§715. Reporting of escapes or improper releases from parish prison facilities or jails

            A. The sheriff, the highest ranking employee of the sheriff's office, or the person acting on behalf of the sheriff who is physically present at and in charge of the parish prison or jail at the time of an escape from that facility shall immediately notify or take necessary steps to ensure that notification is provided to every law enforcement agency and local media outlet after receiving notification that an inmate has escaped from or left the premises of the facility without authority. Such notice shall be provided by the most reasonable and expedient means available.

            B.(1) The sheriff, his designee, or the highest ranking employee of the sheriff's office shall immediately notify any known witnesses and the victim of the crime for which the escaped inmate was imprisoned. Such notice shall be provided by the most reasonable and expedient means available.

            (2) If the inmate is recaptured, the sheriff, his designee, or the highest ranking employee of the sheriff's office shall send notice to the persons and entities designated in this Section as soon as possible but in no event not later than one working day after the sheriff learns of such recapture.

            C.(1) The sheriff, the highest ranking employee of the sheriff's office, or the person acting on behalf of the sheriff who is physically present at and in charge of the parish prison or jail at the time it is determined that an inmate has been improperly released from that facility, shall immediately, or as soon as practicable, notify or take necessary steps to ensure that notification of the improper release is provided to all of the following:

            (a) The appropriate law enforcement agency.

            (b) The victim of the crime for which the inmate was imprisoned.

            (c) The district attorney.

            (d) Local media outlets within the parish, at the discretion of the sheriff, highest ranking employee of the sheriff's office, or the person acting on behalf of the sheriff.

            (2) The provisions of this Subsection apply to the improper release of an inmate who has been detained or incarcerated on the basis of an arrest or conviction for a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B) that is a felony.

            D. As used in this Section, the following terms have the following meanings:

            (1) "Improper release" means the discharge of an inmate from a parish prison or jail through circumstances that include but are not limited to administrative or clerical error or mistake of staff.

            (2) "Law enforcement agency" means the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of public safety services and office of state police, and all police departments in the parish.

            (3) "Local media outlet" means a local news service, including but not limited to a print, broadcast, or online platform.

            Acts 2025, No. 370, §1, eff. June 20, 2025; Acts 2026, No. 116, §1.