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Regular Session, 2012
SENATE BILL NO. 565
BY SENATOR DORSEY-COLOMB
CRIME/PUNISHMENT. Prohibit death row inmate from selling items produced by him.
(gov sig)
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 15:833(A) and R.S. 46:1816(B)(6), and to enact R.S.2
14:402(D)(10) and Chapter 21-C of Title 46 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of3
1950, comprised of R.S. 46:1851 through 1857, relative to prisons and offenders; to4
provide for definitions; to provide for the creation of escrow accounts for certain5
inmates who enter into contracts for profits derived from the notoriety gained from6
their crimes; to provide relative to the distribution of escrow account funds to certain7
crime victims; to provide relative to notice to crime victims of escrow account funds8
becoming available; to provide for definitions; to provide relative to inspection of9
certain inmate correspondence; to provide relative to the Crime Victims Reparations10
Fund; to provide for the payment of certain inmate escrow account funds into the11
Crime Victims Reparations Fund; and to provide for related matters.12
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:13
Section 1. R.S. 14:402(D)(10) is hereby enacted to read as follows:14
§402. Contraband defined; certain activities regarding contraband in penal15
institutions prohibited; penalty; disposition of seized contraband16
* * *17 SB NO. 565
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D. "Contraband" as used herein means: 1
* * *2
(10) Any sketch, painting, drawing or other pictorial rendering produced3
in whole or in part by a capital offender, unless authorized by the warden of the4
institution.5
* * *6
Section 2. R.S. 15:833(A) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:7
§833. Inmate contact with persons outside institution; temporary release8
A. (1) The secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections may9
authorize visits and correspondence under reasonable conditions between inmates10
and approved friends, relatives, and other persons.11
(2) The secretary shall establish and promulgate rules, regulations, and12
procedures regarding the review and inspection of all incoming and outgoing13
death row inmate correspondence in order to effectuate the purposes of Chapter14
21-C of Title 46 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, and to determine15
whether any contractual arrangements governed by those provisions are in16
effect or being contemplated by an inmate or any other person.17
* * *18
Section 3. R.S. 46:1816(B)(6) is hereby amended and reenacted, and Chapter 21-C19
of Title 46 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 46:1851 through20
1857, is hereby enacted to read as follows:21
§1816. Crime Victims Reparations Fund; creation; sources of funds; uses22
* * *23
B. The fund shall be composed of:24
* * *25
(6) Any monies paid into the fund from a criminal victim's escrow account26
defendant's escrow account, as provided by Chapter 21-A 21-C of this Title.27
* * *28
CHAPTER 21-C. PROFITS FROM CRIME OR NOTORIETY29 SB NO. 565
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§1851. Definitions1
As used in this Chapter:2
(1) "Account" and "escrow account" mean an escrow account in the3
name of a defendant as provided for by this Chapter.4
(2) "Board" means the Crime Victims Reparations Board provided for5
by Chapter 21 of Title 46 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.6
(3) "Catastrophic property damage" means catastrophic property7
damage as defined in Chapter 21 of Title 46 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes8
of 1950.9
(4) "Defendant" means an offender who has been convicted of a capital10
offense and sentenced to death in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 15:56711
through 571.12
(5) "Minor" means a person under the age of eighteen years.13
(6) "Victim" means any person who suffers death, injury, or14
catastrophic property damage as a result of the defendant's crime, or any15
person who is otherwise eligible to have a judgment or reparations award16
satisfied from a defendant's escrow account as provided for by this Chapter, or17
any legal representative thereof, but does not include any person denied18
eligibility for a reparations award by Chapter 21 of Title 46 of the Louisiana19
Revised Statutes of 1950.20
§1852. Profits relative to criminal acts or notoriety21
A.(1) Any proceeds or profits from any source, received or to be22
received, directly or indirectly, by a defendant or by any agent, assignee, or23
representative of the defendant, as a direct or indirect result of the defendant's24
crime or sentence for such crime, or the notoriety that such crime or sentence25
has conferred upon him, shall be subject to a court order requiring that such26
proceeds or profits be paid over to the state treasurer for deposit in an escrow27
account as provided for in this Section, if not otherwise deposited with the28
treasurer as provided for in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection.29 SB NO. 565
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(2) Every person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, or other1
legal entity that contracts with a defendant for any purpose described in2
Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall file a copy of the contract with the state3
treasurer, and shall pay over to the treasurer, commencing with the date of the4
first payment under the contract, any funds that otherwise, by terms of the5
