Louisiana § RS 29:114A - Article 14a. Bail

§ RS 29:114A. Article 14a. Bail

A.  Any person in confinement charged with or convicted of an offense under this code is entitled to bail pending finality of the sentence.  The amount of such bail shall be fixed by the convening authority who ordered the confinement and shall not exceed two hundred fifty dollars by a summary court-martial convening authority, one thousand dollars by a special court-martial convening authority, and two thousand dollars by a general court-martial convening authority.  Any person in confinement may invoke the supervisory jurisdiction of a military judge on the claim that the convening authority has improperly refused bail or a reduction of bail.  

B.  Factors in determining amount of bail.  The amount of bail shall be such as in the judgment of the convening authority will insure the presence of the accused before the proper court martial, having regard to:

(1)  The seriousness of the offense charged;

(2)  The weight of the evidence against the defendant;

(3)  The previous criminal record of the defendant;

(4)  The ability of the defendant to give bail; and

(5)  Any other circumstances affecting the probability of the defendant's appearance.  

C.  An order fixing the amount of bail shall be in writing, specify the amount of the bail, and designate the officer or officers authorized to accept the bail, and must be signed by the convening authority.  

D.  The qualifications of sureties, the bail undertaking the various types of bail authorized, the rights of surety, the surrender or arrest of the accused, and the exoneration of the surety, shall be governed by the applicable Louisiana law.  

E.  Proceedings relating to the forfeiture of bail and the collection thereof shall be conducted by the appropriate district attorney under the applicable Louisiana law, before the district court of the district in which the court-martial proceeding was held.  

Added by Acts 1975, No. 577, §1; Acts 1992, No. 530, §1, eff. July 1, 1992.