Disclaimer Contents State List
The information provided is not
for commercial use, it is intended only for informational use. There has been
no attempt to make a complete list of all or related statutes. There is no
guarantee of the completeness or accuracy of the information provided. Please Seek Professional Legal advice and visit the State’s official web
site and consult the Bound Volumes of the State’s Statutes for more
information.
RS = Revises Statutes
TITLE 14 CRIMINAL LAW
CHAPTER 1. CRIMINAL CODE
PART II. OFFENSES AGAINST THE
PERSON
SUBPART C. RAPE AND SEXUAL BATTERY
§41. Rape; defined
A. Rape is the act of anal, oral, or vaginal
sexual intercourse with a male or female person committed without the person's
lawful consent.
B. Emission is not necessary, and any sexual
penetration, when the rape involves vaginal or anal intercourse, however
slight, is sufficient to complete the crime.
C. For purposes of this Subpart, "oral
sexual intercourse" means the intentional engaging in any of the following
acts with another person:
(1) The touching of the anus or genitals of the
victim by the offender using the mouth or tongue of the offender.
(2) The touching of the anus or genitals of the
offender by the victim using the mouth or tongue of the victim.
Acts 1978, No. 239, §1. Acts 1985, No. 587,
§1; Acts 1990, No. 722, §§1, 2; Acts 2001, No. 301, §1.
§42.
Aggravated rape
A. Aggravated rape is a rape committed upon a
person sixty-five years of age or older or where the anal, oral, or vaginal
sexual intercourse is deemed to be without lawful consent of the victim because
it is committed under any one or more of the following circumstances:
(1) When the victim resists the act to the
utmost, but whose resistance is overcome by force.
(2) When the victim is prevented from resisting the
act by threats of great and immediate bodily harm, accompanied by apparent
power of execution.
(3) When the victim is prevented from resisting the
act because the offender is armed with a dangerous weapon.
(4) When the victim is under the age of
thirteen years. Lack of knowledge of the victim's age shall not be a
defense.
(5) When two or more offenders participated in
the act.
(6) When the victim is prevented from resisting
the act because the victim suffers from a physical or mental infirmity
preventing such resistance.
B. For purposes of Paragraph (5),
"participate" shall mean:
(1) Commit the act of rape.
(2) Physically assist in the commission of such act.
C. For purposes of this Section, the following
words have the following meanings:
(1) "Physical infirmity" means a
person who is a quadriplegic or paraplegic.
(2) "Mental infirmity" means a
person with an intelligence quotient of seventy or lower.
D. (1) Whoever commits the crime of aggravated rape
shall be punished by life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole,
probation, or suspension of sentence.
(2) However, if the victim was under the age of
twelve years, as provided by Paragraph A(4) of this Section:
(a) And if the district attorney seeks a
capital verdict, the offender shall be punished by death or life imprisonment
at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence,
in accordance with the determination of the jury. The provisions of
C.Cr.P. Art. 782 relative to cases in which punishment may be capital shall
apply.
(b) And if the district attorney does not seek
a capital verdict, the offender shall be punished by life imprisonment at hard
labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.
The provisions of C.Cr.P. Art. 782 relative to cases in which punishment
is necessarily confinement at hard labor shall apply.
Acts 1978, No. 239, §1. Amended by Acts 1981,
No. 707, §1; Acts 1984, No. 579, §1; Acts 1993, No. 630, §1; Acts 1995, No.
397, §1; Acts 1997, No. 757, §1; Acts 1997, No. 898, §1; Acts 2001, No. 301,
§1; Acts 2003, No. 795, §1.
§42.1. Forcible rape
A. Forcible rape is rape committed when the
anal, oral, or vaginal sexual intercourse is deemed to be without the lawful
consent of the victim because it is committed under any one or more of the
following circumstances:
(1) When the victim is prevented from resisting the
act by force or threats of physical violence under circumstances where the
victim reasonably believes that such resistance would not prevent the rape.
(2) When the victim is incapable of resisting or of
understanding the nature of the act by reason of stupor or abnormal condition
of the mind produced by a narcotic or anesthetic agent or other controlled
dangerous substance administered by the offender and without the knowledge of
the victim.
B. Whoever commits the crime of forcible rape shall
be imprisoned at hard labor for not less than five nor more than forty years.
