Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:2267.5

  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.

In addition to other methods of funding, each defendant who enters a plea of guilty or is convicted of a crime in which the investigation required the gathering, examining, and analysis of evidence by scientific means by the Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory, which submitted a certificate stating its findings to the appropriate law enforcement or prosecuting agency, shall be ordered to pay the reasonable costs of the analysis or examination.  However, the defendant shall not be liable if he is acquitted or the prosecution or proceeding is dismissed.

Acts 2006, No. 356, §1.