Mosque Opposes Proposed Swanson Plan

Muhammad Mosque #99, an affiliate of the Nation of Islam in Monroe LA is opposed and speaking out about the plan to house the most violent offenders from around the state in the now under construction new Swanson Center for Youth Monroe LA. "Swanson will become the Angola of the Juvenile Justice System says Verbon Muhammad, Mosque Minister. Senate Bill 323 sponsored by Sen Heather Cloud of Turkey Creek proposes to create tiers within the Juvenile Justice System by assessing juvenile offenders based on their risk of violence or escape and placing them at correctional facilities based on the tiered system: "low risk," "medium risk" and "high risk." Min. Muhammad said "our position is that the tiered system is something that can be supported, however housing the most violent offenders at Monroe is problematic. Swanson is located within a working class neighborhood and less than a mile from LSU Ochsner aka Conway Hospital. With the history of escapes and staffing issues at Swanson our position is that the new facility has no track record, nor will the staff be trained to adequately secure a campus of high risk juveniles. Every time there is an incident of escape or disturbance I check on members of our mosque that live in the neighborhood near Swanson and one of our members has special needs." The $25k million facility will replace an outdated Louisiana Training Institute aka "LTI." It will replace the old dormitory style with individual cells. Deputy Secretary Bill Sommers has indicated to a House Committee in Baton Rouge there is a staffing issue with 300 vacancies. State Rep. Michael Echols, Monroe offered an amendment to SB 323 that would prevent OJJ facilities from housing "high risk" youth, if within 100 feet of a residential neighborhood. "I have grave concerns we are potentially moving some of the most violent individuals from across the state to an area that is lodged in between neighborhoods and healthcare facilities," said Echols, R-Monroe. "This type of one size fits all policy endangers our citizens and it's current posture I cannot support." However, Mr. Echols withdrew his amendment for whatever reason. Finally, we hope that those Senators and Representatives who represent our community will join this effort to not bring the most violent offenders into a working class neighborhood that is less than a mile from a hospital to Monroe. Sen Cloud and Deputy Secretary Sommers should be informed and educated that although this is a new facility under construction we cannot at this time support housing the most violent offenders in South Monroe.