Photo by Brooke Thorington
A bill to double the minimum prison sentence for carjackings receives full passage in the House. Metairie Representative Laurie Schlegel was questioned by New Orleans Democrat Matthew Williard if the state can handle an influx of prisoners with new laws passed in the crime special session.
“Which will lead to a financial burden on the state?” said Williard.
“My hope is that we’re actually going to deter people from it because what we’re doing now is obviously not working. I believe that what we’re trying to do is to deter, so if people aren’t committing the crimes, then they’re not going to jail,” said Schlegel.
House Bill 7 would raise the minimum prison sentence from two to five years and for carjackings that result in serious injury from 10 to 20 years. Williard asked Schlegel if doubling the sentences would reduce the number of carjackings.
“Do you have data showing that those increased penalties will deter behavior and reduce that particular crime?” Williard asked.
“I do not but if that was the sort of reasoning then we should just get rid of all penalties and just not have sentencing for any of our laws,” said Schlegel.
New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry questioned if judges asked for the minimum sentences to be raised and if the bill takes away their discretion. In Schlegel’s bill judges can sentence one five to 20 years for carjacking and 20 to 30 years if bodily injury is involved.
“So I do think judges still have discretion on both of these so if the legislature moving it up to five years is the appropriate step then that’s where we’ll go,” said Schlegel.
The bill passed on an 89-15 vote and heads to a Senate committee for debate.
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