At least two years of the sentence imposed shall be without benefit of
probation, parole, or suspension of sentence.
Acts 1978, No. 239, §1. Acts 1984, No. 569,
§1; Acts 1997, No. 862, §1; Acts 2001, No. 301, §1.
§43. Simple rape
A. Simple rape is a rape committed when the
anal, oral, or vaginal sexual intercourse is deemed to be without the lawful
consent of a victim because it is committed under any one or more of the
following circumstances:
(1) When the victim is incapable of resisting
or of understanding the nature of the act by reason of a stupor or abnormal
condition of mind produced by an intoxicating agent or any cause and the
offender knew or should have known of the victim's incapacity.
(2) When the victim is incapable, through
unsoundness of mind, whether temporary or permanent, or understanding the
nature of the act and the offender knew or should have known of the victim's
incapacity.
(3) When the female victim submits under the belief
that the person committing the act is her husband and such belief is
intentionally induced by any artifice, pretense, or concealment practiced by
the offender.
B. Whoever commits the crime of simple rape
shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, without benefit of parole,
probation, or suspension of sentence, for not more than twenty-five years.
Acts 1978, No. 239, §1; Acts 1990, No. 722, §1; Acts
1995, No. 946, §2; Acts 1997, No. 862, §1; Acts 2001, No. 131, §1; Acts 2001,
No. 301, §1; Acts 2003, No. 232, §1; Acts 2003, No. 759, §1.
§43.1. Sexual battery
A. Sexual battery is the intentional engaging
in any of the following acts with another person where the offender acts
without the consent of the victim, or where the act is consensual but the other
person, who is not the spouse of the offender, has not yet attained fifteen
years of age and is at least three years younger than the offender:
(1) The touching of the anus or
genitals of the victim by the offender using any instrumentality or any part of
the body of the offender; or
(2) The touching of the anus or genitals of the
offender by the victim using any instrumentality or any part of the body of the
victim.
B. Lack of knowledge of the victim's age shall
not be a defense. However, where the victim is under seventeen, normal
medical treatment or normal sanitary care of an infant shall not be construed
as an offense under the provisions of this Section.
C. Whoever commits the crime of sexual battery shall
be punished by imprisonment, with or without hard labor, without benefit of
parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, for not more than ten years.
Acts 1978, No. 239, §1. Amended by Acts 1981,
No. 624, §1, eff. July 20, 1981; Acts 1984, No. 924, §1; Acts 1991, No. 654,
§1; Acts 1995, No. 946, §2; Acts 2003, No. 232, §1.
§43.2. Second degree sexual
battery
A. Second degree sexual battery is the
intentional engaging in any of the following acts with another person when the
offender intentionally inflicts serious bodily injury on the victim:
(1) The touching of the anus or genitals of the
victim by the offender using any instrumentality or any part of the body of the
offender; or
(2) The touching of the anus or genitals of the
offender by the victim using any instrumentality or any part of the body of the
victim.
B. For the purposes of this Section, serious
bodily injury means bodily injury which involves unconsciousness, extreme
physical pain or protracted and obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss or
impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty, or a
substantial risk of death.
C. Whoever commits the crime of second degree
sexual battery shall be punished by imprisonment, with or without hard labor,
without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, for not more
than fifteen years.
Added by Acts 1983, No. 78, §1. Acts 1984, No.
568, §1; Acts 1995, No. 946, §2; Acts 2004, No. 676, §1.
§43.3. Oral sexual battery
A. Oral sexual battery is the intentional
engaging in any of the following acts with another person, who is not the
spouse of the offender when the other person has not yet attained fifteen years
of age and is at least three years younger than the offender:
(1) The touching of the anus or genitals of the
victim by the offender using the mouth or tongue of the offender; or
(2) The touching of the anus or genitals of the
offender by the victim using the mouth or tongue of the victim.
B. Lack of knowledge of the victim's age shall
not be a defense.
C. Whoever commits the crime of oral sexual
battery shall be punished by imprisonment, with or without hard labor, without
benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, for not more than ten
years.
Acts 1985, No. 287, §1; Acts 1995, No. 946, §2; Acts
2001, No. 301, §1.
