{
  "urn": "urn:us-la:rs:15:1188",
  "title_number": "15",
  "section_number": "1188",
  "citation": "R.S. 15:1188",
  "heading": "Judicial screening and service of process",
  "text": "A. The court shall review, before docketing if feasible or, in any event, before service on the defendants, a petition in a civil action in which a prisoner seeks redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. On review, the court shall identify cognizable claims or dismiss the petition, or any portion of the petition, if the petition is frivolous, is malicious, fails to state a cause of action, seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief, or fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.\n\nB. A court shall not authorize or permit service of a prisoner suit until compliance with both of the following:\n\n(1) The screening required in Subsection A of this Section has been completed.\n\n(2) The provisions of R.S. 15:1186(A)(1), (2), and (3) have been satisfied, if the plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis.\n\nC. The clerk shall not have a prisoner suit served until specifically ordered to do so by the court as provided in Subsection B of this Section, and then the suit shall be served only upon those defendants specifically ordered by the court to be served.",
  "status": "active",
  "hierarchy_path": [
    {
      "level": "title",
      "number": "15",
      "name": "CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
    },
    {
      "level": "chapter",
      "number": "7",
      "name": "PRISONS AND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS"
    },
    {
      "level": "part",
      "number": "XVI",
      "name": "PRISON LITIGATION REFORM ACT"
    }
  ],
  "breadcrumb": "Title 15 › Chapter 7 › Part XVI",
  "acts_citations": [
    {
      "act_year": 1997,
      "act_number": 731,
      "section": 1,
      "effective_date": "1997-07-09",
      "effective_date_raw": "July 9, 1997",
      "role": "enactment"
    },
    {
      "act_year": 1998,
      "act_number": 110,
      "section": 1,
      "effective_date": "1998-05-05",
      "effective_date_raw": "May 5, 1998",
      "role": "amendment"
    },
    {
      "act_year": 2001,
      "act_number": 801,
      "section": 1,
      "effective_date": "2001-06-26",
      "effective_date_raw": "June 26, 2001",
      "role": "amendment"
    },
    {
      "act_year": 2025,
      "act_number": 253,
      "section": 1,
      "effective_date": null,
      "effective_date_raw": null,
      "role": "amendment"
    }
  ],
  "acts_citations_raw": "Acts 1997, No. 731, §1, eff. July 9, 1997; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 110, §1, eff. May 5, 1998; Acts 2001, No. 801, §1, eff. June 26, 2001; Acts 2025, No. 253, §1.",
  "source_url": "https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=78884",
  "website_law_id": 78884,
  "scrape_timestamp": "2026-05-22T21:55:28Z",
  "source_html_hash": "sha256:10f59765f33198735aa195dc9e5ef7b7b5a0681f8ba97f70478c8c915b2558b0",
  "schema_version": "1.0.0"
}