Terms Used In Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure 334

  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC

            After a warrant for arrest is issued, the clerk of court shall, within sixty days, send a notice of warrant for arrest to the prosecuting attorney. The notice shall also be sent by United States mail or electronic means to the defendant, the bail agent or bondsman, if any, and the personal surety. Notice shall be sent by electronic means or by certified mail return receipt requested to the commercial surety. All notices shall be sent to the addresses provided pursuant to Article 329 or an address registered with the Louisiana Department of Insurance. The notice to the commercial surety shall include the power of attorney number used to execute the bail undertaking. Failure to include the power of attorney number shall not affect the validity or enforcement of a resulting judgment. After sending the notice of warrant for arrest, the clerk of court shall execute a certificate that notice was sent and place the certificate in the record. Failure to send notice to the commercial surety within sixty days shall release the surety of all obligations under the bail undertaking.

            Acts 1993, No. 834, §1, eff. June 22, 1993; Acts 1995, No. 853, §1; Acts 2016, No. 613, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2017.