Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 15:81

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • person: includes a body of persons, whether incorporated or not. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 1:10
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.

            A. At the earliest practicable time after arrest of a person imprisoned or detained for violation of any ordinance of any village, town, city, or municipality, an order admitting to bail shall be made. Upon execution of the bond in due form and with proper surety, the arrested person shall be released pending trial.

            B. Except as provided for in Subsection H of this Section in municipalities or wards in which a city court or parish court vested with criminal jurisdiction exists, no bond for release shall exceed one hundred dollars. In municipalities having criminal jurisdiction, it shall not exceed twenty-five hundred dollars.

            C. A person unable to furnish other surety may deposit the amount of the bond in cash. The officer taking the money shall give him a receipt for the deposit. Upon his appearance before any court in compliance with the condition of the bond, the money deposited shall be refunded to him.

            D. Within one-half hour after arrest, the captain, police clerk, or arresting officer of the station where the person is being detained shall have the name of the arrested person placed on a placard visible for public display in the main office of the police station. The placard must be presented to any and all persons inquiring or requesting a view or perusal of it.

            E. The parole or release from custody of any person arrested or detained for violation or alleged violation of an ordinance of any village, town, city, or other municipality shall be executed in accordance with the provisions of this Section. A municipality, by ordinance, may specifically grant the power of parole and release to the presiding judges and officers of its municipal courts.

            F. In the city of New Orleans, the parish parole officer of the state committee on parole and each of the members of the jury commission of the parish in which the municipality is located shall have the power to parole and release persons arrested or detained for alleged violation of any of such municipalities’ ordinances.

            G. Whoever violates or advises, consents, aids, or abets in the violation of this Section shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not less than sixty days nor more than twelve months, or both.

            H.(1) In the Municipal Court of New Orleans, no bond for release shall exceed thirty thousand dollars.

            (2) In matters within the criminal jurisdiction of the mayor’s court in the city of Kenner, no bond for release shall exceed twenty-five hundred dollars.

            Acts 1966, No. 311, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1967. Amended by Acts 1981, No. 848, §1, eff. Aug. 2, 1981; Acts 1999, No. 266, §1; Acts 1999, No. 557, §1; Acts 2011, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 18, §1; Acts 2012, No. 118, §1; Acts 2012, No. 714, §8.