Louis Jetson Center Abuse Lawsuits Reopened | Baton Rouge News

Fifty-two lawsuits are rocking Louisiana courts, exposing decades of alleged sexual abuse at the Louis Jetson Center for Youth — from 1972 to 2005 — targeting teens as young as eleven. Victims faced forced rape, unwanted touching, and threats for speaking out. Though these civil cases hinge on a controversial legal loophole allowing retroactive lawsuits, they nearly vanished after the state Supreme Court initially struck down the law — until public outcry forced a reversal. This isn’t new: a 1990s DOJ probe found rampant abuse, yet the state ignored fixes, leading to federal settlements. A 2010 survey revealed 8% of youth reported staff sexual abuse. Now, despite closing in 2014, the center is being reopened with $42 million already invested — and another $70 million planned — even as the campus remains empty and the April reopening date missed. With Louisiana’s history of ignoring systemic failures, rebuilding facilities without addressing root causes raises alarms that this cycle may repeat. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/60ede505c2b125ad