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READY AND WAITING

This architect's rendering shows most of the $20 million Acadiana Center for Youth, a state-of-the-art detention/rehabilitation facility for juvenile offenders. A group of state and local officials toured the still empty facility on April 11. When/if opened, the center will house 72 juveniles and offer therapeutic treatment in a secure environment.

Officials tour unopened Acadiana Center for Youth in Bunkie

$20M juvenile detention/rehab facility still waiting for funds to open

A state juvenile justice official is optimistic that the Acadiana Center for Youth will open at some level as a juvenile secure care center this year.

“I’m extremely disappointed that we are not up and running yet,” Dr. James Bueche told a group of 25 people that included state and local officials touring the complete but still vacant complex in Bunkie on April 11. “We are sitting in a $20 million facility ready to go. We need the money to get going. We have been and continue to talk to the governor and state legislators about getting the funds to open.”

Bueche, the agency head of the state’s Office of Juvenile Justice, told the group he believes the center will be appropriated at least enough money to get started this year and then receive full funding -- estimated at $11 million a year -- in the next budget year.

“We are not asking for the entire $11 million this year, but just enough to start up partially,” he said. “It may take $5 million to start and then full funding for the 2019-2020 fiscal year.”

He said the construction is finished, but there are a few “punch list items” the contractor needs to address.

“I’m hoping we can take over within the next 30 days,” Bueche said. “If partially funded, we could open a couple of the dorms.” State funds are available to purchase furniture and other equipment in the facility.

ONE THING LACKING

The only thing still lacking is the appropriation of operational funds to run the center and its programs. For almost two years the facility has sat vacant near completion because the state has not approved funding to hire staff and operate the center.

There are nine buildings on the site. Those include three 8,5000-sq.ft. housing units, a full-size gymnasium, a school with classrooms and a vocational-technical area, a kitchen and dining hall and maintenance buildings.

The site will also have a soccer field and outdoor basketball court. It is encircled with a 12-ft. arched no-climb fence. M.D. Descant Construction was awarded the contract to construct ACY and began work in August 2014. It was finished in 2016.

Bueche said once OJJ takes possession of the site, warranties on all equipment and other items begin.

ACY has been added to the state’s emergency plan and if one of the other centers has to be evacuated they could be sent to ACY. Last year Bridge City Center for Youth had to be
evacuated to Swanson Correction Center in Monroe.

Judges in the group touring the facility said the center needs to open as soon as possible.

They said they are impressed with the construction and the facility is much-needed in the state’s efforts to rehabilitate juvenile offenders.

The center will house up to 72 youth requiring intensive treatment in a therapeutic, secure environment.

Bueche said OJJ is still committed to employing 124 people at ACY. The average salary would be about $55,000.

Most of the positions will be filled locally, Bueche said. The director and a few other positions could be filled from candidates outside of this area.

EFFORT BEGAN IN 2011

Bunkie began the work of attracting the facility in 2011. The state had been looking for an appropriate location for the secure care center to serve central and south Louisiana.

Bunkie was selected from 12 communities that sought the project, including Opelousas, Lafayette and Ville Platte.

Bunkie Mayor Mike Robertson led the team that proposed a 20-acre site on U.S. Highway 71 at Bordelon Road. The effort had to be done and submitted in 28 days.

The City of Bunkie purchased and improved the property, then donated it to the state to be used as the site for the facility.

Broad support from the community was one of several factors cited for the decision to locate in Bunkie.

Several judges on the tour spoke highly of Bunkie’s efforts to obtain the facility.

Another attractive component of the Bunkie proposal is the nearby Cecil J. Picard Education and Recreation Center, located in the Bayhills area between Hessmer and Bunkie.

The camp-like center offers activities for youth, residential cabins and a meeting hall.

The Legislature transferred the Picard Center from the Education Department to OJJ in 2014.

Bueche said the Picard Center is one of the gems of his department and will remain open and offering the same activities it does now.

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