BATON ROUGE, La. — State legislators will flood the state capitol on Monday to focus on crime. Over 16 days or less, the lawmakers will tackle around two dozen items.
Some of the items on Governor Jeff Landry's agenda include expanding methods to carry out death row executions, restricting parole eligibility, lowering the age at which young offenders can be prosecuted in adult court, and increasing penalties for certain crimes.
New Orleans Representative, Mandie Landry (D), acknowledged the increase in juvenile crime, but questions the effectiveness of the agenda.
"There's nothing in there that helps us deter the kids, or deter sex crimes, or solve them. It's all just removing good time, punishing for more years, adding more time, and those are things that are going to keep people in prison longer, but it is not going to actually stop the crime before it happens or catch the bad guy," Mandie Landry said.
Meanwhile, other state lawmakers said the governor is fulfilling his promises.
"I'm thankful for the governor to actually call this crime session, this was one of his campaign promises, and he's delivering on that," Metairie Representative, Laurie Schlegel (R), said.
One of Schlegel's bills will be considered during the session. It would increase the minimum sentence for carjacking from two to five years, with a minimum sentence of 20 years if there is serious bodily injury.
"I think anytime you’re held accountable, and you actually suffer consequences for your actions, that’s just human behavior that it’s going to deter it," Schlegel said.
The session comes on the heels of Governor Landry declaring a State of Emergency on Friday. The governor cited a shortage in law enforcement officers and said his order lifts limits on how many new employees sheriffs can hire and on payroll increases for their departments.
The governor hopes his declaration and the special session on crime will "bring law and order back to our state."
State democrats have questioned the declaration.
“No one can remember in recent years where a State of Emergency was declared that was not a natural disaster. So, it was a little strange for that reason," Mandie Landry said.
"We also have some other things that are an emergency. We have a nursing shortage, we have a teacher shortage and most recently the governor did not embrace a long-term raise for teachers," New Orleans State Senator, Royce Duplessis (D), said.
Another hot-button topic on the governor's agenda is concealed carry.
State Senator Royce Duplessis (D) said it could pass.
"We're talking about the shortage of police officers, but yet we're going to say that every citizen can carry a concealed weapon without a permit? What's that going to do for our police officers? That's not going to support police," Duplessis said.
Legislators said if passed, anyone 18 and up without prior felonies could carry a gun without training or permits.
The special session must wrap up before the regular legislative session begins on March 6.
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