Screening and Assessment: The Intake & Assessment unit serves as the entry point to the juvenile justice system, evaluating all youth who have been arrested using an objective decision-making tool known as the Risk Assessment Instrument (RAI). This tool is designed to ensure fairness in the process, reduce disparities within the system, and assess the risk level of each youth to determine the appropriate course of action.
The RAI helps identify high-risk youth who may pose a threat to public safety and need to be temporarily removed from the community. Conversely, youth who are assessed as low or minimal risk can be released, either with or without supervision, depending on their individual circumstances. The Intake & Assessment unit operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to ensure timely processing of all youth entering the system.
Resource Referrals: Based on the outcome of the RAI, the Intake & Assessment unit will refer youth who score in the medium-risk range, along with their families, to appropriate community-based services. These services are designed to address the specific needs of the youth and their families, with the goal of promoting positive behavioral changes and reducing the likelihood of future involvement with the juvenile justice system.
In addition to community-based referrals, the Intake & Assessment unit may also provide direct services to youth through programs offered by the Orleans Parish Juvenile Court (OPJC). These programs are tailored to the individual needs of each youth and are intended to support their successful reintegration into the community.
For more information or assistance, please contact the Intake & Assessment unit at (504) 658-9569.