§ 15:1306 — Immunity of witnesses

Whenever in the judgment of the attorney general or a district attorney, the testimony of any witness, or the production of books, papers, or other evidence by any witness, in any case or proceeding before any grand jury or court of the state involving any violation of this Chapter or any of the offenses enumerated in R.S. 15:1308, or any conspiracy to violate this Chapter or any of the offenses enumerated in R.S. 15:1308, is necessary to the public interest, the attorney general or such district attorney, with the approval of the attorney general, shall make application to the court that the witness shall be instructed to testify or produce evidence subject to the provisions of this Section, and upon order of the court such witness shall not be excused from testifying or from producing books, papers, or other evidence on the ground that the testimony or evidence required of him may tend to incriminate him or subject him to a penalty or forfeiture. No such witness shall be prosecuted or subjected to any penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any transaction, matter, or thing concerning which he is compelled, after having claimed his privilege against self-incrimination, to testify or produce evidence, nor shall testimony so compelled be used as evidence in any criminal proceeding against him in any court, except that no witness shall be exempt under this Section from prosecution for perjury or contempt of court committed while giving testimony or producing evidence under compulsion as provided in this Section. Failure to so testify shall be punishable as contempt of court.

Legislative History

Acts 1985, No. 859, §1, eff. July 23, 1985.