NOTE: This provision of law was included in the Unconstitutional Statutes Biennial
Report to the Legislature, dated March 14, 2016.
4. CRIME AGAINST NATURE
§89. Crime against nature
A. Crime against nature is either of the following:
(1) The unnatural carnal copulation by a human being with another of the same sex
or opposite sex, except that anal sexual intercourse between two human beings shall not be
deemed as a crime against nature when done under any of the circumstances described in
R.S. 14:41, 42, 42.1, or 43. Emission is not necessary; and, when committed by a human
being with another, the use of the genital organ of one of the offenders of whatever sex is
sufficient to constitute the crime.
(2) The marriage to, or sexual intercourse with, any ascendant or descendant, brother
or sister, uncle or niece, aunt or nephew, with knowledge of their relationship. The
relationship must be by consanguinity, but it is immaterial whether the parties to the act are
related to one another by the whole or half blood. The provisions of this Paragraph shall not
apply where one person, not a resident of this state at the time of the celebration of his
marriage, contracted a marriage lawful at the place of celebration and thereafter removed to
this state.
B.(1) Whoever commits the offense of crime against nature as defined by Paragraph
(A)(1) of this Section shall be fined not more than two thousand dollars, imprisoned, with
or without hard labor, for not more than five years, or both.
(2) Whoever commits the offense of crime against nature as defined by Paragraph
(A)(1) of this Section with a person under the age of eighteen years shall be fined not more
than fifty thousand dollars, imprisoned at hard labor for not less than fifteen years nor more
than fifty years, or both.
(3) Whoever commits the offense of crime against nature as defined by Paragraph
(A)(1) of this Section with a person under the age of fourteen years shall be fined not more
than seventy-five thousand dollars, imprisoned at hard labor for not less than twenty-five
years nor more than fifty years, or both.
(4) Whoever commits the offense of crime against nature as defined by Paragraph
(A)(2) of this Section, where the crime is between an ascendant and descendant, or between
brother and sister, shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not more than fifteen years.
(5) Whoever commits the offense of crime against nature as defined by Paragraph
(A)(2) of this Section, where the crime is between uncle and niece, or aunt and nephew, shall
be fined not more than one thousand dollars, or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for
not more than five years, or both.
C.(1) It shall be an affirmative defense to prosecution for a violation of Paragraph
(A)(1) of this Section that, during the time of the alleged commission of the offense, the
defendant was a victim of trafficking of children for sexual purposes as provided in R.S.
14:46.3(E). Any child determined to be a victim pursuant to the provisions of this Paragraph
shall be eligible for specialized services for sexually exploited children.
(2) It shall be an affirmative defense to prosecution for a violation of Paragraph
(A)(1) of this Section that, during the time of the alleged commission of the offense, the
defendant is determined to be a victim of human trafficking pursuant to the provisions of
R.S. 14:46.2(F). Any person determined to be a victim pursuant to the provisions of this
Paragraph shall be notified of any treatment or specialized services for sexually exploited
persons to the extent that such services are available.
D. The provisions of Act No. 177 of the 2014 Regular Session and the provisions
of Act No. 602 of the 2014 Regular Session incorporate the elements of the crimes of incest
(R.S. 14:78) and aggravated incest (R.S. 14:78.1), as they existed prior to their repeal by
these Acts, into the provisions of the crimes of crime against nature (R.S. 14:89) and
aggravated crime against nature (R.S. 14:89.1), respectively. For purposes of the provisions
amended by Act No. 177 of the 2014 Regular Session and Act No. 602 of the 2014 Regular
Session, a conviction for a violation of R.S. 14:89(A)(2) shall be the same as a conviction
for the crime of incest (R.S. 14:78) and a conviction for a violation of R.S. 14:89.1(A)(2)
shall be the same as a conviction for the crime of aggravated incest (R.S. 14:78.1). Neither
Act shall be construed to alleviate any person convicted or adjudicated delinquent of incest
(R.S. 14:78) or aggravated incest (R.S. 14:78.1) from any requirement, obligation, or
consequence imposed by law resulting from that conviction or adjudication including but not
limited to any requirements regarding sex offender registration and notification, parental
rights, probation, parole, sentencing, or any other requirement, obligation, or consequence
imposed by law resulting from that conviction or adjudication.
E. Nothing in Act No. 485 of the 2018 Regular Session of the Legislature shall be
construed to alleviate any person convicted or adjudicated delinquent of crime against nature
(R.S. 14:89) from any requirement, obligation, or consequence imposed by law resulting
from that conviction or adjudication including but not limited to any requirements regarding
sex offender registration and notification, parental rights, probation, parole, sentencing, or
any other requirement, obligation, or consequence imposed by law resulting from that
conviction or adjudication.
Amended by Acts 1975, No. 612, §1; Acts 1982, No. 703, §1; Acts 2010, No. 882,
§1; Acts 2012, No. 446, §1; Acts 2013, No. 83, §1; Acts 2014, No. 177, §1; Acts 2014, No.
564, §1; Acts 2014, No. 599, §1, eff. June 12, 2014, Acts 2014, No. 602, §4, eff. June 12,
2014; Acts 2018, No. 485, §1, eff. May 25, 2018.