SUBPART D. KIDNAPPING AND FALSE
IMPRISONMENT
§44. Aggravated kidnapping
Aggravated kidnapping is the doing of any of the
following acts with the intent thereby to force the victim, or some other
person, to give up anything of apparent present or prospective value, or to
grant any advantage or immunity, in order to secure a release of the person
under the offender's actual or apparent control:
(1) The forcible seizing and carrying of any person
from one place to another; or
(2) The enticing or persuading of any person to go
from one place to another; or
(3) The imprisoning or forcible secreting of
any person.
Whoever commits the crime of aggravated kidnapping
shall be punished by life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole,
probation, or suspension of sentence.
Amended by Acts 1980, No. 679, §1.
PART IV. OFFENSES AFFECTING THE
FAMILY
SUBPART B. SEX OFFENSES AFFECTING
THE FAMILY
§78. Incest
A. Incest is the marriage to, or sexual
intercourse with, any ascendant or descendant, brother or sister, uncle or
niece, aunt or nephew, with knowledge of their relationship.
B. The relationship must be by consanguinity,
but it is immaterial whether the parties to the act are related to one another
by the whole or half blood.
C. This Section shall not apply where one, not
a resident of this state at the time of the celebration of his marriage, shall
have contracted a marriage lawful at the place of celebration and shall
thereafter have removed to this state.
D. (1) Whoever commits incest, where the crime is
between an ascendant and descendant, or between brother and sister, shall be
imprisoned at hard labor for not more than fifteen years.
(2) Whoever commits incest, where the crime is
between uncle and niece, or aunt and nephew, shall be fined not more than one
thousand dollars, or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than
five years, or both.
Acts 1985, No. 706, §1; Acts 2004, No. 26, §8
§78.1. Aggravated incest
A. Aggravated incest is the engaging in any
prohibited act enumerated in Subsection B with a person who is under eighteen
years of age and who is known to the offender to be related to the offender as
any of the following biological, step, or adoptive relatives: child, grandchild
of any degree, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, uncle, aunt, nephew,
or niece.
B. The following are prohibited acts under
this Section:
(1) Sexual intercourse, sexual battery, second
degree sexual battery, carnal knowledge of a juvenile, indecent behavior with
juveniles, pornography involving juveniles, molestation of a juvenile, crime
against nature, cruelty to juveniles, parent enticing a child into
prostitution, or any other involvement of a child in sexual activity
constituting a crime under the laws of this state.
(2) Any lewd fondling or touching of the person of
either the child or the offender, done or submitted to with the intent to
arouse or to satisfy the sexual desires of either the child, the offender, or
both.
C. Consent is not a defense under this
Section.
D. A person convicted of aggravated incest
shall be fined an amount not to exceed fifty thousand dollars, or imprisoned,
with or without hard labor, for a term not less than five years nor more than
twenty years, or both.
E. (1) In addition to any sentence imposed under
Subsection D, the court shall, after determining the financial resources and
future ability of the offender to pay, require the offender, if able, to pay
the victim's reasonable costs of counseling that result from the offense.
(2) The amount, method, and time of payment
shall be determined by the court either by ordering that documentation of the
offender's financial resources and future ability to pay restitution and of the
victim's pecuniary loss submitted by the victim be included in the presentence
investigation and report, or the court may receive evidence of the offender's
ability to pay and the victim's loss at the time of sentencing.
(3) The court may provide for payment to a victim up
to but not in excess of the pecuniary loss caused by the offense. The
offender may assert any defense that he could raise in a civil action for the
loss sought to be compensated by the restitution order.
Acts 1993, No. 525, §1, eff. June 10, 1993; Acts
2004, No. 648, §1; Acts 2004, No. 676, §1.
PART V. OFFENSES AFFECTING THE
PUBLIC MORALS
SUBPART A. OFFENSES AFFECTING
SEXUAL
IMMORALITY
1. SEXUAL OFFENSES AFFECTING
MINORS
§80. Felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile
A. Felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile is
committed when:
(1) A person who is nineteen years of age or
older has sexual intercourse, with consent, with a person who is twelve years
of age or older but less than seventeen years of age, when the victim is not
the spouse of the offender; or
(2) A person who is seventeen years of age or
older has sexual intercourse, with consent, with a person who is twelve years
of age or older but less than fifteen years of age, when the victim is not the
spouse of the offender; or
(3) A person commits a second or subsequent offense
of misdemeanor carnal knowledge of a juvenile, or a person who has been
convicted one or more times of violating one or more crimes for which the
offender is required to register as a sex offender under R.S. 15:542 commits a
first offense of misdemeanor carnal knowledge of a juvenile.
