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Murder Bail Bonds
In Louisiana
Murder is the most serious charge under Louisiana law, and bail works differently here than on any other charge. First degree murder is a capital offense, and Louisiana's constitution allows a judge to deny bail entirely in capital cases. This page explains, honestly, when bail is possible, how it works if it is granted, and what to expect. Carter Bail Bonds is available 24/7 to help if bail has been set.
Table Of Contents
Jump straight to the murder bail information you need — statutes, why bail works differently, the process, and honest answers to common questions.
First Degree vs. Second Degree Murder in Louisiana
Murder Charges & Penalties
Why Bail Works Differently for Murder Charges
How Bail Is Determined, If Available
How The Murder Bail Process Works
What We Need When You Call
FAQs — Murder Bail Bonds
Service Areas — Parishes We Serve
First Degree vs. Second Degree Murder in Louisiana
Louisiana law recognizes two murder charges, both extremely serious, with an important legal distinction that directly affects bail.
First Degree Murder
Statute: La. R.S. 14:30
First degree murder is a capital offense — meaning the death penalty remains a legally available punishment in Louisiana, though it applies only when the district attorney affirmatively seeks a capital verdict. First degree murder generally involves a killing accompanied by specific aggravating circumstances defined in the statute (such as killing during certain other serious felonies, killing a peace officer, or killing more than one person).
Second Degree Murder
Statute: La. R.S. 14:30.1
Second degree murder is not a capital offense, but it is still one of the most serious charges in Louisiana law, carrying a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.
This distinction matters enormously for bail: Louisiana's constitution treats capital offenses differently from every other charge in the criminal code, including second degree murder. Murder charges are legally distinct from manslaughter, which lacks the specific intent to kill or is mitigated by sudden passion. See our Felony Bail Bonds overview.
Murder Charges & Penalties
Both murder charges carry the most severe penalties in Louisiana law. Because bail in murder cases is highly individualized — and often denied — no typical bail range table applies. See Section 3 for why.
First Degree Murder
Statute: La. R.S. 14:30
Definition: The killing of a human being with specific intent to kill or inflict great bodily harm, when accompanied by statutorily defined aggravating circumstances.
If the district attorney seeks a capital verdict, the offender faces death or life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, depending on the jury's determination. If the district attorney does not seek a capital verdict, the sentence is life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.
Second Degree Murder
Statute: La. R.S. 14:30.1
Definition: The killing of a human being with specific intent to kill or inflict great bodily harm, without the specific aggravating circumstances that would elevate the charge to first degree murder — or, under Louisiana's felony murder rule, a killing that occurs during certain other serious enumerated felonies, even without intent to kill.
Mandatory life imprisonment at hard labor, without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.
Why Bail Works Differently for Murder Charges
Under Article I, Section 17 of the Louisiana Constitution, a person charged with a capital offense — meaning first degree murder where the state may seek the death penalty — is not entitled to bail as a matter of right when the proof of guilt is evident or the presumption of guilt is great. In practice, this means a judge can deny bail entirely for a first degree murder charge, and frequently does.
For a bail hearing on a capital charge, the defense typically must show that the evidence against the defendant is not strong enough to meet that "evident proof / great presumption" standard — this is a significantly higher bar than the bail process for any other charge on this site, and it is a legal determination made by a judge, often after a contested hearing, not an administrative bail-schedule decision.
Second degree murder does not carry this same constitutional bar, but because it carries a mandatory life sentence, judges still weigh flight risk and danger to the community very heavily, and bail amounts — when granted — are typically among the highest set for any charge.
We want to be direct with you: if you're calling about a first degree murder charge, the most important first step is retaining an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately, since whether bail is even possible is a legal question that has to be litigated before Carter Bail Bonds or any bail bond company can help.
