A bill seeking to repeal the state’s 2016 Raise the Age law will go to the full Senate for debate. Kevin Gallagher reports it would mean more juveniles could be tried as adults.
A bill passed in Governor Edwards' first year in office raised the age of automatically routing 17-year-old defenders through adult courts. Attorney General Jeff Landry says that's meant some pretty bad kids have been sent to juvenile court. "Where the penalties are far less lenient when compared to what is available in the criminal code," said Landry. He said repeal raised the age because it's too soft on crime.
Rachel Gassert, with the Louisiana Center for Children's Rights, says the legislation is unnecessary. "Kids charged with murder can still be tried as adults," said Gassert.
Nevertheless, the bill was passed without objection. The next step for this bill is the Senate floor.