While speaking to the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, Governor Jeff Landry says the state Legislature appropriated 100 million dollars to increase the number of juvenile detention center beds around the state and state dollars will also be spent on ensuring juvenile offenders have access to the necessary resources for rehabilitation.
“It’s not going to happen overnight but I can tell you that is absolutely the path that we’re on,” Landry said.
Landry also discussed the new law that would allow 17-year-olds to be charged as adults for serious crimes. He believes this will address the rising levels of violent crime among teenagers as it will act as a deterrent.
“Correcting the age is going to bring us to a path of peace inside the communities that are seeing the greatest amount of violence,” Landry said.
Together, these initiatives reflect the state’s effort to balance public safety with the need for a more effective approach to juvenile justice. Landry hopes that by expanding detention facilities and enacting stricter laws, they can reduce crime while providing better opportunities for rehabilitation.
“As we start to put in place those, we are going to require that those centers have educational opportunities that are incarcerated in there.”
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