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La. Ch. Code art. 312

This is the official text of La. Ch. Code art. 312, part of Louisiana’s Children's Code — governs child custody, child protection, and juvenile justice in Louisiana.

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Juvenile jurisdiction over adults; criminal proceedings

Official statutory text

A. A court exercising juvenile jurisdiction shall have exclusive original jurisdiction, in conformity with any special rules prescribed by law, to try an adult for the following offenses:

(1) The crime of contributing to the delinquency or dependency of children as authorized by R.S. 14:92.1.

(2) Criminal neglect of family.

(3) The crime of improper supervision of a minor by parent or legal custodian as authorized by R.S. 14:92.2.

B.(1) Except as provided in Subparagraph (2) of this Paragraph, a district court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction, in conformity with any special rules prescribed by law, to try an adult for the following offenses:

(a) The crime of contributing to the delinquency of children as authorized by R.S. 14:92.

(b) Any other misdemeanor enacted for the protection of the physical, moral, or mental well-being of children.

(2) In Orleans Parish, jurisdiction pursuant to Subparagraph (1) of this Paragraph is vested in the criminal district court for that parish or the Municipal and Traffic Court of New Orleans.

C. If the defendant in any case within this Article is entitled to trial by jury and does not waive that right, the court shall transfer the case to its criminal docket or to the appropriate court having criminal jurisdiction.

Acts 1991, No. 235, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1995, No. 702, §1; Acts 1997, No. 569, §1; Acts 2011, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 28, §1; Acts 2017, No. 193, §1.

Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site

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