La. Ch. Code art. 305 — LA Code / Code childrens-code / Article 305
Divestiture of juvenile court jurisdiction; original criminal court jurisdiction over children
Status: in_force

A.(1) When a child is fifteen years of age or older at the time of the commission of first degree murder, second degree murder, aggravated or first degree rape, or aggravated kidnapping, he is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the juvenile court until either:

(a) An indictment charging one of these offenses is returned.

(b) The juvenile court holds a continued custody hearing pursuant to Articles 819 and 820 and finds probable cause that he committed one of these offenses, whichever occurs first. During this hearing, when the child is charged with aggravated or first degree rape, the court shall inform him that if convicted he shall register as a sex offender for life, pursuant to Chapter 3-B of Title 15 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

(2)(a) The district attorney shall have the discretion to file a petition alleging any of the offenses listed in Subparagraph (1) of this Paragraph in the juvenile court or, alternatively, to obtain an indictment. If the child is being held in detention, the district attorney shall file the petition or indictment in the appropriate court within sixty calendar days after the child's arrest, unless the child waives this right.

(b) Failure to institute prosecution as provided in this Subparagraph shall result in release of the child if, after a contradictory hearing with the district attorney, just cause for the failure is not shown. If just cause is shown, the court shall reconsider bail for the child. Failure to institute prosecution as provided in this Subparagraph shall result in the release of the bail obligation if, after a contradictory hearing with the district attorney, just cause for the delay is not shown.

(c) When the juvenile court holds a continued custody hearing pursuant to Articles 819 and 820 and finds probable cause that the child committed one of the offenses listed in Subparagraph (1) of this Paragraph, the time limitations contained in this Code are inapplicable, and the time period for filing an indictment after arrest shall be governed by Code of Criminal Procedure Article 701.

(3) Thereafter, if an indictment is returned, the child is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the appropriate court exercising criminal jurisdiction for all subsequent procedures, including the review of bail applications, and the court exercising criminal jurisdiction may order that the child be transferred to the appropriate adult facility for detention prior to his trial as an adult. If the district attorney elects to file a petition and the child waives the right to a continued custody hearing, the child is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the juvenile court for all subsequent procedures, including the review of bail applications.

B.(1) When a child is fifteen years of age or older at the time of the commission of any of the offenses listed in Subparagraph (2) of this Paragraph, he is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the juvenile court until whichever of the following occurs first:

(a) An indictment charging one of the offenses listed in Subparagraph (2) of this Paragraph is returned.

(b) The juvenile court holds a continued custody hearing and finds probable cause that the child has committed any of the offenses listed in Subparagraph (2) of this Paragraph and a bill of information charging any of the offenses listed in Subparagraph (2) of this Paragraph is filed. During this hearing, when the child is charged with forcible or second degree rape or second degree kidnapping, the court shall inform him that if convicted he shall register as a sex offender for life, pursuant to Chapter 3-B of Title 15 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

(2)(a) Attempted first degree murder.

(b) Attempted second degree murder.

(c) Manslaughter.

(d) Armed robbery.

(e) Aggravated burglary.

(f) Forcible or second degree rape.

(g) Simple or third degree rape.

(h) Second degree kidnapping.

(i) Repealed by Acts 2001, No. 301, §2.

(j) Aggravated battery committed with a firearm.

(k) A second or subsequent aggravated battery.

(l) A second or subsequent aggravated burglary.

(m) A second or subsequent offense of burglary of an inhabited dwelling.

(n) A second or subsequent felony-grade violation of Part X or X-B of Chapter 4 of Title 40 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 involving the manufacture, distribution, or possession with intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances.

(3)(a) The district attorney shall have the discretion to file a petition alleging any of the offenses listed in Subparagraph (2) of this Paragraph in the juvenile court or, alternatively, to obtain an indictment or file a bill of information. If the child is being held in detention, the district attorney shall file the indictment, bill of information, or petition in the appropriate court within sixty calendar days after the child's arrest, unless the child waives this right.

(b) Failure to institute prosecution as provided in this Subparagraph shall result in release of the child if, after a contradictory hearing with the district attorney, just cause for the failure is not shown. If just cause is shown, the court shall reconsider bail for the child. Failure to institute prosecution as provided in this Subparagraph shall result in the release of the bail obligation if, after a contradictory hearing with the district attorney, just cause for the delay is not shown.

(4) If an indictment is returned or a bill of information is filed, the child is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the appropriate court exercising criminal jurisdiction for all subsequent procedures, including the review of bail applications, and the district court may order that the child be transferred to the appropriate adult facility for detention prior to his trial as an adult.

C. Except when a juvenile is held in an adult jail or lockup, the time limitations for the conduct of a continued custody hearing are those provided by Article 819.

D. The court exercising criminal jurisdiction shall retain jurisdiction over the child's case, even though he pleads guilty to or is convicted of a lesser included offense. A plea to or conviction of a lesser included offense shall not revest jurisdiction in the court exercising juvenile jurisdiction over such a child.

E.(1) If a competency or sanity examination is ordered, except for the filing of a delinquency petition, the return of an indictment, or the filing of a bill of information, no further steps to prosecute the child shall occur until the court exercising criminal jurisdiction appoints counsel for the child and provides notification in accordance with Article 809 and determines the child's mental capacity to proceed.

(2) When an indictment has been returned or a bill of information has been filed pursuant to this Subsection, the district court exercising criminal jurisdiction shall be the proper court to determine the child's mental capacity to proceed. In all other instances, the juvenile court shall be the proper court to make this determination.

Acts 1991, No. 235, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1991, No. 501, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 705, §1, eff. July 6, 1992; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 15, §1; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 39, §1; Acts 1995, No. 367, §1; Acts 1995, No. 959, §1; Acts 1995, No. 979, §1; Acts 2001, No. 301, §2; Acts 2008, No. 222, §1, eff. June 16, 2008; Acts 2010, No. 594, §1; Acts 2012, No. 698, §1; Acts 2015, No. 184, §8; Acts 2016, No. 501, §2, eff. June 14, 2016; Acts 2022, No. 175; §1; Acts 2023, No. 418, §1.