Updated: 5:48 PM CST Jan 14, 2021
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SULA: JUVENILE CRIME ACROSS THE CITY IS ON THE RISE AND THE NEW TOP PROSECUTOR IN NEW ORLEANS SAYS TEENS ARRESTED FOR SERIOUS CRIMES WILL WILL TRIED IN JUVE -- JUVENILE COURT. A STRATEGY SOME ARE QUESTIONING. WDSU’S TRAVERS MACKEL IS LIVE AT THE DA’S OFFICE WHY WILLIAMS SA THIS STANCE IS NEEDE TRAVERS: THE NEW DA SAYS CHARGING TEENS 15,16 A 17-YEARS-OLD AS ADULTS HAS NOT MADE THE CITY SAFER AND NOW HE’ TRYING SOMETHING NEW. HE SAYS JUVENILES WILL BE TRIED IN JUVENILE COURT. YOUTH CRIME PLAGUED THE CITY IN 2019 AND IN 2020. THEFTS, BREAK-INS AND ARNED -- ARMED ROBBERIES. MANY OF THOSE INCIDENTS CAUGHT ON CAMERA. GINO ASCANI IS A LAKEVIEW CRIME ACTIVIST WHO RUNS A FACEBOOK PAGE DOCUMENTING CRIMES IN THA NEIGHBORHOOD. >> IF THE KID IS A CAREER CRIMINAL THEN THEY NEED TO BE TREATED AS ONE. >> BUT THE NEW DA ISN’’T BUYING THAT. AND SAYS ON HIS WATCH THE BULK OF JUVENILE CRIMES WILL BE HANDLED IN JUVENILE COURT. >> WE ARE GOING TO DO WHAT THE SUPREME COURT SAID, WHICH IS TO TREAT CHILDREN LIK CHILDREN, SO YOU WILL NO LONGER SEE A CHILD IN AN ADULT JAIL WHERE THEY WILL MOST CERTAINLY BE PREYED UPON. >> WILLIAMS SAY THE PRACTICE OF CHARGING TEENS AS ADULTS EVEN FOR GUN CRIMES AND VIOLENT ISSUES ISN’T WORKING. >> IT HAS NOT MADE A SAFE. IT IS NOT ACTING AS A DETERRENT TO OTHER CHILDREN. IT HAS NOT MET THE ROOT CAUSES THAT ARE CAUSING THESE CHILDREN TO ACT OUT. >> BUT A HOMEOWN WHO EXCHANGED GUNFIRE WITH WOULD BE CAR THIEVES A FEW YEARS AGO OUTSIDE HIS HOME DOESN’T LIKE THE MESSAGE. >> IT SENDS THE WORST MESSAGE IN LEADERSHIP AND AUTHORITY TO THESE KIDS WHO ARE UNSUPER