1. The numbers do not lie.

According to National Coalition for Child Protection Reform's analysis of official numbers, the national removal rate of children from the family home was 4.1 per 1,000 children.

Lake Charles City, Louisiana Statistics and Demographics (US Census 2000) 
[see attachment, Lake Charles Population and Demographics (Lake Charles, LA)]

If Lake Charles children were removed at the same rate as the national average of 4.1 per 1000 children, then only 86 children would have been removed in 2006 [(20878/1000) x 4.1 = 85.5998 (rounded to 86)].

The number of children removed in Lake Charles, LA for year 2006 was over 325. This is a removal rate of 16 per 1000 [325 /(20878/1000) = 15.5666 (rounded to 16)] compared to the national removal rate of 4.1. 

If the family court of Judge Guy Bradberry and Judge Lilynn Cutrer and the Office of Community Services (OCS) were removing children at the national removal rate then the number of children removed would be 86. But their removal rate of 325 is almost FOUR TIMES the national removal rate of only 86.

2. What about the future

This Lake Charles removal rate of 16 per 1000 children, as gruesome as it may seem, is actually a bare minimum. The 325 number is the official DSS number of children who entered foster care [see attachment LA_APSR_2007] and not the total number of children removed from their homes. Some children were removed from their home and moved to relatives and this number is not included in the 325. The total number of children removed from their families is actually higher than 325.

From year 2005 to 2006 the number of children in FOSTER PLACEMENTS in Lake Charles almost doubled [see attachment, GRAPHS court filings and foster placements]

Lake Charles has a large number of children in FOSTER PLACEMENTS in proportion to the population and the number is increasing at an scandalous rate. Some FOSTER PLACEMENTS in Lake Charles have at least 8 to 9 children “packed in”.

Observe that if current trends in the 14th District Juvenile Court continue the removal rate of Lake Charles children from their homes will be 30 per 1000 [618/(20878/1000) = 29.6005 (rounded to 30)]. Mathematical and graphical projections demonstrate that this rate was probably approached in year 2007. This removal rate of 618 would be SEVEN TIMES the national removal rate of 86. 

Note: As of October 2008 the 2007 DSS data had not yet been published so the projection accuracy is limited by the refusal of the Louisiana DSS to produce timely data as mandated by federal law.

3. Conclusion

More data should be obtained from the 14th District family court and the Louisiana DSS to facilitate further and more accurate analysis.

DSS advertises that 5000 children are in foster care and that 1000 children are available for adoption. Where are the 5000 children? They are not in the two major Louisiana cities New Orleans and Baton Rouge, so where are they? DSS tells how many children enter foster care. How many children remain in foster care? 

DSS claims 1000 children are awaiting adoption yet the OCS website only listed 109 children. Note: The webpage link at the OCS web page "View Children waiting for Adoption" at http://www.dss.state.la.us/departments/ocs/ no longer functions.

This Lake Charles, Louisiana holocaust must be brought to an end immediately. It is imperative that family court and the OCS be audited and investigated.