Terms Used In Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure 483

  • Allegation: something that someone says happened.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.

If it is necessary to allege a prior conviction in an indictment, it is sufficient to allege the name or nature of the offense and the fact, date, and court of the conviction.

An indictment shall not contain an allegation of a prior conviction of the defendant unless such allegation is necessary to fully charge the offense.