Lafourche drug treatment prosecutor tapped for state DA’s association

Lafourche Parish drug treatment prosecutor Louis Thad Toups is at the top of his game – in and out of the courtroom.

Toups, an assistant district attorney in Lafourche, was elected to the board of the Assistant District Attorney Section of the Louisiana District Attorney’s Association over the summer.

Toups will represent eight judicial districts covering southeast Louisiana, including the parishes of Lafourche, Terrebonne, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Charles, St. Bernard, St. John the Baptist and Orleans.

“It certainly is good to see that Thad’s experience and expertise is being recognized by the other assistant district attorneys throughout the state,” said Lafourche Parish District Attorney Cam Morvant.

Toups first became an assistant district attorney in Lafourche Parish in 1982, where he was in charge of all criminal prosecution allotted to Division B. Later, he moved to Division C, which handled one-fourth of all criminal prosecutions in the parish.

Toups prides himself on being the first prosecutor in Lafourche to obtain a murder conviction based on DNA evidence.

After serving 15 years as the Division B and C prosecutor, Toups moved to the drug treatment court in 1998. He is one of the founding members of the Louisiana Association of Drug Court Professionals and has been on the board for the past three years.

“It’s an honor to be elected to represent your peers in anything,” Toups said. “I’m very humbled by it, and looking forward to serving.”

Lafourche drug treatment court was established as an alternative to traditional methods of treating substance abusers. It is a voluntary program that targets non-violent drug abusers.

Toups said the participants must fit the drug treatment court program criteria prior to being accepted into the program. Eligible candidates must not have been convicted of a violent offense or have a history of dealing illegal narcotics.

“The four-phase program has many milestones participants must pass before they can return to society as a fully-functioning individual,” he said. “The program can take 12 to 19 months to complete.”

The drug program has served more than 400 people locally. It is currently serving more than 150 people with many on a waiting list.

Outside of the courtroom, Toups works closely with the schools to deter illegal alcohol use. In a fight to decrease underage drinking, the Lafourche Parish District Attorney’s Office holds an annual Domino Effect program at area high schools.

“The program is presented only to high school seniors,” he said. “It deals with issues of underage drinking and operating vehicles while under the influence and the dangers of it.”

Toups also heads most of the student-oriented programs for the District Attorney’s Office.

Another major program is Project LEAD, the Legal Enrichment and Decision-Making program. It is designed to simulate a real trial. Students from Lafourche public and Catholic schools serve as the prosecutors, defenders, witnesses and defendants.

Toups said the program’s aim is to teach students the impact their decisions have on their lives.

“When the students leave the mock trial area, they’ll definitely think about the choices they will make in the future,” he said. “Because for every choice, there is a consequence that comes along with it.”