How Bail Is Determined, If Available
When bail is granted in a murder case — whether second degree murder, or first degree murder where the judge determines proof is not evident or the presumption is not great — the amount is set individually by the judge based on the specific facts, the defendant's history, flight risk, and danger to the community. There is no standard bail schedule for murder charges the way there is for lower-level offenses.
Six-Figure Bonds Are the Norm
Bail amounts in murder cases, when set, are frequently in the six-figure range and above — often significantly higher than any other charge covered on this site. Because of the size of these bonds, collateral is almost always required, and the underwriting process for a bond of this size is more involved than for a standard charge.
Louisiana's bail bond premium is set by law (La. R.S. 22:1443) at 12% of the total bail amount, or $120, whichever is greater.
Bail eligibility is always decided by a judge, and for first degree murder, whether bail is available at all is itself a legal question that must be litigated. Carter Bail Bonds does not set bail amounts or determine release, and we cannot predict whether bail will be granted in a specific case — we post the bond once the court has set it and eligibility is confirmed.
How The Murder Bail Process Works
From arrest to release, here's what typically happens when a murder charge is filed in Calcasieu Parish or the surrounding parishes.
Step 1: Arrest & Booking
After a murder-related arrest in Calcasieu Parish, the defendant is transported to the Calcasieu Correctional Center (5410 E Broad St, Lake Charles, LA 70615 · 337-491-3800) for booking. No bail amount is automatically set — a bail hearing before a judge is typically required, particularly for first degree murder.
Step 2: Retain Legal Counsel Immediately
Given the severity of a murder charge and the legal question of whether bail is even available, securing an experienced Louisiana criminal defense attorney is the most urgent step — often more urgent than contacting a bail bond company, since a bail hearing typically must happen first.
Step 3: Call Carter Bail Bonds
Whether bail has already been set, or you want to understand your options once a hearing has occurred, we're available 24/7. Call us with the defendant's full name, date of birth, and the arresting agency.
Step 4: Review Costs, Collateral & Sign Paperwork
If bail has been set, we walk you through the exact premium, payment options, and — given the size of murder bonds — the collateral that will be required. This step is typically more involved than on other charge types.
Step 5: Bond Is Posted at the Jail
Once paperwork, payment, and collateral arrangements are complete, our licensed agent posts the bond directly at the facility holding the defendant.
Step 6: Release & Strict Court Requirements
After release, the defendant must comply with extensive release conditions — commonly including GPS monitoring, surrender of travel documents, no-contact orders, and frequent check-ins — and attend every scheduled court date. Given the severity of the underlying charge, violations of any condition can result in immediate bail revocation.
What We Need When You Call
Having these details ready helps us move quickly if bail has been set. Don't have everything? Call anyway — we can often look it up.
Full Legal Name
First, middle, and last name as it appears on their ID.
Date of Birth
Prevents confusion when multiple people share the same name in the booking system.
Jail / Detention Facility
In most Calcasieu Parish arrests, this is Calcasieu Correctional Center, 5410 E Broad St, Lake Charles, LA 70615.
Whether a Bail Hearing Has Occurred
This affects what we can help with right now versus what needs to happen first.
Your Contact Info
Your name, phone number, and relationship to the defendant so we can keep you updated at every step.
Court-Set Bail Amount (If Known)
If a judge has already set a bail amount, this lets us begin discussing your options immediately.
FAQs — Murder Bail Bonds
Honest answers to the questions families ask us most about murder bail in Louisiana.
Service Areas — Parishes We Serve
Carter Bail Bonds serves Southwest Louisiana. Select your parish to learn more, or call us directly if you don't see your parish listed — we work statewide.
Calcasieu Parish
Lake Charles · Sulphur · Westlake · Iowa · Vinton
Jefferson Davis Parish
Jennings · Welsh · Lake Arthur · Elton
Beauregard Parish
DeRidder · Merryville · DeQuincy area
Allen Parish
Oakdale · Oberlin · Kinder · Elizabeth
Cameron Parish
Cameron · Creole · Grand Chenier · Hackberry