Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration is doing a poor job making sure the prevention and diversion programs it uses are helping to keep children out of youth prisons.
That's the finding of an audit released Monday by Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera's office that looked at the state's Office of Juvenile Justice.
The audit says OJJ doesn't gather enough information from its contractors to adequately monitor programs that are supposed to provide treatment options for children and teenagers who have behavioral problems or who have been charged with misdemeanor crimes.
Because of budget cuts, OJJ reduced those contracts by 57 percent from last year. The audit says the agency cut some contracts that had the best results.
Mary Livers, OJJ deputy secretary, says she will work to make improvements suggested by auditors.