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submitted 2 months ago by girlfreddy@lemmy.ca to c/news@lemmy.world

In February, a prosecutor from a rural area outside Baton Rouge asked members of Louisiana’s Senate judiciary committee to imagine a frightening scene: You are home with your wife at 4 a.m. when suddenly a 17-year-old with a gun appears. The teenager won’t hesitate, District Attorney Tony Clayton said. “He will kill you and your wife.”

According to Clayton, teenagers were terrorizing the state without fear of consequences. The only way to stop them was to prosecute all 17-year-olds in adult court, regardless of the offense, and lock them up in prison. Law enforcement officials from around the state made similar arguments. Legislators quickly passed a bill that lowered the age at which the justice system must treat defendants as adults from 18 to 17.

But according to a review of arrests in the five months since the law took effect, most of the 17-year-olds booked in three of the state’s largest parishes have not been accused of violent crimes. Verite News and ProPublica identified 203 17-year-olds who were arrested in Orleans, Jefferson and East Baton Rouge parishes between April and September. A total of 141, or 69%, were arrested for offenses that are not listed as violent crimes in Louisiana law, according to our analysis of jail rosters, court records and district attorney data.

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[-] Eheran@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

So 31 % did commit violent crimes? Holy shit, at age 17!

[-] dogslayeggs@lemmy.world 10 points 2 months ago

A violent crime can be anything from punching another kid in highschool (remember, they are 17 and highschool boys fight sometimes) to murder.

[-] girlfreddy@lemmy.ca 8 points 2 months ago

Louisiana has the second highest povery rate in America at 18.6% (Source).

There is data that indicates murder rates rise when poverty and inequality rates rise (Source)

[-] yesman@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago

Violent criminals tend to be young, like solders, and for the same reason.

[-] Xaphanos@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

40 arrests across 3 counties for violent crime accusations.

this post was submitted on 03 Oct 2024
56 points (96.7% liked)

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