Louisiana’s Legal Update: 17-year-olds to Be Tried and Jailed as Adults

Beginning on Friday, April 19, new legislation in Louisiana that treats individuals who are 17 years old as adults rather than minors went into effect. After this, the juveniles will be booked into adult jails, and their cases will no longer be heard in the courts that deal with juveniles.

As a result of the extraordinary session that was held to discuss criminal activity, Governor Jeff Landry signed Act No. 13. By the end of February, it was over.

According to a post that Landry made on X, which was once known as Twitter, “Today marks the beginning of a new justice system here in Louisiana.” “In the future, 17-year-olds who commit crimes like carjacking, house invasions, and robbery against the fine people of our state will no longer be treated as juveniles in the court system. This is a criminal organization, and today is the day that they will finally be dealt with as such. The statement that follows was issued on Friday by the office of Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome.

“My commitment is to follow the law, and we continue to work with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office to facilitate the transfer to adult prison of the criminally charged 17-year-olds who are currently in our custody and who are now considered adults according to the new law in Louisiana,” the statement read.

In a statement released on Friday, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office stated that the existing facility does not fulfill the federal standards for detaining juvenile offenders and that they have successfully identified a replacement location.

The City-Parish is required to provide suitable and secure accommodation for inmates by the laws of the federal Prisoner’s Rights and Equality Act (PREA). It is the responsibility of the Sheriff to ensure the safety of the facility that is provided by the City-Parish. When it comes to housing “youthful offenders,” the present institution does not meet the federal standards that are outlined in PREA.

This is because the federal legislation defines 17-year-old criminals as “youthful offenders.” According to Casey Rayborn Hicks, the director of public information for the EBRSO, the Sheriff has located an alternative venue outside of the parish until the City-Parish Administration can supply the aforementioned.