This bill proposes to provide an additional $6,000 annually in state funding to probation and parole officers within the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. To qualify for this extra compensation, officers must be full-time employees earning at least $800 per month, have completed a certified training program, and have at least one year of service, which can include prior experience as a deputy sheriff. The payment of $600 per month is contingent upon a future constitutional amendment regarding the state budget being approved by voters.
This bill changes parole rules for people in Louisiana who were convicted by juries that did not agree unanimously on their guilt. It makes these individuals immediately eligible for parole consideration and requires parole panels to approve their release with a majority vote instead of the usual unanimous vote. The legislation also sets a timeline for parole reviews and requires written explanations if parole is denied, with new applications allowed after one year. These changes apply to sentences imposed after August 1, 2026, and affect the parole committee's duties in evaluating these specific cases.
This bill establishes a Post-Conviction Veterans Mentor Program in Louisiana to support incarcerated veterans through mentorship and transitional work facilities. The program is authorized for veterans who have served at least ten years of their sentence, have no homicide or sex offense convictions, have completed required programming, and are classified as low-risk offenders. A new Veterans Oversight Committee will be formed to supervise the program and ensure its success, while eligibility requirements include obtaining a high school equivalent and completing a mentor training program. The legislation creates a pilot program structure that allows for parole or pardon hearings after successful participation, with specific provisions for life sentence offenders.
This bill makes certain offenders serving life sentences eligible for parole consideration. It specifically applies to individuals who committed offenses on or before July 2, 1973, pleaded guilty, and are currently serving life sentences. The key provision removes barriers to parole eligibility for this specific group, allowing them to be considered for release under existing parole procedures. The law does not guarantee parole but ensures these offenders can be evaluated for it.
This bill updates Louisiana's Crime Victims' Compensation Fund by renaming it from the Crime Victims Reparations Fund and establishing clearer rules for how funds are collected and distributed. It requires gambling operators to deposit unclaimed pari-mutuel ticket money into the fund, specifically for health care services related to sexually oriented criminal offenses. The legislation also mandates that parole committees order restitution from offenders who caused financial harm to victims, with payments directed to the compensation fund if victims cannot be located. Additionally, the bill prohibits the assignment of crime victim compensation payments to third parties and repeals the Victims of Vehicular Homicide Act.
This bill updates Louisiana's sentencing guidelines to include a new factor that courts must consider when deciding whether to grant probation or suspend a sentence. It allows judges to weigh a defendant's history of being a victim of domestic abuse, human trafficking, child trafficking, or sexual assault if there is a clear connection between that victimization and the current crime. When a court finds this connection exists, it must also order a presentence investigation before making sentencing decisions. The bill also adds a general provision for courts to consider any other relevant mitigating circumstances in their sentencing determinations.
This bill amends Louisiana law to impose stricter penalties on individuals who help sex offenders avoid arrest or punishment after a crime has occurred. It directly affects people who harbor, conceal, or assist sex offenders with the intent to help them escape legal consequences. Under the new provisions, anyone convicted of being an accessory to a sex offense must receive a mandatory minimum sentence equal to at least half of the minimum sentence the principal offender would face, with no parole or probation allowed for cases involving life imprisonment. The law also clarifies that accessories can be prosecuted even if the original offender has not yet been caught or tried.
This bill modifies Louisiana's penalties for a fourth offense of driving while impaired by allowing courts to order unsupervised probation in certain cases. It requires offenders to complete treatment programs, drug division probation, or supervised probation after release from incarceration, with the probation period lasting until the original sentence ends or for twenty years, whichever is longer. Additionally, the bill authorizes prosecutors to request the seizure and auction of vehicles used during the offense. These changes directly affect repeat offenders charged with operating a vehicle while impaired and aim to balance rehabilitation with accountability through structured probation requirements.
This bill establishes a two-year pilot program for a Domestic Violence Intervention Court within the Nineteenth Judicial District Court in Louisiana. The program targets defendants convicted of domestic abuse-related offenses who are assessed as at-risk of reoffending, offering them voluntary participation in a specialized court track that combines judicial supervision with treatment and accountability measures. Key provisions include mandatory batterer intervention programming using evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy, regular court appearances, compliance with individualized case plans, and access to services such as mental health screening, substance abuse referrals, and victim safety planning. The court will operate with a coordinated team including judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, probation officers, and victim advocates, while collecting data on recidivism and program outcomes to evaluate effectiveness for potential statewide expansion.
HB 491 modifies Louisiana's parole eligibility rules for individuals serving life sentences. It requires life-sentence inmates to meet eight specific conditions to qualify for parole consideration, including serving at least 25 years, having no violent or sex offense convictions, completing mandatory programming (100+ hours), substance abuse treatment if applicable, educational/job training, a low-risk assessment, and a reentry program. The bill directly affects life-sentence inmates who meet all these criteria, regardless of whether they were convicted as juveniles or adults. It does not change sentencing but sets clear, measurable requirements for parole eligibility. The bill is currently in early legislative review stages.
