S.T.A.R. Court
Succeeding Through Achievement and Resiliency aka S.T.A.R.
Caddo Parish Juvenile Court and the Juvenile Probation Department have worked hand in hand with our community partners to develop innovative interventions for youth who are at high risk for human trafficking and are victims of human trafficking. This approach began in 2013 with the development of the Caddo-Bossier Community Response Team. This multi-disciplinary team calls on community partners to meet every two weeks to discuss, staff and develop trauma informed and comprehensive service plans for high risk youth and victims of human trafficking. This approach has been replicated in other parishes in Louisiana with training provided by our staff. In 2015, the Specialized Intensive Probation Unit was implemented with two, highly trained and skilled Probation Officers who supervise a caseload of high risk and confirmed victims that are involved in the juvenile justice system. On March 1, 2019, the first trafficking specific Specialized Court in Louisiana was introduced in Caddo Parish. S.T.A.R Court. Succeeding Through Achievement and Resiliency, was modeled after the STAR Court Program in Los Angeles County and uses a phase system and incentives to encourage the participants to follow the conditions of probation, make better choices and participate in long term treatment, support and recovery. This specialized response system to human trafficking has provided unique opportunities, treatment and support for our youth and also for the community at large.