Last year, Louisiana's Office of Juvenile Justice spent $165.6 million to operate the state’s prison system. Gov. Landry is now proposing spending $93 million more this year. Here are some better ways we can invest taxpayer dollars that will enhance public safety in Louisiana. 

This is the first article in our Staff Spotlight series, where we will interview staff to learn more about their background, skills, and motivation to do this essential work for kids in Louisiana. In this article, we will discuss Kisha’s work as a youth advocate and how her unique lived experience fuels her advocacy for our kids. 

In the 1990s, an academic named John Dilulio published an article describing the “superpredator.” He explained that a “moral poverty” in U.S. cities would result in a flood of 30,000 murderous teenagers, born criminals lacking in empathy or restraint. This gave a name to an existing societal fear of Black children. Today, with new laws passed to treat more kids like adults, more prisons being built to house them, and with harmful amendments being put on the ballot for voters, we can see a new pattern emerging laying the groundwork for another boom in mass incarceration.  

We first met “Nadia” as an 8th grader arrested for theft under $1,000. Her crime? Simply being present when her friend was caught stealing a pack of gum. What could and should have been a teachable moment for two adolescent girls instead became a frightening legal ordeal. Here is how we helped.

On April 3, LCCR welcomed more than 230 guests to our annual Celebration for Children’s Rights event. Collectively, we raised nearly $90,000 to fund our work with arrested and incarcerated youth in Louisiana. We can think of no better way to spend a beautiful (if slightly humid) spring evening than to come together with so many of our friends and supporters. Thank you for joining us and making this such a wonderful night out!

LCCR is pleased to announce the launch of our new narrative campaign, #ItTakesAVillageNOLA. This campaign coincides with the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and calls upon New Orleanians to own the responsibility to its youth. It is part of a wider effort to combat the harmful narratives surrounding Black youth and promote alternative, positive narratives that reassert the humanity of young people in our city.

Louisiana’s Office of Juvenile Justice recently banned at-home holiday visits for incarcerated youth. This will keep children from visiting home for Christmas, Thanksgiving, Mardi Gras, and other major holidays.

At LCCR's Celebration for Children's Rights event on April 3, we will be presenting our 2025 Calogero Champion of Justice Award to Dominque Jones-Johnson, Founder & Executive Director of Daughters Beyond Incarceration, for her incredible work uplifting Black girls with parents in prison and developing them into advocates, policymakers, and grassroots activists to forever change lives, systems, and communities for good.

At the close of January, Aaron Clark-Rizzio concluded his 8.5 years of service as LCCR’s Executive Director and (later) Legal Director, leaving behind a legacy of thoughtful, dedicated stewardship of LCCR’s mission. Here we take a moment to reflect back on his impact at LCCR.

Join us on Thursday, April 3rd at our annual benefit event -- the Celebration for Children’s Rights -- as we celebrate our successes and come together to make Louisiana a better place for all children. We will also be presenting our Calogero Champion of Justice Award to Dominque Jones-Johnson, Founder & Executive Director of Daughters Beyond Incarceration, for her incredible work uplifting Black girls with incarcerated parents in our community.