US SUES LOUISIANA IN MOVE TO REFORM ITS JUVENILE PRISONS

The Justice Department filed suit Thursday accusing the state of Louisiana,
widely believed to have the worst juvenile prisons in the nation, of failing
to protect youthful inmates from brutality by guards and providing
inadequate education, medical and mental health care.

The lawsuit, to force the state to improve conditions, follows two years of
investigation by department experts and unsuccessful negotiations with the
Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

"Over the past two years, the Justice Department has repeatedly advised
state officials of the specific deficiencies and the corrective action
needed," the department said. "The state has failed or refused to address
the Justice Department's findings is many critical ways."

Richard Stalder, secretary of Louisiana's Department of Public Safety and
Corrections, was traveling Thursday and could not be reached for comment.

Checked-by: Don Beck