B. As used in this Section, "sexual
intercourse" means anal, oral, or vaginal sexual intercourse.
C. Lack of knowledge of the juvenile's age
shall not be a defense. Emission is not necessary, and penetration,
however slight, is sufficient to complete the crime.
D. Whoever commits the crime of felony carnal
knowledge of a juvenile shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars, or
imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than ten years, or both,
provided that the defendant shall not be eligible to have his conviction set
aside or his prosecution dismissed in accordance with the provisions of Code of
Criminal Procedure Article 893.
Amended by Acts 1977, No. 539, §1; Acts 1978, No.
757, §1; Acts 1990, No. 590, §1; Acts 1995, No. 241, §1; Acts 2001, No. 796,
§1.
§80.1. Misdemeanor carnal
knowledge of a juvenile
A. Misdemeanor carnal knowledge of a juvenile
is committed when a person who is seventeen years of age or older but less than
nineteen years of age has sexual intercourse, with consent, with a person who
is fifteen years of age or older but less than seventeen years of age, when the
victim is not the spouse of the offender, and when the difference between the
age of the victim and age of the offender is greater than two years.
B. As used in this Section, "sexual
intercourse" means anal, oral, or vaginal sexual intercourse.
C. Lack of knowledge of the juvenile's age shall not
be a defense. Emission is not necessary, and penetration, however slight,
is sufficient to complete the crime.
D. Whoever commits the crime of misdemeanor
carnal knowledge of a juvenile shall be fined not more than one thousand
dollars, or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.
E. The offender shall be eligible to have his
conviction set aside and his prosecution dismissed in accordance with the
appropriate provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
F. The offender shall not be subject to any of the
provisions of law which are applicable to sex offenders, including but not
limited to the provisions which require registration of the offender and notice
to the neighbors of the offender.
Acts 2001, No. 796, §1.
§81. Indecent behavior with
juveniles
A. Indecent behavior with juveniles is the
commission of any lewd or lascivious act upon the person or in the presence of
any child under the age of seventeen, where there is an age difference of
greater than two years between the two persons, with the intention of arousing
or gratifying the sexual desires of either person. Lack of knowledge of
the child's age shall not be a defense.
B. The trial judge shall have the authority to issue
any necessary orders to protect the safety of the child during the pendency of
the criminal action and beyond its conclusion.
C. Whoever commits the crime of indecent behavior
with juveniles shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars, or
imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than seven years, or both,
provided that the defendant shall not be eligible to have his conviction set
aside or his prosecution dismissed in accordance with the provisions of Code of
Criminal Procedure Article 893.
Amended by Acts 1956, No. 450, §1; Acts 1968, No.
647, §1; Acts 1977, No. 537, §1; Acts 1984, No. 423, §1; Acts 1986, No. 406,
§1; Acts 1990, No. 590, §1; Acts 1997, No. 743, §1.
§81.2. Molestation of a juvenile
A. Molestation of a juvenile is the commission
by anyone over the age of seventeen of any lewd or lascivious act upon the
person or in the presence of any child under the age of seventeen, where there
is an age difference of greater than two years between the two persons, with
the intention of arousing or gratifying the sexual desires of either person, by
the use of force, violence, duress, menace, psychological intimidation, threat
of great bodily harm, or by the use of influence by virtue of a position of
control or supervision over the juvenile. Lack of knowledge of the
juvenile's age shall not be a defense.
B. Whoever commits the crime of molestation of a
juvenile shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars, or imprisoned,
with or without hard labor, for not less than one nor more than ten years, or
both, provided that the defendant shall not be eligible to have his conviction
set aside or his prosecution dismissed in accordance with the provisions of
Code of Criminal Procedure Article 893.
