Debt Free Justice for Louisiana's Youth: Implementation of Act 123 (2021)

Status report on the implementation of Louisiana's Act 123 (2021):

"In June of 2021, Louisiana became the first state in the South to end assessments of all administrative fees, costs, and taxes in the juvenile legal system against youth and their families. Prior to the passage of Act 123, youth and families paid hundreds to thousands of dollars for juvenile system fees and costs, which operated as a regressive tax. This practice created severe and long-lasting economic and emotional harm for youth and families. Families faced not only the upfront costs of debt assessments but also the collateral consequences stemming from fees, and the inescapable cycle of re-adjudication that undermines our communities’ efforts at rehabilitation and public safety. Despite such detrimental effects, the juvenile system recouped only marginal revenue, at times spending more tax dollars on collection measures than it received.

Act 123 repealed the authority to assess 16 fees or costs against youth and their families and is effective through June 30th, 2026. The bill did not impact fines or restitution. Since the implementation of Act 123, youth and families have been relieved of hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in fee debt. No localities or judicial districts have reported significant losses in revenue, and the revenue reductions incurred by the Office of Juvenile Justice (“OJJ”)—the largest entity responsible for fee and cost collections—have not compromised the agency’s appropriation authority. The vast majority of the state’s 64 parishes are compliant with Act 123. Only 12 have failed to comply or provide adequate data. However, some of these non-compliant parishes have issued refunds for unlawful assessments occurring after Act 123 went into effect."