Amendment 3Constitutional amendment · Put on the ballot by lawmakers
Ban post-conviction bail for child offenses
Explain it like I'm 5
After someone is found guilty of certain very serious crimes against a child, a judge can sometimes allow bail while the case continues. This would require the person to stay in custody instead.
Yes vote
A person convicted of an aggravated offense against a minor could not receive post-conviction bail.
No vote
Judges would retain case-by-case discretion over post-conviction bail for those offenses.
The question to ask yourself
Should judges retain discretion after conviction, or should bail be barred for these offenses?
The case for
- Keeps people convicted of serious crimes against children in custody while sentencing or appeals continue.
- Gives victims and families a clearer safety rule.
- Applies only after conviction, not merely after accusation.
Backed by: Louisiana Fraternal Order of Police, Republican Party of Louisiana
The case against
- Removes judicial consideration of individual facts and possible appeal issues.
- A conviction can later be overturned, yet the person could remain jailed meanwhile.
- A constitutional blanket ban may be broader than necessary in some cases.
Opposed by: Power Coalition for Equity and Justice
- Money
- No direct cost was estimated, although any added jail costs were not estimated.
- Don't be misled
- It does not ban pretrial bail for people who are merely accused, and it does not cover every crime involving a minor.