( NewsNation ) — Teenagers arrested for crimes in Louisiana could be tried as adults in more cases than before if voters approve a state constitutional amendment proposal in March.
The state’s legislature approved a bill on Nov. 22 that would remove the existing list of crimes in the state constitution for which minors can be tried as adults and would give legislators the authority to determine which crimes warrant adult sentencing.
The bill received 70 votes in the House, the minimum required to advance to voters.
Registered voters will see the following question on their March 29 ballot: “Do you support an amendment to provide the legislature the authority to determine which felony crimes, when committed by a person under the age of seventeen, may be transferred for criminal prosecution as an adult?”
If the ballot measure passes, state lawmakers must enact new laws to address how courts could send juveniles to adult detention centers.