BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana’s Republican-dominated legislature concluded a two-week special session Thursday that was called to address one of the state’s most pressing issues — violent crime.
During the session lawmakers passed a slew of tough-on-crime policies, including expanding death row execution methods, charging 17-year-olds as adults and eliminating parole for most people who are jailed in the future.
The bills enjoy broad GOP support, but Democrats fear they won’t deter crime and will actually exacerbate Louisiana’s ailing and crowded prison system.
Here’s a look at the approved bills, which now head to the desk of Republican Gov. Jeff Landry to be signed into law or vetoed.
Seeking to resume death row executions after a 14-year pause, the Legislature passed a bill that adds the use of nitrogen gas and electrocution as methods to carry out the death penalty.
Currently 58 people sit on Louisiana’s death row. No executions are scheduled at the moment.
Like most states that have capital punishment, Louisiana has relied on lethal injection. But amid legal battles and challenges over the drugs involved, some states have explored other methods.
Proponents of expanding the allowed execution methods say it’s past time for the state to uphold “contractual obligations” between victims’ families and the state. Opponents question the legality of the proposed methods, saying they could amount to cruel and unusual punishment.
Republicans say youths are terrorizing cities with violent carjackings, shootings and homicides.
As a result, lawmakers passed a bill that will treat all 17-year-olds charged with crimes, including misdemeanors, as adults. The measure is a rollback of the state’s “Raise the Age” law.
While critics of the bill agree that juvenile lawbreakers should be held accountable, they have raised safety and recidivism concerns.
Legislators also passed a law making certain juvenile criminal records public.
Lawmakers spent a portion of the session debating sweeping changes that could determine how long certain incarcerated people remain in prison and when, or if, they would be allowed a second chance at freedom.
One bill that was passed effectively eliminates parole for anyone convicted after Aug. 1, with few exceptions — including groups for whom it is constitutionally required, such as those who were sentenced to life terms as juveniles.
In addition, the legislature passed a bill that reduces the amount of “good time credit” that prisoners can accumulate to shave time off their sentence.
Supporters say the measures will reduce instances of inmates only serving a “fraction of their sentence” and, hopefully, decrease recidivism.
Critics say the legislation will not deter crime, would cost the state millions as it continues to house inmates who could be paroled, and would create less incentive for good behavior and involvement in programs designed to help former inmates succeed in the outside world.
Other bills propose harsher penalties for certain crimes.
Under one of them, the minimum sentence for a carjacking conviction will increase from two years to five. If a carjacking results in bodily injury, the offender will serve 20 to 30 years.
Another measure toughens fentanyl-related penalties, specifically in cases where people distribute the drug in a way that appeals to children, such as the shape, color, taste or design of packaging. The crime would be punishable by a minimum of 25 years in jail.
A bill allowing residents 18 and older to carry a concealed handgun without a permit received final approval Wednesday.
Legislators also passed a bill providing a level of immunity from civil liability for someone who holds a concealed carry permit and uses their firearm to shoot a person in self-defense.
Lawmakers will return to the capitol March 11 for their three-month-long regular session, in which they can take up additional crime-related bills.
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