Louisiana’s New Law Hurts Our Most Vulnerable Youth: A Call for True Justice and Compassion
The Injustice of Prosecuting 17-Year-Olds as Adults
Louisiana’s new law, designed to combat teen violence, has once again shown what happens when lawmakers disregard the people most impacted by a law. While lawmakers argue that this law is a necessary response to rising youth crime, the reality is starkly different. A vast majority of the 17-year-olds being swept into the adult court system are not violent offenders. According to recent reports, 69% of the 17-year-olds arrested since the law’s enactment were charged with non-violent crimes such as property damage, minor theft, or marijuana possession(Omaha Daily Record)(Juvenile Law Center). These are offenses typically tied to adolescent impulsiveness and survival rather than criminal intent.
For marginalized youth—particularly Black youth, who make up nearly 90% of those arrested under this law—the consequences are even more devastating. Instead of addressing the underlying causes of these behaviors, such as economic hardship or systemic inequality, this law treats them as criminals before they’ve had a chance to grow through the trauma of living in an environment with little to no protective factors. These young people are denied the protections and rehabilitative opportunities provided in juvenile courts and instead face the life-altering consequences of an adult criminal record.
The case of a New Orleans teen, arrested for unauthorized use of a vehicle during a family dispute, underscores the absurdity of this law. In previous years, he would have been handled in juvenile court with a focus on rehabilitation. Now, with an adult charge, his future is shaped by a criminal record, limiting his chances for housing, employment, and stability.
A Contradiction of Pro-Life Values
Louisiana prides itself on its pro-life stance, advocating for the protection and care of young lives. Yet, the passage of this law, which prosecutes 17-year-olds as adults, fundamentally undermines these values. Instead of offering troubled youth the support and rehabilitation they need, the state is now stripping them of their right to growth and recovery.
The juvenile justice system is designed to provide youth with a second chance—a system that acknowledges that youth are still developing the skills that lead to good judgment and focuses on rehabilitation over punishment. Studies show that youth tried in juvenile court are more likely to benefit from programs that are restorative, leading to lower recidivism rates and a greater chance of reintegration into society. This approach aligns more closely with values that prioritize life, opportunity, and long-term success (ProPublica).
However, under this law, 17-year-olds arrested for non-violent offenses are thrown into the adult system, where they face public criminal records and prison sentences that follow them for life. These records severely limit their access to employment, education, and housing—basic needs that are critical to breaking cycles of poverty and crime. For these young individuals, the law represents a life sentence of poverty, homelessness, complex trauma and a host of other societal ills that depress their chance for stability and successful civic participation.
The inconsistency in values is clear: how can a state that claims to protect life deny young people access to the services that could help them build productive, healthy lives? By prosecuting these teens as adults, Louisiana is turning its back on its pro-life promise and, instead, perpetuating a system that sets vulnerable youth up for failure.
Real-Life Consequences for Youth
As a provider in the Youth Services space that manages a transitional living program for 16-21-year-olds, I see firsthand how laws like this leave vulnerable youth without the resources they need to succeed. In our program, we provide critical services—housing, life skills, transportation, and basic needs support—specifically for justice-involved youth. Now, 17-year-olds charged as adults are no longer eligible for these services. Did the taxpayers agree to absorb the financial ramifications of this law?
This means that a 17-year-old, arrested for something as minor as trespassing or theft under $1,000, is now ineligible for non-secure care. Instead of receiving guidance and rehabilitation, they face the cold, harsh reality of adult jail or prison. These young people, who are often still maturing and learning how to navigate life, are denied the support systems that can help them transition into productive adulthood.
Without access to housing or transportation, many of these teens are forced into unstable environments, increasing their likelihood of reoffending. The law essentially abandons them at the exact moment they need help the most. These are not hardened criminals—they are adolescents making impulsive mistakes. But with this law, they lose their chance to learn, grow, and reintegrate into society, which ultimately creates a cycle of recidivism, generational poverty, and disconnection.
The consequences extend far beyond the courtroom. Once these youth enter the adult system, they face lifelong barriers to education, employment, and housing. It’s a system that imposes a punishment that far exceeds the crime. And for youth already facing challenges, such as those who are LGBTQ+ or youth of color, the effects are even more severe.
We’ve Done This Before. It Didn’t Work Then, It Doesn’t Work Now
The long-term consequences of prosecuting 17-year-olds as adults are far-reaching and devastating. Once these young people are thrust into the adult criminal justice system, they lose access to the rehabilitative programs that are proven to help reduce recidivism and support positive development. Instead, they are subjected to harsher sentences, public criminal records, and a permanent label that follows them for the rest of their lives.
Research shows that prosecuting juveniles as adults increases the likelihood of reoffending. Youth who go through the adult system are more likely to commit new crimes, partly because they lack the resources to reintegrate into society after their release.
Instead of receiving education, mental health services, or vocational training, these youth are left with a prison record that blocks access to jobs and stable housing.
There are effective alternatives to this punitive approach. Rehabilitative and restorative justice programs have been shown to address the root causes of youth crime far more effectively than incarceration. These programs focus on providing counseling, life skills, and educational opportunities that help youth make better decisions and build a future outside of the justice system. States that have invested in such programs have seen reductions in youth crime and recidivism.
Louisiana needs to shift its focus away from punishment and toward solutions that support youth development. By providing these young people with the tools they need to succeed—housing, life skills training, counseling—we can help break the cycle of crime and incarceration. This is especially important for vulnerable youth, such as those in foster care, LGBTQ+ youth, and youth of color, who are disproportionately affected by these harsh laws.
We Can do Better by Doing More
Louisiana’s new law does more harm than good. It strips vulnerable 17-year-olds of the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and access the resources that could help them build a better future. As a state that claims to protect life, we must reflect on what that truly means. Rather than funneling teenagers into a system that sets them up for failure, Louisiana should be investing in rehabilitative, community-based alternatives that give youth the chance to grow, reform, and thrive.
We owe it to our young people to be the adults we needed while growing up. We can’t be that if they are behind bars.