Louisiana laws define the offense of Contributing to the delinquency of a minor as the intentional enticing, aiding, soliciting, or permitting, by anyone over the age of seventeen, of any child under the age of seventeen, and no exception shall be made for a child who may be emancipated by marriage or otherwise, to do any of the following:
(1) Beg, sing, sell any article or play any musical instrument in any public place for the purpose of receiving alms – Penalty is a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both.
(2) Associate with any vicious or disreputable persons, or frequent places where the same may be found – Penalty is a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both.
(3) Visit any place where beverages of either high or low alcoholic content are the principal commodity sold or given away – Penalty is a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both.
(4) Visit any place where any gambling device is found, or where gambling habitually occurs – Penalty is a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both.
(5) Habitually trespass where it is recognized he has no right to be – Penalty is a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both.
(6) Use any vile, obscene or indecent language – Penalty is a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both.
(7) Perform any sexually immoral act – Penalty is a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, or imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than 2 years, or both.
(8) Absent himself or remain away, without authority of his parents or tutor, from his home or place of abode – Penalty is a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both.
(9) Violate any law of the state or ordinance of any parish or village, or town or city of the state – Penalty is a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.
(10) Visit any place where sexually indecent and obscene material, of any nature, is offered for sale, displayed or exhibited – Penalty is a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.
(11)
(a) Become involved in the commission of a crime of violence which is a felony or a violation of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law which is a felony – Penalty is imprisoned at hard labor for not less than two years and for not more than ten years or imprisoned according to the sentence of imprisonment for the underlying felony, whichever is less. If a parent or legal guardian of a juvenile is charged and convicted then at least 1 year of the sentence imposed shall be served without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence.
(b) Become involved in the commission of any other felony not enumerated in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph – Penalty is a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than two years, or both. If a parent or legal guardian is sentenced under this paragraph to imprisonment for six months or less, the sentence shall be without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. If a parent or legal guardian is sentence to imprisonment for more than 6 months, at least 6 months shall be without probation, parole, or suspension of sentence.
Note: Lack of knowledge of the juveniles age is not a defense.
Penalties
Whoever commits the crime of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.
Whoever is charged and convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile under Paragraph (7) of Subsection A of this Section shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars, or imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than two years, or both.
Whoever is charged and convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile under Subparagraph (a) of Paragraph (11) of Subsection A of this Section shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not less than two years and for not more than ten years or imprisoned according to the sentence of imprisonment for the underlying felony, whichever is less.
Whoever is charged and convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile under Subparagraph (b) of Paragraph (11) of Subsection A of this Section shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than two years, or both.
Legal Assistance
If you have been arrested for Contributing to the delinquency of a Juvenile in New Orleans, contact our criminal defense attorney We would like to discuss your options with you.
Disclaimer:
Laws and policies can change at any time rendering the above information outdated or non-applicable. We strongly encourage you to look at City, Parish, and State statutes for the most recent laws and to consult a Louisiana licensed attorney.