Playing with grandchildren, New Orleans, Louisiana” by photographer Carol M. Highsmith. (Image courtesy of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)
Malcolm Jenkins

On Saturday, March 29—tomorrow—folks across Louisiana will head to the polls and vote on Amendment 3. It might not sound like a big deal on the surface—but make no mistake, this one matters.

It’s about our kids. It’s about our future. And it’s about who we choose to throw away and who we choose to protect.

I’ve worn a lot of jerseys in my life. I’ve hoisted a Lombardi Trophy with the Saints and fought for justice through the Players Coalition. But the title I hold dearest is “Dad.”

Being a father has taught me something the criminal legal system still hasn’t learned: kids make mistakes. That’s part of growing up. Their brains aren’t finished developing. They act on impulse. They don’t always think about consequences. That’s why they need guidance—not cages.

If Amendment 3 passes, it would allow the state to put more kids into adult prisons. That’s not justice. That’s trauma. And the data is clear: kids in adult jails are 36 times more likely to die by suicide. They’re more likely to be assaulted, abused, and come out worse than they went in. We’re not solving problems—we’re multiplying them.

Look, I’m not naive. I’ve seen what violence does to communities. I’ve lost friends to it. I’ve seen families torn apart. But locking up kids in adult facilities doesn’t make us safer. It just deepens the cycle.

If we really want accountability, if we really care about public safety, then we have to be serious about rehabilitation. Especially for young people.

Accountability isn’t about punishment for punishment’s sake—it’s about helping someone take responsibility and change. It’s about making sure they never go back down that same road again. And for kids, that only works when you treat them like kids.

I’m asking voters in Louisiana to see past the fear-mongering and the recycled tough-on-crime headlines. We’ve been down that road before, and it only led to more incarceration, not more safety. 

Our children are not disposable. Let’s show them we believe in second chances. Vote No on Amendment 3. 

Malcolm Jenkins is a two-time Super Bowl champion, 12-year NFL veteran, father, entrepreneur, and cofounder of the Players Coalition, a nonprofit focused on social justice and equity.