Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signs tough-on-crime legislation

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Eight recently passed bills, including legislation that will treat all 17-year-olds who commit crimes as adults and harsher penalties for carjackings, were signed by Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry on Wednesday.

Spurred by violent crime in Louisiana cities and a new tough-on-crime governor, the GOP-dominated Legislature gathered for a two-week special session last month to address crime — at which time they passed a slew of policies that will overhaul elements of the state’s criminal justice system.

Among one of the most controversial bills passed this session and signed by Landry is a measure that will roll back Louisiana’s “Raise the Age” law — a historic bipartisan criminal justice reforms passed in 2017. The new legislation will treat all 17-year-olds charged with crimes, including misdemeanors, as adults.

During Landry’s ceremonial signing bills into law in New Orleans on Wednesday, he also gave his seal of approval to legislation that makes certain juvenile criminal records public, funding for a new Louisiana State Police contingent in New Orleans — dubbed Troop Nola — and a measure that gives law enforcement officers “qualified immunity from liability.”

In addition, Landry signed several bills that toughen penalties for certain crimes — including a minimum of 25 years in jail in cases where someone distributes fentanyl in a way that appeals to children, such as the shape, color, taste or packaging design.

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