contract, would be payable to the defendant or to the defendant's agent,6
assignee, or representative. If the contracting party fails to meet the obligation7
of payment as required by this Paragraph, then the treasurer, through the8
attorney general, shall bring a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction9
to enforce payment.10
B.(1) Any proceeds from a contract with the defendant relating to a11
depiction or discussion of the defendant's crime in a movie, book, newspaper,12
magazine, radio or television production, or live entertainment or publication13
of any kind shall not be subject to court order requiring payment of such14
proceeds to the treasurer unless an integral part of the work is a depiction or15
discussion of the defendant's crime or an impression of the defendant's16
thoughts, opinions, or emotions regarding such crime.17
(2) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prohibit or hinder the18
return of property belonging to victims of crime to its rightful owners.19
C.(1) Upon petition of the attorney general filed at any time after the20
defendant is convicted and after notice to all interested parties and a hearing21
upon the petition and a finding for the state, the court shall order that such22
proceeds or profits as described in Subsection A of this Section be paid over to23
the state treasurer for deposit in an escrow account in the name of the24
defendant for the benefit of the victims of the defendant's crime.25
(2) The petition shall be filed in the judicial district where the defendant26
was convicted or in the judicial district in which the defendant is incarcerated.27
(3) Upon the filing of the petition, the clerk shall issue a writ of28
attachment or of sequestration, directing the sheriff of the parish where the29 SB NO. 565
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petition was filed to take the defendant's property into his possession and hold1
such property subject to further proceedings in the cause. If for any reason the2
writ is not executed, other writs may be successively issued until one is executed.3
Concurrent writs may be directed to sheriffs of several parishes.4
(4) Expenses and costs incurred in the proceedings shall be paid as the5
court, in its discretion, shall determine, except that no costs shall be assessed6
against the state.7
D. A victim who meets the eligibility requirements and other provisions8
of this Chapter shall be entitled, subject to the limitations contained in this9
Chapter, to an amount from the defendant's escrow account equal to the10
unsatisfied portion of the civil judgment or reparations award obtained by the11
victim.12
§1853. Distribution of escrow account funds13
A. Proceeds paid into an escrow account provided for by this Chapter14
shall be retained for a period of ten years after the date of the court order or15
deposit by the contracting party, but during that period may be levied upon to16
satisfy a money judgment or reparations award rendered in favor of a victim17
or the legal representative of the victim of the defendant's crime.18
B. If so ordered by a court, with notice to all interested parties and19
opportunity for hearing, the escrow account shall be used to satisfy, and20
disbursements made therefrom by the treasurer, in the following order:21
(1) Court ordered restitution in favor of a victim of the defendant's22
crime.23
(2) A money judgment rendered by a court or an award of reparations24
by the Crime Victims Reparations Board in favor of a victim of the defendant's25
crime.26
(3) Fees due for legal representation of the defendant in criminal27
proceedings, including the appeals process, to the extent that the defendant's28
representation was paid for by the state or an agency thereof, but such amounts29 SB NO. 565
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paid shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the total amount in escrow.1
(4) Any fines or costs assessed against the defendant by a court.2
C. At the end of the ten-year period provided for in Subsection A of this3
Section, the remaining escrow account funds shall be paid into the Crime4
Victims Reparations Fund as provided for by R.S. 46:1816. However, if a civil5
action is pending against the defendant that would be eligible to be satisfied out6
of the escrow account, then the funds shall be held in escrow until completion7
of the action.8
D. If the defendant has appealed his conviction and the appeal process9
is not finalized by the expiration of the ten-year period provided for in10
Subsection A of this Section, then the remaining escrow account funds shall be11
held until the appeal process is finalized, and if the conviction is reversed, the12
treasurer shall pay any money remaining in the escrow account to the13
defendant.14
§1854. Persons eligible for awards15
A. The following persons shall be eligible to have a judgment or16
reparations award satisfied from an escrow account provided for by this17
Chapter:18
(1) A victim of the defendant's crime or the parent or legal guardian of19
a minor who is the victim of the defendant's crime.20
(2) A surviving spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, or child, including21
posthumous children, of a victim who died as a direct result of the defendant's22
crime.23
(3) Any person, except a law-enforcement officer engaged in the24
performance of his duties, who is injured or killed while trying to prevent the25
defendant's crime from occurring in his presence, or trying to apprehend the26
