1906: With Act No. 82, the legislature creates a separate court structure for juveniles under 16. Later declared unconstitutional.
1908: With Act No. 83, the legislature again tries to create a Juvenile Court in Orleans Parish and a separate court structure for juveniles.
1922: By Act No. 119 the legislature created a Juvenile Court for the Parish of Caddo.
1958: Act No.10 of the Extra Session created a separate juvenile court for the Parish of Jefferson.
1974: the U.S. Congress enacted the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act (Pub. L. No. 93-415, 42 U.S.C. § 5601 et seq.). This landmark legislation established the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to support local and state efforts to prevent delinquency and improve juvenile justice systems.
1978: Louisiana created the Code of Juvenile Procedure
1991: By Act No. 221 the legislature created a separate Juvenile Court for the Parish of East Baton Rouge.
1992: On January 1 the Children’s Code became effective.
2002: the U.S. Congress reauthorized the JJDP Act: "the 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act," Pub. L. No. 107-273, 116 Stat. 1758.
2003: Legislature passes Act No. 1225, known as the "Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2003."
2004: Legislature passes Act No. 7, a reform act which includes the separation of juvenile justice from adult corrections and probation and parole, stressing the importance of rehabilitation and the differences in serving young people and adults.
2022: With Act No. 496, the legislature placed strict limits on the use of on the use of solitary confinement in juvenile facilities.
2024: Act No. 92 made numerous changes to the Children's Code.
