SB2, introduced by Senator Cloud, poses a significant threat to the integrity of Louisiana's juvenile justice system. This controversial bill seeks to remove the current constitutional framework limiting which offenses allow juveniles to be tried as adults. Instead, the legislation would grant the legislature unchecked authority to enumerate offenses through individual legislation, bypassing the current deliberate and structured process.

Our judicial system has long embraced the need for handling juvenile justice differently than that of adults. This bill will make it easier to blur and eliminate that distinction in our criminal justice system. As social workers, we recognize the distinct opportunity and responsibility to rehabilitate minors through a variety of interventions unique to juvenile court policy.  Public policy that drives more juveniles into adult disciplinary hearings does not take into account the differences between children and adults or the most effective interventions to avoid a lifetime of recidivism. We urge this legislature to reject SB 2 and instead empower juvenile courts and rehabilitation services to ensure these children never need to appear in adult courtrooms.