Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure 557 – Plea of guilty in capital cases
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Terms Used In Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure 557
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- 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.
- Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
A. A court shall not receive an unqualified plea of guilty in a capital case. However, with the consent of the court and the state, a defendant may plead guilty with the stipulation either that the court shall impose a sentence of life imprisonment without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence without conducting a sentencing hearing, or that the court shall impanel a jury for the purpose of conducting a hearing to determine the issue of penalty in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Code.
B. If a defendant makes an unqualified plea, the court shall order a plea of not guilty entered for him.
Amended by Acts 1973, No. 134, §1; Acts 1995, No. 434, §1.