SPLC Condemns Louisiana Legislature’s Passage of Senate Bill 2

BATON ROUGE, La. — Today, Louisiana’s Legislature passed Senate Bill 2, authored by Heather Cloud (R), to lower the age of juveniles subject to adult criminal procedures and remove critical protections for youth in the justice system. The measure, which will be put before Louisiana voters in 2025, opens the door to subjecting children as young as 13 to adult criminal proceedings.

“Children should be treated differently than adults,” said Terry C. Landry, Jr, Louisiana policy director, Southern Poverty Law Center. “The Louisiana Legislature has chosen a path that disregards decades of evidence showing that rehabilitative juvenile justice approaches lead to better outcomes for children and public safety.

“This decision fails our children and our communities. Instead of investing in solutions that address the root causes of juvenile delinquency, Senate Bill 2 doubles down on punitive measures that increase recidivism and perpetuate cycles of injustice.

“SPLC stands firmly against this harmful measure and urges Louisiana voters to reject it at the ballot box,” concluded Landry.