Court costs; witness protection

A. In every state district court having criminal jurisdiction in the state of Louisiana, there shall be assessed as an additional cost against every defendant who is convicted after trial, or who pleads guilty, or forfeits bond, a sum not to exceed one dollar. This cost shall be in addition to all other fines, costs, or forfeitures lawfully imposed and shall be collected by the sheriff or appropriate court official. The sheriff or appropriate court official shall place all sums collected or received pursuant to this Section and remit the sums monthly into an account to be designated as the "Witness Protection Services Program". The monies in this account shall be used by the district attorney's office of each parish solely and exclusively for the witness protection program, as provided for in R.S. 15:262, and as may be further provided by law.

B. The court shall cause to be conducted annually an audit of the account and the books and accounts relating thereto and shall file the audit with the office of the legislative auditor where it shall be available for public inspection.

Acts 2009, No. 267, §1.

NOTE: See Acts 2009, No. 267, §2, and the La. Register, 8/20/09, Vol. 35, No. 08, pg. 1828. The Judicial Council did not approve the cost provided for in this Section.