‘Raise the Age’ repeal takes effect, meaning 17-year-olds will be charged as adults
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Starting today, 17-year-olds in Louisiana will again be treated as adults in the eyes of the criminal justice system.
However, one local crime watchdog said he thinks the change will not significantly affect crime in Louisiana.
“If you commit one of the enumerated crimes of violence that allows for a case to be transferred from juvenile to adult court, that was happening under the old law,” said Rafael Goyeneche, President of the Metropolitan Crime Commission.
Goyeneche said, for the vast majority of cases, 17-year-olds accused of crimes of violence were already being moved to adult court.
The major difference with the law change will be those juveniles arrested and charged with non-violent property offenses.
“As 17-year-olds arrested for property offenses, that means that will be their first offense as an adult,” he said.
“As a property offense, if you’re a 17-year-old, you’re going to be granted pre-trial diversion, which means you’re going to be placed on probation without being convicted of a crime, and that gives you the opportunity to go through the program and have your arrest record expunged.”
Goyeneche said he feels adult pre-trial diversion programs will be more effective.
The ‘Raise the Age’ bill, which increased the age from 17 to 18 to be considered an adult in the criminal justice system, was part of a bi-partisan package of reforms under previous Governor John Bel Edwards.
Proponents of the move to repeal argue juvenile crimes have skyrocketed and need to be addressed, while opponents of the change said the reforms were effective in reducing violent crimes.
“I think the reason this legislation was passed is because of the loss of credibility of the juvenile justice system and some of the lack of transparency with respect to juvenile outcomes,” Goyeneche said.
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