defendant during the course of the crime.27
(4) A surviving spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, or child, including28
posthumous children, of any person, except a law-enforcement officer engaged29 SB NO. 565
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in the performance of his duties, who dies as a direct result of trying to prevent1
the defendant's crime from occurring in his presence, or trying to apprehend2
the defendant during the course of the crime.3
(5) Any other person legally dependent for his principal support from the4
victim who dies as a result of the defendant's crime, or legally dependent for his5
principal support from any person who dies as a direct result of trying to6
prevent the defendant's crime from occurring in his presence, or trying to7
apprehend the defendant during the course of the crime.8
B. A person who is criminally responsible for the crime upon which a9
claim is based, or an accomplice or accessory of such person, shall not be10
eligible to receive an award under the provisions of this Chapter.11
C. A resident of Louisiana who is the victim of a defendant's crime12
occurring outside of Louisiana and any other person as defined in Subsection13
A of this Section who is injured as a result of a defendant's crime occurring14
outside of Louisiana shall be eligible for an award pursuant to this Chapter if15
the following conditions are met:16
(1) The person would be eligible for an award had the crime occurred in17
Louisiana.18
(2) The state, country, or territory in which the crime occurred does not19
have a victims' compensation program deemed eligible pursuant to the20
provision of the federal Victims of Crime Act, Chapter 112 of Title 42 of the21
United States Code, and does not compensate nonresidents.22
§1855. Victim's notice of intent to file a claim23
A. A victim of the defendant's crime shall register with the treasurer a24
notice of intent to file a claim against the defendant's escrow account pursuant25
to a judgment, a pending lawsuit, a prospective lawsuit, or a reparations award26
by the board, within one year after establishment of the escrow account.27
B. A failure to comply with the requirement of this Section shall forfeit28
the rights of the victim to the escrow account as against other victims who have29 SB NO. 565
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filed claims, but shall not bar a claim against the escrow account filed within1
two years of the establishment of such account.2
C. No payments to victims shall be made until the time limit for filing a3
notice has expired or it is established that all victims have filed their notices,4
whichever is sooner.5
§1856. Notice to victims6
The treasurer shall notify any person who has registered with the7
treasurer as a victim of the defendant's crime upon receipt of escrow funds for8
that defendant. Additionally, at least once every six months for two years after9
the date on which the treasurer receives such escrow funds, the treasurer shall10
cause a notice to be published in the official state journal informing victims that11
such escrow funds are available to satisfy judgments or reparations awards12
pursuant to this Chapter.13
§1857. Actions to defeat purposes of chapter prohibited14
Any action taken by a defendant, whether by way of execution of a power15
of attorney, creation of corporate entities, or otherwise, to defeat the purposes16
of this Chapter shall be null and void.17
Section 4. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not18
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature19
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If20
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become21
effective on the day following such approval.22
The original instrument was prepared by Alden A. Clement, Jr. The
following digest, which does not constitute a part of the legislative
instrument, was prepared by Cathy R. Wells.
DIGEST
Dorsey-Colomb (SB 565)
Proposed law prohibits persons convicted of a capital offense and sentenced to death from
profiting from any notoriety gained from the commission of those crimes or the sentences
imposed for those crimes.
Proposed law provides the following definitions for purposes of proposed law: SB NO. 565
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1. "Account" and "escrow account" mean an escrow account in the name of a defendant
convicted of a crime of violence as provided for by proposed law.
2. "Board" means the Crime Victims Reparations Board as provided for by present law.
3. "Catastrophic property damage" means catastrophic property damage as defined in
present law relative to the rights of crime victims.
4. "Defendant" means an offender who has been convicted of a capital offense and
sentenced to death in accordance with present law.
5. "Minor" means a person under the age of 18 years.
6. "Victim" means any person who suffers death, injury, or catastrophic property
damage as a result of the defendant's crime of violence, or any person who is
otherwise eligible to have a judgment or reparations award satisfied from a
defendant's escrow account as provided for by proposed law, or any legal
representative thereof, but does not include any person denied eligibility for a
reparations award by present law relative to the rights of crime victims.
Proposed law adds to the definition of "contraband" in present law any sketch, pointing,
drawing, or other pictorial rendering produced in whole or in party by a capital offender,
unless authorized by the warden.
