Louisiana Revised Statutes 13:1000.4 – Criminal matters; additional costs for CASA program
Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 13:1000.4
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- En banc: In the bench or "full bench." Refers to court sessions with the entire membership of a court participating rather than the usual quorum. U.S. courts of appeals usually sit in panels of three judges, but may expand to a larger number in certain cases. They are then said to be sitting en banc.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
A. In all criminal cases, including traffic offenses, of which the Nineteenth Judicial District Court has jurisdiction, there shall be assessed as additional costs against every defendant who is convicted after trial or who pleads guilty or forfeits bond, the sum of five dollars. These costs shall be in addition to all other fines, costs, or forfeitures lawfully imposed and shall be transmitted to the sheriff of East Baton Rouge Parish for further disposition in accordance with the provisions of this Section.
B. The sheriff shall transfer all sums collected or received under this Section to the court-appointed special advocate (CASA) program in the judicial district to be expended on order of the judges of the district, en banc. CASA shall cause to be conducted annually an audit of the account and the books and accounts relating thereto and shall file the audit with the office of the legislative auditor where it shall be available for public inspection.
Acts 1999, No. 502, §1.