C. Whoever commits the crime of molestation of
a juvenile when the offender has control or supervision over the juvenile shall
be fined not more than ten thousand dollars, or imprisoned, with or without
hard labor, for not less than one nor more than fifteen years, or both,
provided that the defendant shall not be eligible to have his conviction set
aside or his prosecution dismissed in accordance with Code of Criminal Procedure
Article 893.
D. (1) Whoever commits the crime of
molestation of a juvenile when the incidents of molestation recur during a
period of more than one year shall, on first conviction, be fined not more than
ten thousand dollars or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not less
than five nor more than fifteen years, or both. At least five years of
the sentence imposed shall be without benefit of parole, probation, or
suspension of sentence. After five years of the sentence have been
served, the offender, who is otherwise eligible, may be eligible for parole if
a licensed psychologist or a licensed clinical social worker or a
board-certified psychiatrist, after psychological examination, including
testing, approves.
(2) Conditions of parole shall include
treatment in a qualified sex offender program for a minimum of five years, or
until expiration of sentence, whichever comes first. The state shall be
responsible for the cost of testing but the offender shall be responsible for
the cost of the treatment program. It shall also be a condition of parole
that the offender be prohibited from being alone with a child without the
supervision of another adult.
(3) For purposes of this Subsection, a
"qualified sex offender program" means one which includes both group
and individual therapy and arousal reconditioning. Group therapy shall be
conducted by two therapists, one male and one female, at least one of whom is
licensed as a psychologist or is board certified as a psychiatrist or clinical
social worker.
(4) On a subsequent conviction, the offender shall
be imprisoned for twenty years at hard labor without benefit of parole,
probation, or suspension of sentence.
Acts 1984, No. 220, §1; Acts 1990, No. 590, §1; Acts
1991, No. 925, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1309, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2000.
§81.3. Computer-aided solicitation
of a minor
A. Computer-aided solicitation of a minor is
committed when a person eighteen years of age or older knowingly contacts or
communicates, through the use of electronic textual communication, with a
person who has not yet attained the age of eighteen or a person reasonably
believed to have not yet attained the age of eighteen, for the purpose of or
with the intent to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce the person to engage or participate
in sexual conduct or a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(13), or with
the intent to engage or participate in sexual conduct in the presence of the
person who has not yet attained the age of eighteen, or person reasonably
believed to have not yet attained the age of eighteen.
B. (1) Whoever violates the provisions of this
Section shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars and shall be
imprisoned at hard labor for not less than two years nor more than ten years,
without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.
(2) On a subsequent conviction, the offender shall
be imprisoned for not less than ten years nor more than twenty years at hard
labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.
C. (1) Consent is a defense to a prosecution brought
pursuant to this Section if the person under the age of eighteen, or the person
reasonably believed to be under the age of eighteen, is at least sixteen years
old.
(2) Consent is not a defense to a prosecution brought
pursuant to this Section if the person under the age of eighteen, or the person
reasonably believed to be under the age of eighteen, is actually under the age
of sixteen.
(3) It is not a defense to a prosecution brought
pursuant to this Section, on the basis of consent or otherwise, that the person
reasonably believed to be under the age of eighteen is actually a law
enforcement officer or peace officer acting in his official capacity.
D. For purposes of this Section, the following
words have the following meanings:
(1) "Electronic textual
communication" means a textual communication made through the use of a
computer on-line service, Internet service, or any other means of electronic
communication, including but not limited to a local bulletin board service,
Internet chat room, electronic mail, or on-line messaging service.
(2) "Sexual conduct" means actual or
simulated sexual intercourse, deviant sexual intercourse, sexual bestiality,
masturbation, sadomasochistic abuse, lewd exhibition of the genitals, or any
lewd or lascivious act.
E. The provisions of this Section shall not
apply to the transference of such images by a telephone company, cable
television company, or any of its affiliates, an Internet provider, or
commercial online service provider, or to the carrying, broadcasting, or
performing of related activities in providing telephone, cable television,
Internet, or commercial online services.
F. An offense committed under this Section may
be deemed to have been committed where the electronic textual communication was
originally sent, originally received, or originally viewed by any person.
G. After the institution of prosecution,
access to and the disposition of any material seized as evidence of this
offense shall be in accordance with R.S. 46:1845.
H. Any evidence resulting from the commission
of computer-aided solicitation of a minor shall constitute contraband.
