TITLE XXX.  SENTENCE

CHAPTER 1.  GENERAL SENTENCING PROVISIONS

Art. 871.  Sentence defined; pronouncing and recording of sentence; certification of conviction

A.  A sentence is the penalty imposed by the court on a defendant upon a plea of guilty, upon a verdict of guilty, or upon a judgment of guilt.  Sentence shall be pronounced orally in open court and recorded in the minutes of the court.

B.(1)(a)  In every judgment of guilty of a felony or of one of the misdemeanors enumerated in Subparagraph (2) of this Paragraph, the sheriff shall cause to be attached to the bill of information or indictment the fingerprints of the defendant against whom such judgment is rendered.

(b)(i)  Beneath such fingerprints shall be appended a certificate to the following effect:

"I hereby certify that the above and foregoing fingerprints on this bill are the fingerprints of the defendant, and that they were placed thereon by said defendant this ______ day of ______, ______."

(ii)  The certificate shall be signed by the sheriff or other law enforcement officer who has custody of the defendant.

(2)  In addition to judgments of guilty of a felony, the sheriff shall cause the fingerprints of the defendant to be so attached for every judgment of guilty of the following misdemeanors:

(a)  First or second offense operating a vehicle while intoxicated in violation of R.S. 14:98.

(b)  First offense possession of marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol, or chemical derivatives thereof, pursuant to a sentence imposed under R.S. 40:966(D)(1).

(c)  A first or second offense involving drug paraphernalia pursuant to a sentence imposed under R.S. 40:1035(A) and (B).

(d)  First or second offense theft pursuant to a sentence imposed under R.S. 14:67(B)(3) and first or second offense theft of goods pursuant to a sentence imposed under R.S. 14:67.10(B)(3).

(e)  First offense prostitution pursuant to a sentence imposed under R.S. 14:82(B)(1).

(f)  First or second offense of domestic abuse battery in violation of R.S. 14:35.3.

(g)  First offense of failure to pay a child support obligation in violation of R.S. 14:75.

(h)  A conviction for violation of protective orders (R.S. 14:79).

C.  The certificate required by Paragraph B of this Article shall be admissible in evidence in the courts of this state as prima facie evidence that the fingerprints appearing thereon are the fingerprints of the defendant against whom the judgment of guilty of a felony or one of the enumerated misdemeanors was rendered.

Amended by Acts 1978, No. 302, §1; Acts 1979, No. 297, §1; Acts 1997, No. 852, §1; Acts 2003, No. 311, §1; Acts 2010, No. 513, §1.