Art. 875. Presentence investigation; juvenile records; drug screening; veterans

A.(1) If a defendant is convicted of a felony offense or a misdemeanor offense that has been reduced from a felony, the court may order the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, division of probation and parole, to make a presentence investigation. All such reports shall be made within sixty days of conviction except that when the defendant is released on bond pending imposition of sentence, such reports shall be made within ninety days of conviction. In making the investigation, the probation officer shall inquire into the circumstances attending the commission of the offense, the defendant's history of delinquency or criminality, his family situation and background, economic and employment status, education, and personal habits.

(2) The probation officer shall also indicate specifically those resources available in the community which could provide needed assistance to the defendant should he be released on probation and shall inquire into other matters deemed relevant by the officer or ordered investigated by the court. The court may postpone imposition of sentence until the report is received.

(3) Local and state law enforcement agencies and mental and correctional institutions shall furnish to the probation officer criminal records and such other information and data as the probation officer requests. The defendant's pretrial and post-conviction disciplinary records shall be furnished to the probation officer and included in the presentence investigation. The court may order a physical and mental examination of the defendant.

(4)(a) If the court orders a presentence investigation to be conducted, the court shall simultaneously order the defendant to pay to the department an amount not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars to defray the cost of conducting the presentence investigation and preparing presentence investigation reports. The order to pay shall be included in the judgment.

(b) The amount to be paid by the defendant pursuant to this Subparagraph shall be determined by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections and shall be based on the defendant's ability to pay. In making this determination, the department may consider such factors as the defendant's income, property owned by the defendant, outstanding obligations of the defendant, and the number and ages of any dependents of the defendant.

B. If a defendant is convicted or pleads guilty to an offense involving a victim, the court shall require that a victim impact statement be included in the presentence report. The victim impact statement shall include factual information as to whether the victim or his family has suffered, as a result of the offense, any monetary loss, medical expense, physical impairment, and any other information deemed relevant. The district attorney may also file a victim impact statement with the court.

C.(1) The court may also make a written request of any juvenile court for an abstract containing only the delinquent acts of a convicted defendant currently before the requesting judge. The request shall be promptly complied with; provided, however, not more than ten days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, shall lapse before the requested information is deposited in the mail, addressed to the requesting court. The court may postpone imposition of sentence until the report is received.

(2) The requesting court shall not copy, duplicate or otherwise reproduce such juvenile records, and these records shall be deposited in the mail and addressed to the issuing juvenile court within seventy-two hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, after sentencing.

(3) Failure to comply with the provisions of this Subsection shall subject the violating court to disciplinary action by the Supreme Court of Louisiana upon receipt by the judicial administrator of the supreme court of a written complaint, subsequently substantiated.

D. If the defendant is sentenced to imprisonment, a copy of the report shall be transmitted by the division of probation and parole to the institution to which he is committed.

E.(1) If a defendant is convicted of a second or subsequent violation of the Controlled Dangerous Substances Law as provided in R.S. 40:982, the court may order that the defendant submit to a chemical test to determine the presence or use of any controlled dangerous substance. The result of any such test shall be a part of the presentence investigation report.

(2) Any test so ordered shall be conducted at the cost of the defendant. The court's order shall include guidelines that will assure a test approved by the court and protection for the chain of custody for the test results.

(3) The test results shall be used exclusively by the court for guidance in determining the sentence or conditions of release of the defendant. Thereafter, the court shall order that this part of the record be sealed, to be opened pursuant only to court order. To this end, the test results shall not be duplicated by the court for any reason, provided that the defendant and his counsel shall have access to them prior to sentencing. Under no circumstances shall the information contained in the results be used as evidence or as the basis of any additional charge against the defendant.

F. If a convicted defendant is currently serving in the military or is a veteran and has been diagnosed as having a mental illness by a qualified psychiatrist or clinical psychologist or physician, the court may order a presentence investigation pursuant to this Article. In conducting the presentence investigation, the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, division of probation and parole, in addition to the requirements of Paragraphs A through E of this Article, shall:

(1) Consult with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, or another agency or person with suitable knowledge or experience, for the purpose of providing the court with information regarding treatment options available to the convicted defendant, including federal, state, and local programming.

(2) Consider the treatment recommendations of any diagnosing or treating mental health professionals together with the treatment options available to the defendant in imposing a sentence.

Acts 1974, No. 110, §1; Acts 1975, No. 354, §1; Acts 1978, No. 380, §1; Acts 1983, No. 277, §1; Acts 1986, No. 482, §1; Acts 1989, No. 16, §1; Acts 1990, No. 1028, §1; Acts 2010, No. 562, §1; Acts 2011, No. 220, §1; Acts 2013, No. 29, §1.