§715. Reporting of escapes from parish prison facilities and 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. As used in this Section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

            (1) "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.

            (2) "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.