OPJC eliminates bails, bonds as conditions for release

By Ryan Whirty
Contributing Writer

In a second move in the last six months to decrease youth detention center populations, the Orleans Parish Juvenile Court last month voted to eliminate all imposition of bail or bonds as a condition of pretrial release, according to the court.

In a majority ruling on Dec. 19, the juvenile court stated that it hopes the vote will also further address racial and economic disparities with the court system. Orleans Parish Juvenile Court Chief Judge Candace Anderson told The Louisiana Weekly that “how much money you have shouldn’t have an impact on whether you’re detained.”

“If you keep people in jail,” she added, “it should be based on the severity of the crime” and previous criminal record. “It should have nothing to do with whether you can pay for your release.”

Anderson said nothing can be accomplished in terms of recidivism, rehabilitation and helping youth grow and mature.

The court’s vote comes five months after the judges voted in favor of a new policy that prohibits imposition of discretionary fees on youth and families in the criminal justice system. With the two progressive decisions coupled together, court officials said, a juvenile’s path through the Orleans Parish court system will hopefully become more fair, just and compassionate.

“Orleans Parish Juvenile Court is determined to implement policies and practices that maximize the potential for success and reduce the disparate treatment of disadvantaged youth and families,” said Ranord J. Darensburg, Judicial Administrator of Orleans Parish Juvenile Court in a press release last Thursday.

The new policy is effective immediately, the press release said.

Renee Slajda, the communications director for the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights, told The Louisiana Weekly last Friday that her organization wholeheartedly supports the OPJC’s decision.

“We believe no family should have to see their child in jail just because they can’t afford to leave,” Slajda said. “Any change is a step in the right direction.”

The new court resolution provides for the release of youth on the personal recognizance of parents unless there is a previous pattern of failure to appear or if there is a danger to the youth or the public; no cash bail or financial conditions for release; no youth detention based solely on inability to pay bail; and assurances that conditions of release are directly related to court appearance/failure to appear.

This article originally published in the January 7, 2019 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.