If you’re a teen in the 15th Judicial District, which includes Acadia, Lafayette, and Vermilion parishes, and commit a violent crime you can be tried as an adult. District Attorney Don Landry made the announcement in an effort to reduce the growing number of juvenile crimes.
“If juveniles want to use guns and commit violent crimes in the 15th Judicial District like adults, then they will be prosecuted as adults,” said Landry.
Landry said violent crimes among young people are a nationwide problem and Louisiana is not immune. Juveniles ages 15 to 17 in the 15th Judicial District who commit violent offenses will now be tried as adults. Landry said the increase in violence since July 2020 is staggering.
“And we’re only talking about juvenile cases here folks, attempted first and second-degree murders; Lafayette 26, Acadia 19, Vermilion 3,” said Landry.
The Louisiana Children’s Code gives district attorneys the authority to prosecute juveniles as adults in cases such as violent crimes, for example, murder, attempted murder, rape, kidnapping, and aggravated burglary or battery committed with a firearm. Landry said it’s not just their charges that are impacted.
“It is important that the message goes out to the juveniles and their parents, to understand that once this selection has been made, the juvenile may be ordered to be held in an adult detention facility,” said Landry.
Landry said he’s instructing prosecutors to aggressively go after violent juvenile crime, and they will revisit the change in January to see if it’s made an impact in deterring crime among teenagers.
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