Senate passes legislation to ‘Raise the Age’

Seventeen-year-olds may no longer go to adult prison facilities in non-violent crimes moved closer to reality Monday when the Senate passed 33-4 a bill increasing juvenile status from 16 to 17 years old. It now goes to the House for consideration.
Senate Bill 324, by Sen. J.P. Morrell, D-New Orleans, known as the “Raise the Age Louisiana Act,” means 17-year-old delinquents now would be housed in juvenile detention centers rather than in adult facilities.   
 “I challenge you that if you sent one of your 17-year-old children to an adult facility, they would come out as hardened criminals,” Morrell yelled during his closing argument. “We’re talking about kids. A 17-year-old is a kid. How many people in here have a 17 year old child and look at him and say ‘that’s a man?’”
Opponents quoted the $2.76 million increase to state expenditures in fiscal year 2018 as their primary objection.
“We’re holding them (one more) whole year that someone (has) to pay for,” Sen. Eddie Lambert, R-Gonzales, said.  
Morrell acknowledged that holding a juvenile is three times the cost of incarcerating adults, but in the long-run the state saves money because it results in a decrease in repeat offenders.
“In Louisiana, we have decided that a 17-year-old is not capable of joining the military, voting or buying a lottery ticket,” Morrell said. “But in this one instance, we believe they are capable enough to be put in adult prison.”