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Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 15:304

  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.

All expenses incurred in the different parishes of the state or in the city of New Orleans by the arrest, confinement, and prosecution of persons accused or convicted of crimes, their removal to prison, the pay of witnesses specifically provided for by law, jurors and all prosecutorial expenses whatever attending criminal proceedings shall be paid by the respective parishes in which the offense charged may have been committed or by the city of New Orleans, as the case may be.  The expenses shall be paid by the parish treasurer or by the city of New Orleans after an account of the expenses shall be duly certified to be correct by the presiding judge and the clerk of court.  The fees, salaries, and expenses to be paid shall be fixed and regulated by the parish or city authority unless otherwise provided by law; however, those persons serving as jurors in the trial of criminal cases in the city of New Orleans shall be entitled to compensation of sixteen dollars for each and every day or part of a day on which they serve as jurors in any criminal case to be paid by the city of New Orleans; provided further that this shall not become effective until the council of the city of New Orleans will have appropriated sufficient funds for this purpose.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section, the city of New Orleans shall only pay the above expenses after the special account created pursuant to La. Rev. Stat. 15:571.11(D), and to the extent authorized thereby, shall have been depleted.  Nothing in this Section shall be construed to make the parishes or the city of New Orleans responsible for the expenses associated with the costs, expert fees, or attorney fees of a defendant in a criminal proceeding.

Acts 1966, No. 311, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1967.  Amended by Acts 1968, No. 541, §1; Acts 1975, No. 233, §2; Acts 1979, No. 156, §1, eff. July 3, 1979; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 81, §1, eff. July 7, 1994.