadiana Regional Juvenile Justice District plans to call a tax election for June 27, 2026. Formal action to place the measure on the ballot is expected during a board meeting scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, at 1 p.m. at the St. Mary Parish Courthouse.
District leaders say the proposed facility represents an opportunity to reshape juvenile justice in the region by prioritizing rehabilitation, education, and community engagement.
