Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:98.5

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • person: includes a body of persons, whether incorporated or not. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 1:10
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.

A.(1)  An offender ordered to participate in a substance abuse program, home incarceration, or a driver improvement program in accordance with the penalty provisions of La. Rev. Stat. 14:98, 98.1, 98.2, 98.3, and 98.4 shall pay the cost incurred in participating in the program. Failure to make such payment shall subject the offender to revocation of probation, unless the court determines that the offender is unable to pay.

(2)  On a conviction of a third or subsequent offense violation of La. Rev. Stat. 14:98, if the court determines that the offender is unable to pay, the state shall pay for the cost of the substance abuse treatment.  If the court determines that an offender is unable to pay the costs incurred for participating in a substance abuse treatment program, driver improvement program, or home incarceration, the court may, upon completion of such program or home incarceration, require that the offender reimburse the state for all or a portion of such costs pursuant to a payment schedule determined by the court.  This Paragraph shall not apply to substance abuse treatment imposed as a condition of probation under La. Rev. Stat. 14:98.3(B)(2) or La. Rev. Stat. 14:98.4(B)(3).

B.(1)  For felony violations of La. Rev. Stat. 14:98, the mandatory minimum sentence imposed by the court shall not be served on home incarceration unless either:

(a)  The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, through the division of probation and parole, recommends home incarceration of the defendant and specific conditions of that home incarceration.

(b)  The district attorney recommends home incarceration.

(2)  Except as provided by Paragraph (4) of this Subsection and unless otherwise authorized or prohibited, on a misdemeanor violation of La. Rev. Stat. 14:98 or on a felony violation of La. Rev. Stat. 14:98 after the offender has served the mandatory minimum sentence, the court may sentence the offender to home incarceration.

(3)  Except as modified by Paragraph (5) of this Subsection, when the court sentences an offender to home incarceration, the offender shall be subject to special conditions to be determined by the court, which shall include but not be limited to the following:

(a)  Electronic monitoring.  However, nothing in this Section shall prohibit a court from ordering nonelectronic monitored home incarceration as a condition of probation for a first or second conviction where the period of home incarceration is less than five days.

(b)  Curfew restrictions.

(c)  The court shall require the offender to obtain employment.

(d)  The court shall require the offender to participate in a court-approved driver improvement program, if not already a condition of his probation.

(e)  The activities of the offender outside of his home shall be limited to traveling to and from work, church services or other religious services, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, Narcotics Anonymous meetings, other secular-based addiction recovery group meetings, accredited educational institutions, meetings with his probation or parole officer, court-ordered community service activities, court-ordered substance abuse treatments, and a court-approved driver improvement program.

(f)  Except as inconsistent with the provisions of this Subsection, an offender sentenced to home incarceration shall be subject to all other applicable provisions of Code of Criminal Procedure Article 894.2.

(4)  An offender who has been convicted of any second violation of any state or local law or ordinance prohibiting operating a vehicle while intoxicated, committed within five years of the commission of any prior operating while intoxicated violation, shall not be eligible for home incarceration until the offender has first served a minimum of forty-eight consecutive hours of imprisonment.

(5)  When the offender is on probation for a third or subsequent offense, or on a second offense under La. Rev. Stat. 14:98.2(D), a home visitation shall be conducted at least once per month by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections for the first six months.  After the first six months, the level of supervision shall be determined by the department based upon a risk assessment instrument.

C.(1)  No offender who is ordered to install an ignition interlock device as a condition of probation shall:

(a)  Fail to comply with all applicable provisions of La. Rev. Stat. 15:306 and 307 and La. Rev. Stat. 32:378.2 and 414(D)(1)(b).

(b)  Violate the conditions of his restricted driver’s license as set by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

(c)  Operate, rent, lease, or borrow a motor vehicle unless that vehicle is equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device.

(d)  Request or solicit any other person to blow into an ignition interlock device or to start a motor vehicle equipped with the device for the purpose of providing the offender with an operable motor vehicle.

(2)  If the court imposes the use of an ignition interlock device as a condition of probation, the offender shall provide proof of compliance to the court or the probation officer within thirty days.  If the offender fails to provide proof of installation within that period, absent a finding by the court of good cause for the failure that is entered into the court record, the court shall revoke the offender’s probation.

(3)  The provisions of this Subsection shall not require installation of an ignition interlock device in any vehicle described in La. Rev. Stat. 32:378.2(I).

D.(1)  “Community service activities” as used in this Section and La. Rev. Stat. 14:98.1, 98.2, 98.3, and 98.4, in addition to participation in a litter abatement or collection program, may include duty in any morgue, coroner’s office, or emergency treatment room of a state-operated hospital or other state-operated emergency treatment facility, with the consent of the administrator of the morgue, coroner’s office, hospital, or facility.

(2)  An offender who participates in a litter abatement or collection program pursuant to this Subsection shall have no cause of action for damages against the entity conducting the program or supervising the offender’s participation therein, including a municipality, parish, sheriff, or other entity, nor against any official, employee, or agent of such entity, for any injury or loss suffered by him during or arising out of his participation therein, if such injury or loss is a direct result of the lack of supervision or act or omission of the supervisor, unless the injury or loss was caused by the intentional or grossly negligent act or omission of the entity or its official, employee, or agent.

Acts 2014, No. 385, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2015.