Proposed law provides that any proceeds or profits from any source, received or to be
received, directly or indirectly, by a defendant or by any agent, assignee, or representative
of the defendant, as a direct or indirect result of the defendant's crime or sentence for such
crime, or the notoriety that such crime or sentence has conferred upon him, are subject to a
court order requiring that such proceeds or profits be paid over to the state treasurer for
deposit in an escrow account as provided for in proposed law if not otherwise deposited with
the treasurer as provided by other provisions of proposed law.
Proposed law provides that every person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, or other
legal entity that contracts with a defendant for any purpose described in proposed law must
file a copy of the contract with the state treasurer, and pay over to the treasurer, commencing
with the date of the first payment under the contract, any funds that otherwise, by terms of
the contract, would be payable to the defendant or to the defendant's agent, assignee, or
representative. Proposed law further provides that if the contracting party fails to meet the
obligation of payment as required by proposed law, then the treasurer, through the attorney
general, is to bring a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction to enforce payment.
Proposed law provides that any proceeds from a contract with the defendant relating to a
depiction or discussion of the defendant's crime in a movie, book, newspaper, magazine,
radio or television production, or live entertainment or publication of any kind are not
subject to court order requiring payment of such proceeds to the treasurer unless an integral
part of the work is a depiction or discussion of the defendant's crime or an impression of the
defendant's thoughts, opinions, or emotions regarding such crime.
Proposed law provides that nothing in proposed law is to be construed to prohibit or hinder
the return of property belonging to crime victims to its rightful owners.
Proposed law provides that upon petition of the attorney general filed at any time after the
defendant is convicted and after notice to all interested parties and a hearing upon the
petition and a finding for the state, the court is to order that such proceeds or profits as
described in proposed law be paid over to the state treasurer for deposit in an escrow account
in the name of the defendant for the benefit of the victims of the defendant's crime.
Proposed law provides that the petition is to be filed in the judicial district where the SB NO. 565
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defendant was convicted or in the judicial district in which the defendant is incarcerated.
Proposed law provides that upon the filing of the petition, the clerk is to issue a writ of
attachment or of sequestration, directing the sheriff of the parish where the petition was filed
to take the defendant's property into his possession and hold such property subject to further
proceedings in the cause. Proposed law further provides that if for any reason the writ is not
executed, other writs may be successively issued until one is executed, and concurrent writs
may be directed to sheriffs of several parishes. Proposed law provides that expenses and
costs incurred in the proceedings are to be paid as the court, in its discretion, determines,
except that no costs can be assessed against the state.
Proposed law provides that a victim who meets the eligibility requirements and other
provisions of proposed law is entitled, subject to the limitations contained in proposed law,
to an amount from the defendant's escrow account equal to the unsatisfied portion of the civil
judgment or reparations award obtained by the victim.
Proposed law provides that proceeds paid into a defendant's escrow account are to be
retained for a period of 10 years after the date of the court order or deposit by the contracting
party, but during that period may be levied upon to satisfy a money judgment or reparations
award rendered in favor of a victim or the legal representative of the victim of the
defendant's crime. Proposed law further provides that, if so ordered by a court, with notice
to all interested parties and opportunity for hearing, the escrow account is to be used to
satisfy the following, in the following order:
1. Court ordered restitution in favor of a victim of the defendant's crime.
2. A money judgment rendered by a court or an award of reparations by the Crime
Victims Reparations Board in favor of a victim of the defendant's crime.
3. Fees due for legal representation of the defendant in criminal proceedings, including
the appeals process, to the extent that the defendant's representation was paid for by
the state or an agency thereof, but such amounts paid cannot exceed 25% of the total
amount in escrow.
4. Any fines or costs assessed against the defendant by a court.
Proposed law provides that at the end of the 10-year period provided for in proposed law,
the remaining escrow account funds are to be paid into the Crime Victims Reparations Fund;
however, if a civil action is pending against the defendant that would be eligible to be
satisfied out of the escrow account, then the funds are to be held in escrow until completion
of the action.
Proposed law provides that if the defendant has appealed his conviction and the appeal
process is not finalized by the expiration of the 10-year period, then the remaining escrow
account funds are to be held until the appeal process is finalized, and if the conviction is
reversed, the treasurer is to pay any money remaining in the escrow account to the
defendant.