I. A violation of the provisions of this
Section shall be considered a sex offense as defined in R.S. 15:541(14.1).
Whoever commits the crime of computer-aided solicitation of a minor shall be required to register as a sex
offender as provided for in Chapter 3-B of Title 15 of the Louisiana Revised
Statutes of 1950.
Acts 2005, No. 246, §1.
§89.1. Aggravated crime against
nature
A. Aggravated crime against nature is crime
against nature committed under any one or more of the following circumstances:
(1) When the victim resists the act to the
utmost, but such resistance is overcome by force;
(2) When the victim is prevented from resisting
the act by threats of great and immediate bodily harm accompanied by apparent
power of execution;
(3) When the victim is prevented from resisting
the act because the offender is armed with a dangerous weapon; or
(4) When through idiocy, imbecility, or any
unsoundness of mind, either temporary or permanent, the victim is incapable of
giving consent and the offender knew or should have known of such incapacity;
(5) When the victim is incapable of resisting
or of understanding the nature of the act, by reason of stupor or abnormal
condition of mind produced by a narcotic or anesthetic agent, administered by
or with the privity of the offender; or when he has such incapacity, by reason
of a stupor or abnormal condition of mind from any cause, and the offender knew
or should have known of such incapacity; or
(6) When the victim is under the age of
seventeen years and the offender is at least three years older than the victim.
B. Whoever commits the crime of aggravated
crime against nature shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not less than three
nor more than fifteen years, such prison sentence to be without benefit of
suspension of sentence, probation or parole.
Added by Acts 1962, No. 60, §1. Amended by
Acts 1979, No. 125, §1; Acts 1984, No. 683, §1.
CHAPTER 3-A. SEXUAL OFFENDER LAW
§536. Definitions
A. For purposes of this Chapter, "sexual
offender" means a person who has violated R.S. 14:78 (incest), R.S. 14:78.1 (aggravated incest), R.S. 14:89(A)(1)
(crime against nature), R.S. 14:89.1 (aggravated
crime against nature), R.S. 14:93.5 (sexual battery of the infirm) or any
provision of Subpart C of Part II, or Subpart A (1) of Part V, of Chapter 1 of Title
14 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.
B. For purposes of this Chapter, "serial sexual offender" means a person who has on two or more occasions previously pleaded guilty, nolo contendere, or has been found guilty of violating R.S. 14:42, 42.1, 43, 43.1, 43.2, 43.3, 43.4, 43.5, 78, 78.1, 80, 81, 81.1, 81.2, 89.1, or 107.1(C)(2).
§537.
Sentencing of sexual offenders; serial sexual offenders
A. If a person is convicted of or pleads
guilty to, or where adjudication has been deferred or withheld for a violation
of R.S. 14:78 (incest), R.S.
14:78.1 (aggravated incest), R.S. 14:80 (felony
carnal knowledge of a juvenile), R.S. 14:81 (indecent
behavior with juveniles), R.S. 14:81.1 (pornography involving juveniles), R.S. 14:81.2 (molestation of a juvenile), R.S. 14:89(A)(1)
(crime against nature), R.S. 14:89.1 (aggravated
crime against nature), R.S. 14:93.5 (sexual battery of the infirm) or any
provision of Subpart C of Part II of Chapter 1 of Title 14 of the Louisiana
Revised Statutes of 1950, and is sentenced to imprisonment for a stated number
of years or months, the person shall not be eligible for diminution of sentence
for good behavior.
B. The court shall sentence a person who has
on two or more occasions previously pleaded guilty, nolo contendere, or has
been found guilty of violating R.S. 14:42, 42.1, 43, 43.1, 43.2, 43.3, 43.4,
43.5, 78, 78.1, 80, 81, 81.1, 81.2, 89.1, or 107.1(C)(2) to life imprisonment
without the benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.
Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 110, §1; Acts 1999,
No. 1209, §1; Acts 2001, No. 1206, §1; Acts 2003, No. 1193, §1.
TITLE XVII
TIME LIMITATIONS
CHAPTER 1. LIMITATIONS UPON
INSTITUTION OF PROSECUTION
There is no time limitation upon the institution of
prosecution for any crime for which the punishment may be death or life
imprisonment or for the crime of forcible rape (R.S.
14:42.1).
