2011 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 28 — Mental health
RS 28:59 — Commitment of prisoners

§59. Commitment of prisoners

A. Any person acquitted of a crime or misdemeanor by reason of insanity or mental defect may be committed to the proper institution in accordance with Code of Criminal Procedure Arts. 654 et seq.

B. Any person who is determined to lack the capacity to proceed, who will not attain the capacity to proceed with his trial in the foreseeable future, and who is not a danger to himself or others, shall be discharged in accordance with Code of Criminal Procedure Arts. 648 et seq. However, this release is without prejudice to any right the state may have to institute civil commitment proceedings pursuant to R.S. 28:53 or R.S. 28:54. Furthermore, this person may be held in a treatment facility for a reasonable time period pending the judicial commitment hearing. If judicial commitment proceedings are necessary, they shall be instituted within seventy-two hours after a determination that the person will not attain the capacity to proceed with his trial.

C. Any person serving sentence who becomes mentally ill may be committed to the proper institution in the manner provided for judicial commitment by the district court of the place of incarceration and contradictorily with the superintendent of the place of incarceration or with the sheriff of that parish. The period of commitment shall be credited against the sentence imposed by the court.

D. The department shall designate institutions for the care of mental patients committed in accordance with this Section.

Amended by Acts 1974, No. 294, §1; Acts 1977, No. 714, §1; Acts 1978, No. 782, §1, eff. July 17, 1978; Acts 1987, No. 928, §2, eff. July 20, 1987; Acts 1990, No. 489, §1.