{
  "urn": "urn:us-la:rs:14:17",
  "title_number": "14",
  "section_number": "17",
  "citation": "R.S. 14:17",
  "heading": "Mistake of law",
  "text": "Ignorance of the provision of this Code or of any criminal statute is not a defense to any criminal prosecution. However, mistake of law which results in the lack of an intention that consequences which are criminal shall follow, is a defense to a criminal prosecution under the following circumstances:\n\n(1) Where the offender reasonably relied on the act of the legislature in repealing an existing criminal provision, or in otherwise purporting to make the offender's conduct lawful; or\n\n(2) Where the offender reasonably relied on a final judgment of a competent court of last resort that a provision making the conduct in question criminal was unconstitutional.",
  "status": "active",
  "hierarchy_path": [
    {
      "level": "title",
      "number": "14",
      "name": "CRIMINAL LAW"
    },
    {
      "level": "chapter",
      "number": "1",
      "name": "CRIMINAL CODE"
    },
    {
      "level": "part",
      "number": "I",
      "name": "GENERAL PROVISIONS"
    },
    {
      "level": "subpart",
      "number": "C",
      "name": "CULPABILITY"
    }
  ],
  "breadcrumb": "Title 14 › Chapter 1 › Part I › Subpart C",
  "acts_citations": [],
  "acts_citations_raw": null,
  "source_url": "https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=78334",
  "website_law_id": 78334,
  "scrape_timestamp": "2026-05-22T21:51:28Z",
  "source_html_hash": "sha256:c3dd05370414b939d2a0aa880beed40f8297c2a7d5fff351482f0410ced91edc",
  "schema_version": "1.0.0"
}