Amended by Acts 1984, No. 926, §1; Acts 2001, No.
207, §1.
Art. 571.1. Time limitation for
certain sex offenses
Except as provided by Article 572 of this Chapter,
the time within which to institute prosecution of the following sex offenses:
sexual battery (R.S. 14:43.1), second degree sexual
battery (R.S. 14:43.2), oral sexual battery (R.S. 14:43.3), felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile (R.S. 14:80), indecent behavior with juveniles (R.S. 14:81), molestation of a juvenile (R.S. 14:81.2), crime against nature (R.S. 14:89),
aggravated crime against nature (R.S. 14:89.1),
incest (R.S. 14:78), or aggravated incest (R.S. 14:78.1) which involves a victim under seventeen
years of age, regardless of whether the crime involves force, serious physical
injury, death, or is punishable by imprisonment at hard labor shall be thirty
years. This thirty-year period begins to run when the victim attains the
age of eighteen.
Acts 1993, No. 592, §1, eff. June 15, 1993; Acts
2001, No. 207, §1; Acts 2001, No. 533, §1; Acts 2003, No. 809, §1, eff. July 1,
2003; Acts 2004, No. 676, §3; Acts 2005, No. 186, §1.
Art. 572. Limitation of
prosecution of noncapital offenses
A. Except as provided in Articles 571 and
571.1, no person shall be prosecuted, tried, or punished for an offense not
punishable by death or life imprisonment, unless the prosecution is instituted
within the following periods of time after the offense has been committed:
(1) Six years, for a felony necessarily
punishable by imprisonment at hard labor.
(2) Four years, for a felony not necessarily
punishable by imprisonment at hard labor.
(3) Two years, for misdemeanor punishable by a
fine, or imprisonment, or both.
(4) Six months, for a misdemeanor punishable
only by a fine or forfeiture.
B.(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of
Article 571.1 and Paragraph A of this Article, prosecutions for any sex offense
may be commenced beyond the time limitations set forth in this Title if the
identity of the offender is established after the expiration of such time
limitation through the use of a DNA profile.
(2) A prosecution under the exception provided
by this Paragraph shall be commenced within three years from the date on which
the identity of the suspect is established by DNA testing.
(3) For purposes of this Article,
"DNA" means deoxyribonucleic acid, which is located in cells and
provides an individual's personal genetic blue print and which encodes genetic
information that is the basis of human heredity and forensic identification.
(4) This Paragraph shall have retroactive
application to crimes committed prior to June 20, 2003.
Amended by Acts 1984, No. 926, §1; Acts 2001, No.
207, §1; Acts 2003, No. 487, §2, eff. June 20, 2003; Acts 2003, No. 809, §1,
eff. July 1, 2003.
NOTE: See Acts 2003, No. 487, §5, relative to
application.
Art. 573. Running of time
limitations; exception
The time limitations established by Article 572
shall not commence to run as to the following offenses until the relationship
or status involved has ceased to exist when:
(1) The offense charged is based on the
misappropriation of any money or thing of value by one who, by virtue of his
office, employment, or fiduciary relationship, has been entrusted therewith or
has control thereof.
(2) The offense charged is extortion or false
accounting committed by a public officer or employee in his official capacity.
(3) The offense charged is public bribery.
(4) The offense charged is aggravated battery
(R.S. 14:34) and the victim is under seventeen years of age.
Added by Acts 1982, No. 753, §1; Acts 1987, No. 587,
§1; Acts 1988, No. 436, §1; Acts 1988, No. 693, §1; Acts 1993, No. 592, §1,
eff. June 15, 1993.
Art. 574. Conviction and
punishment for lesser offenses; limitations applicable
The time limitations applicable to the offense for
which a person is prosecuted apply to a conviction or punishment for a lesser
and included offense.
Art. 575. Interruption of time
limitations
The periods of limitation established by this
Chapter shall be interrupted when the defendant:
(1) For the purpose of avoiding detection, apprehension or prosecution, flees from the state, is outside the state, or is absent from his usual place of abode within the state; or
(2) Lacks mental capacity to proceed at trial
and is committed in accordance with Article 648 of this Code.
Amended by Acts 1979, No. 318, §1.
My
email true_perspective@yahoo.com
Revised
07/06