Proposed law provides that the following persons are eligible to have a judgment or
reparations award satisfied from an escrow account provided for by proposed law:
1. A victim of the respective defendant's crime or the parent or legal guardian of a
minor who is the victim of such defendant's crime.
2. A surviving spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, or child, including posthumous
children, of a victim of a defendant's crime who died as a direct result of such crime.
3. Any person, except a law-enforcement officer engaged in the performance of his
duties, who is injured or killed while trying to prevent the defendant's crime from SB NO. 565
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occurring in his presence, or trying to apprehend the defendant during the course of
his crime.
4. A surviving spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, or child, including posthumous
children, of any person, except a law-enforcement officer engaged in the
performance of his duties, who dies as a direct result of trying to prevent defendant's
crime or trying to apprehend the defendant during the course of the crime.
5. Any other person legally dependent for his principal support from the victim of the
defendant's crime and who dies as a result of such crime, or legally dependent for his
principal support upon any person who dies as a direct result of trying to prevent the
defendant's crime from occurring in his presence, or trying to apprehend the
defendant during the course of the crime.
Proposed law provides that a person who is criminally responsible for the crime upon which
a claim is based, or an accomplice or accessory of such person, is not eligible to receive an
award under the provisions of proposed law.
Proposed law provides that a resident of Louisiana who is the victim of a defendant's crime
which occurred outside of Louisiana and any other person who is injured as a result of a
crime occurring outside of Louisiana is eligible for an award pursuant to proposed law if the
following conditions are met:
1. The person would be eligible for an award had the crime occurred in Louisiana.
2. The state, country, or territory in which the crime occurred does not have a victims'
compensation program deemed eligible pursuant to the provision of the federal
Victims of Crime Act and does not compensate nonresidents.
Proposed law provides that a victim of the defendant's crime is to register with the treasurer
a notice of intent to file a claim against the defendant's escrow account pursuant to a
judgment, a pending lawsuit, a prospective lawsuit, or a reparations award by the board,
within one year after establishment of the escrow account. Proposed law further provides
that a victim's failure to comply with this requirement forfeits the victim's rights to the
escrow account as against other victims who have filed claims, but does not bar a claim
against the escrow account filed within two years of the establishment of such account.
Proposed law provides that no payments to victims can be made until the time limit for filing
a notice has expired or it is established that all victims have filed their notices, whichever
is sooner.
Proposed law provides that the treasurer is to notify any person who has registered with the
treasurer as a victim of the defendant's crime upon receipt of escrow funds for that
defendant, and at least once every six months for two years after the date on which the
treasurer receives such escrow funds, the treasurer is to publish a notice in the official state
journal informing victims that such escrow funds are available to satisfy judgments or
reparations awards.
Proposed law provides that any action taken by a defendant, whether by way of execution
of a power of attorney, creation of corporate entities, or otherwise, to defeat the purposes of
proposed law is null and void.
Present law provides that the secretary of the Dept. Public Safety and Corrections may
authorize visits and correspondence under reasonable conditions between inmates and
approved friends, relatives, and other persons.
Proposed law retains present law and adds that the secretary is to establish and promulgate
rules, regulations, and procedures regarding the review and inspection of all incoming and SB NO. 565
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outgoing inmate correspondence in order to effectuate the purposes of proposed law and to
determine whether any contractual arrangements governed by the provisions of proposed law
are in effect or being contemplated by an inmate or any other person.
Present law provides for the creation and composition of the Crime Victims Reparations
Fund, including funds from the Crime Victim's Escrow Account law, which previously has
been repealed.
Proposed law deletes the reference in present law to the Crime Victim's Escrow Account,
and further provides that in addition to the other sources provided for by present law, the
Crime Victims Reparations Fund is to be composed of any monies paid into the fund
pursuant to proposed law.
Proposed law adds to the definition of "contraband" in present law any sketch, painting,
drawing, or other pictorial rendering produced in whole or in part by a capital offender,
unless authorized by the warden.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 15:833(A) and R.S. 46:1816(B)(6); adds R.S. 14:402(D)(10), R.S. 46:1851-
1857)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Judiciary B to the
original bill
1. Changes scope of legislation from a person convicted of a crime of violence
to person who has been convicted of a capital offense and sentenced to death
in accordance with law.
2. Deletes the definition of crime.
3. Changes the definition of defendant.
Senate Floor Amendments to engrossed bill
1. Adds contraband definition.