Transcript
Governor Landry’s “tough on crime” approach includes a law that treats 17 year old offenders as adults. Now, Lafayette and other cities are struggling to house these young offenders in a way that’s both locally and federally legal.
Hey, I’m Elliot Wade, your Community Reporter here at The Current.
Council members approved the introduction of an ordinance authorizing the Boulet administration to strike deals with other jurisdictions to temporarily house 17-year-olds arrested in Lafayette Parish. Currently, facilities in Jackson Parish near Monroe and in Lake Charles are possible options.
They’re budgeting $125,000 to pay for those contracts, and final adoption is scheduled for Sept. 12.
This started back in February, when Governor Landry held a special session that overhauled the state’s criminal justice system. That included the reversal of the “Raise the Age” law, classifying 17 year olds as adults in the eyes of the law.
Federally, 17 year olds must be housed separately from and not within “sight and sound” of adults, even if they are tried as adults. That was clarified under the Trump administration in 2018.
This created some sticky legal framework for prisons and jails in the state, who are stuck trying to comply with both authorities.
Lafayette Parish could land in a federal lawsuit if authorities detain a 17-year-old at Lafayette Parish Correctional Center, which is owned by the parish but operated by the sheriff.
What are your thoughts on this story? Let me know in the comments below. Until next time, I’m Elliot Wade and this is Lafayette.