As the 2025 Louisiana Regular Legislative Session comes to a close this week in Baton Rouge a bipartisan bill, House Bill 479, which aims to enhance the notification process to witnesses and crime victims, received unanimous support in a final House vote on Wednesday 97-0. The bill requires both to receive updates when their perpetrator leaves and/or escapes from a parish prison or jail.
Democratic Representative Mandie Landry’s bill was presented in the Senate by Republican Senator Jay Morris. “It creates a portal that will allow for the notification to all crime victims and of the pending nature of the criminal proceedings that might be going on.”
The bill is co-authored by 24 Republicans and 17 Democrats in the House. The measure now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature. The legislation is designed to ensure access to emergency and medical services for witnesses and crime victims, along with designated family members. HB 479 also offers protections, which can include secure waiting areas during court proceedings. The measure takes effect after the governor’s signature.
On a Federal level, since 2001 the FBI’s Victim Services Division provides services including crisis intervention, emergency travel assistance, and local referrals for counseling, housing, and other services – to nearly 2 million victims. The FBI also partners with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Federal Bureau of Prisons in the free, automated Victim Notification System (VNS), available in English and Spanish. The VNS is designed to provide victims with information and notifications regarding their cases.
Source: FBI: All VNS notifications contain a Victim Identification Number (VIN) and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that will allow access to VNS via the Internet and the Call Center. Registration with VNS will provide access to all VNS information and can be completed at https://www.notify.usdoj.gov. The VNS Call Center is also available to provide information at 1-866-DOJ-4YOU (1-866-365-4968). VIN and PIN are required to use the Call Center.
