State, in Interest of Bc

610 So. 2d 204, 1992 WL 364394
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedDecember 9, 1992
DocketCR 92-826
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 610 So. 2d 204 (State, in Interest of Bc) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State, in Interest of Bc, 610 So. 2d 204, 1992 WL 364394 (La. Ct. App. 1992).

Opinion

610 So.2d 204 (1992)

STATE of Louisiana In the Interest of B.C., JR., Appellant.

No. CR 92-826.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit.

December 9, 1992.
Writ Denied February 19, 1993.

*205 Margherita McWilliams, Shreveport, for defendant-appellant.

James Lewis, Asst. Dist. Atty., Colfax, for plaintiff-appellee.

Before LABORDE and THIBODEAUX, JJ., and CULPEPPER[1], J. Pro Tem.

LABORDE, Judge.

In this juvenile matter, the juvenile, B.C., Jr. appeals a condition of his probation that he receive homebound instruction. Finding no error on the part of the juvenile court, we affirm.

FACTS

On September 18, 1991, the district attorney for the parish of Grant filed a petition of adjudication asking that the juvenile, B.C., Jr., (B.C.) be declared a child in need of supervision. The petition alleges that the juvenile was involved in continuous and long term disruptions at school, disturbances at school, fighting and hitting incidents at school, and batteries on classmates. The petition resulted from complaints filed with the Grant Parish Sheriff's office by two of the juvenile's classmates. The initial complaint was brought by a girl who complained that the juvenile intentionally ran over her while pushing her into a pole. This incident caused injury to the girl, but the extent of her injuries is not apparent from the record. The second complaint was brought by a boy who alleged that the juvenile threatened to beat him up if he did not relinquish his lunch money. Upon his refusal to give the money, the juvenile choked him and had to be physically restrained by a teacher. Further, the juvenile coerced a third child to stab the complaining child in the last incident in the stomach with a pencil. This coercion was accomplished by telling the assailant that if he did not stab the complainant that the juvenile would beat him up.

Also contained in the record are numerous letters from teachers reflecting the juvenile's lack of respect for authority figures and abusive behavior toward others. On October 2, 1991, the juvenile court declared B.C. a child in need of supervision (CINS) and ordered him to receive home bound instruction.

A pre-dispositional investigation and psychological evaluation were filed with the juvenile court on October 22, 1991, along with a motion to modify or rescind the juvenile court's order for homebound instruction. Subsequently, a hearing was held wherein testimony was elicited during which counsel agreed to submit the remainder of the matter on briefs. A second hearing was held on June 3, 1992, and the juvenile court rendered a judgment and disposition declaring the juvenile a CINS. The disposition included, as a special condition of probation, continued homebound instruction as provided by the Grant Parish Board of Education. The juvenile court ordered this homebound instruction to continue until October 20, 1995.

It is from this condition of probation which the juvenile appeals asserting three assignments of error.

ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR NUMBERS ONE AND TWO

The first two assignments will be discussed simultaneously as both involve Title 20 U.S.C. section 1400 et seq. At the outset, it should be noted that as a matter of law, juvenile action is neither criminal nor civil but of its own kind. In re State in the Interest of Curley, 287 So.2d 558 (La.App. 1st Cir.1974).

In his first two assignments of error, the juvenile contends that a juvenile court does not have subject matter jurisdiction to order special educational placements nor does it have the power to order non-parties to provide specific services to juveniles found to be in need of supervision. The juvenile further alleges that this condition of probation erroneously overrules an IEP committee *206 ruling in violations of 20 U.S.C. section 1400 et seq.

The juvenile argues that homebound instruction is not a dispositional option under La.Ch.C. art. 792.53 which provides:

Art. 792.53. Disposition; children in need of supervision

In a case in which a child has been adjudicated to be in need of supervision, the court may do any of the following:
(1) Place the child in the custody of a parent or other suitable person on such terms and conditions as deemed in the best interest of the child and the public.
(2) Place the child on probation on such terms and conditions as deemed in the best interest of the child and the public.
(3) Assign the child to the custody of a private or public institution or agency.
(4) Commit a child found to be mentally defective to a public or private mental institution or an institution for the mentally defective.
(5) Make such other disposition or combination of the above dispositions as the court deems to be in the best interest of the child.
(6) Commit the child to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections for care and treatment. The department, however, shall not place a child in need of supervision in a correctional facility designed and operated exclusively for delinquent children.
Added by Acts 1991, No. 235, § 7, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.

However, under the broad language of La.Ch.C. Art. 792.53(2), we find the juvenile court has the authority to place the child on homebound instruction. Furthermore La.Ch.C. art. 681, subd. A(5) gives the juvenile court the authority to order any action deemed to be in the best interest of the child. Nothing in this legislation indicates ordering homebound instruction is an improper action on the part of the trial court. This article states the following:

Art. 681. Dispositional alternatives

A. In a case in which a child has been adjudicated to be in need of care, the court may:
(1) Place the child in the custody of a parent or such other suitable person on such terms and conditions as deemed in the best interest of the child including but not limited to the issuance of a protective order pursuant to Article 618.
(2) Place the child in the custody of a private or public institution or agency.
(3) Commit a child found to be mentally ill to a public or private mental institution or institution for the mentally ill.
(4) Grant guardianship of the person of the child to any individual.
(5) Make such other disposition or combination of the above dispositions as the court deems to be in the best interest of the child.

The record is replete with the juvenile's propensities for violence aimed at other students and teachers. The protection of these persons is encompassed by La.Ch.C. art. 792.53(2) by including the language "in the best interest of the child and the public" as well as by La.Ch.C. art. 681, subd. A(5). Further, the Department of Public Safety and Corrections recommended continued homebound study in its pre-dispositional investigations. This recommendation may be considered by the court under La.Ch.C. art. 680.

The court may consider the report of the predisposition investigation, and reports of mental evaluation, and all other evidence offered by the child or the state relating to the proper disposition. The court may consider evidence which would not be admissible at the adjudication hearing.

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Related

B. C. v. Louisiana
510 U.S. 963 (Supreme Court, 1993)

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Bluebook (online)
610 So. 2d 204, 1992 WL 364394, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-in-interest-of-bc-lactapp-1992.