2018 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 15 - Criminal Procedure
RS 15:1609 - Written memorandum of understanding; persons required to sign; criteria
§1609. Written memorandum of understanding; persons required to sign; criteria
A. Before providing witness protection services to any critical witness or his immediate family under this Chapter, except where it is determined that temporary protection services are necessary pursuant to R.S. 15:1608, the prosecuting attorney shall enter into a written memorandum of understanding with the critical witness and any person in his immediate family who has attained the age of majority and who will be receiving protective services.
B. If temporary protection services have been provided pursuant to R.S. 15:1608, the critical witness and any person in his immediate family who has attained the age of majority and who is receiving protective services shall enter into a written memorandum of understanding as soon as practicable.
C.(1) The critical witness's written memorandum of understanding shall be signed by the prosecuting attorney or his designee, the critical witness to be afforded protection services, the tutor or legal guardian of the critical witness if the critical witness is a minor, and the attorney representing the critical witness if the critical witness is represented by counsel.
(2) Any immediate family member who has attained the age of majority and who will be receiving protective services shall execute a written memorandum of understanding in compliance with the provisions of this Section and such memorandum shall be signed by the immediate family member and the prosecuting attorney or his designee.
D. The written memorandum of understanding shall not be considered a grant of immunity from criminal prosecution.
E. The written memorandum of understanding shall include the responsibilities agreed to by the state in providing protection services and the responsibilities agreed to by the critical witness or his immediate family in receiving protection services.
F. The written memorandum of understanding shall provide that the signatory party receiving protection services agrees as a condition of receiving those services to:
(1) Provide complete and truthful information to all relevant law enforcement officials related to all relevant investigations and to testify completely and truthfully in all appropriate proceedings.
(2) Not commit any crime.
(3) Take all necessary precautions to avoid making known to others his participation in the witness protection services program or the provision of protection services under such program.
(4) Comply with any legal obligations or civil judgments.
(5) Cooperate with all reasonable requests of officers and employees of the state who are providing protection services under this Chapter.
(6) Designate another person to act as an agent for the service of process. Under no circumstances shall the person so designated be an employee of the prosecuting attorney or other law enforcement agency or be a member of or perform duties on behalf of the witness protection services board.
(7) Make a sworn statement of all outstanding legal obligations, including obligations concerning child custody and visitation, and child support.
(8) Disclose any probation or parole conditions, obligations, or responsibilities.
(9) Regularly inform the prosecuting attorney of his activities and current address.
(10) Comply with such other specific conditions as are appropriate, stated directly and without ambiguity, so as to be understandable to a reasonable man.
G. The written memorandum of understanding shall provide that the state agrees to:
(1) Provide the names and telephone numbers of representatives of the prosecuting attorney or law enforcement personnel to contact if the critical witness or a member of his immediate family receiving protection services has questions or concerns related to the protection services or to his safety.
(2) Provide the protection services that the prosecuting attorney has requested if approved by the board in accordance with this Chapter.
(3) Provide the procedures to be followed, if there is a determination by the prosecuting attorney that there has occurred a material breach of the memorandum of understanding, as established by the prosecuting attorney.
Acts 2009, No. 263, §1.
