| If no probable cause is found, property
must be returned in generally the same condition it was taken, including interest earned
on monies seized |
| Disbursement percentage remains the
same:
| 60% goes to law enforcement agency which
seized the property |
| 20% goes to the local district
attorney's office that handled the forfeiture action for the state |
| 20% goes to the local criminal court
fund |
|
| Effective August 15, 1997 |
Senate Bill 914 (Act No. 1479)
- Hate Crimes
| Raising penalties for crimes committed
against a person or property motivated by hate of:
| Age |
| Gender |
| Race |
| Religion |
| Sexual orientation |
| National origin |
| Employment |
| Membership in an organization |
| Disability |
| Ancestry |
|
| Those convicted of hate-motivated
misdemeanors will get the following added to their sentence:
| 6 months jail time |
| $500 fine |
|
| Those convicted of hate-motivated
felonies will get the following added to their sentence:
| 5 years jail time |
| $5,000 fine |
|
| Effective July 15, 1997 |
Senate Bill 330 (Act No. 1487)
- Victim's Rights
| Gives crime victims the following
constitutional protections:
| Right to be treated with fairness,
dignity and respect |
| Right to be informed about the rights of
a victim |
| Right to have reasonable notice and to
be heard during all critical stages of judicial proceedings |
| Right to be informed of the release or
escape of the accused or offender |
| Right to seek restitution from the
offender |
|
| Constitutional amendment |
| Effective upon voter approval in the
1998 Congressional primary election |
House Bill 1645 (Act No. 821) -
Pardon and Parole Board Letters
| Letters regarding inmates written to
pardon and parole boards will now be public record |
| Effective August 15, 1997 |
Senate Bill 1547 (Act No. 1370)
- Underage Tobacco Sales
| Stiffens penalties for those caught
selling tobacco products to minors |
| Retailers have to buy a $25 tobacco
retail permit from the newly named Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control |
| If caught selling tobacco products to
minors:
| First offense: $50 to $500 fine |
| Second offense: $250 to $500 fine |
| Third and subsequent offenses: maximum
$2,500 fine |
|
| If caught twice in 3 years, retailers
receive a warning and must buy a $75 dollar permit to continue tobacco sales |
| If caught a third time in 3 years,
retailers will lose their license |
| Effective August 15, 1997 |
House Bill 78 (Act No. 746) -
Chemical Castration
| First-time convicted molesters of
children under 12, and repeat sex offenders, must undergo a counseling-rehabilitation
program as a condition of parole |
| Judges may require those in therapy to
undergo chemical or surgical castration to reduce their sex drive |
| Weekly shots of a birth-control drug
called Depa-Provera would be utilized during the probation period |
| Effective August 15, 1997 |
House Bill 11 (Act No. 1378) -
Shoot the Carjacker
| Drivers or passengers can use lethal
force against carjackers trying to force their way into vehicles |
| Slaying would be considered justifiable
homicide only if the victim is in the vehicle at the time of the attempted carjacking |
| Effective August 15, 1997 |
House Bill 118 (Act No. 404) -
Arson of Religious Buildings
| In response to the rash of church
burnings across the country |
| Creates the crime of simple arson of a
religious building |
| Maximum $15,000 fine |
| Two to 15 year hard labor jail sentence |
| Effective August 15, 1997 |
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