2006 Louisiana Laws - RS 15:570 — Execution; officials and witnesses; minors excluded; time; notice to victim\'s relatives

§570.  Execution; officials and witnesses; minors excluded; time; notice to victim's relatives

A.  Every execution of the death sentence shall take place in the presence of:

(1)  The warden of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, or a competent person selected by him.

(2)  The coroner of the parish of West Feliciana, or his deputy.

(3)  A physician summoned by the warden of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.

(4)  The operator of the electric chair, who shall be a competent electrician, who shall have not been previously convicted of a felony, or a competent person selected by the warden of the Louisiana State Penitentiary to administer the lethal injection.

(5)  A priest or minister of the gospel, if the convict so requests it.

(6)  Not less than five nor more than seven other witnesses, all citizens of the state of Louisiana.

B.  No person under the age of eighteen years shall be allowed within the execution room during the time of execution.

C.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, every execution of the death sentence shall take place between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

D.(1)  The secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall, at least ten days prior to the execution, either give written notice or verbal notice, followed by written notice placed in the United States mail within five days thereafter, of the date and time of execution to the victim's parents, or guardian, spouse, and any adult children who have indicated to the secretary that they desire such notice.  The secretary, in such notice, shall give the named parties the option of attending the execution.

(2)  The victim's parents or guardian, spouse, and any adult children who desire to attend the execution shall, within three days of their receipt of the secretary's notification, notify, either verbally or in writing, the secretary's office of their intention to attend.  The number of victim relationship witnesses may be limited to two.  If more than two of the aforementioned parties desire to attend the execution, then the secretary is authorized to select, from the interested parties, the two victim relationship witnesses who will be authorized to attend.  In the case of multiple victim's families, the secretary shall determine the number of witnesses, subject to the availability of appropriate physical space.

(3)  In no event shall failure to give notice to the victim's parents, or guardian, spouse, or any adult children have any effect as to execution of sentence.

E.  Only the identities of those persons named in Paragraphs (A)(1), (2), (3), (5), and (6), and Subsection D of this Section shall be made public.

F.  The identity of any persons other than the persons specified in Subsection E of this Section who participate in an execution of the death sentence, either directly or indirectly, shall remain strictly confidential and the identities of those persons and information about those persons which could lead to the determination of the identities of those persons shall not be subject to public disclosure in any manner whatsoever.

Amended by Acts 1956, Ex.Sess., No. 18, §1; Acts 1972, No. 768, §6; Acts 1990, No. 717, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1260, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1149, §1; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 145, §1; Acts 2003, No. 283, §1; Acts 2006, No. 31, §1.