August 6, 2026

NEW ORLEANS – “This law is what happens when frontline experience is matched with the right backing. Our prosecutors and victim advocates saw a barrier facing survivors, brought forward a practical solution and worked with Representative Mandie Landry and lawmakers across Louisiana to remove it. Karissa has shown us that a steady presence can help a survivor find the strength to speak. Now, when a trained facility dog is available, no witness in a sex-offense trial will be denied that support simply because of age,” said Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams.

House Bill 126, signed as Act 616 and effective August 1, expands Louisiana Revised Statute 15:284. The law now requires a court to allow any witness testifying in a trial for a sex offense to be accompanied by a trained facility dog, if one is available. Previously, that protection was mandatory only for witnesses who were under 18 or had a developmental disability. The change means an adult survivor, including someone assaulted as a child but testifying years later, can no longer be denied an available facility dog’s support because of age.

The law also changes the statute’s name from ‘Duvall’s Law’ to ‘Duvall and Karissa’s Law,’ recognizing the impact of the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office Facility Dog Karissa Justice

Since joining OPDA in 2023, Karissa and her handler, Assistant District Attorney Meghan Falcon, have supported survivors and witnesses in more than 100 meetings and assisted with 24 trials as of August 2026. Karissa’s calm, trained presence can ease anxiety during difficult conversations, trial preparation and courtroom testimony, helping survivors remain connected to the people guiding them through the justice process.

“The way survivors light up when they see Karissa Justice brings so much happiness to my heart. Karissa is always excited to meet a new friend and sit with someone who needs her. I cannot wait to see the impact she will have now that this support reaches witnesses in sex-offense trials regardless of age.” – Assistant District Attorney Meghan Falcon, Karissa Justice’s handler

Karissa’s work complements OPDA’s broader trauma-informed approach, including the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Unit. The SAKI Unit works with the New Orleans Police Department, forensic experts, victim advocates and community partners to review and prosecute sexual-assault cases, including cold cases connected to previously unsubmitted sexual-assault kits. Alongside the pursuit of accountability, the team provides survivors with clear communication, access to support and resources, and respect for their choices throughout a process that may reopen trauma years after an assault.

The legislation grew from a gap OPDA staff saw in court. Chief of Appeals Brad Scott drafted the office’s proposed expansion of the facility-dog statute. State Representative Mandie Landry authored and sponsored HB 126, and Scott joined her before the House Judiciary Committee to explain how Karissa is used and why adult survivors needed the same guaranteed access to an available facility dog. The measure passed both chambers without opposition.

Act 616 reflects what office-wide public service can accomplish with strong partnerships and legislative support: prosecutors and appeals attorneys identify a barrier, advocates and trial teams bring the lived needs of survivors into focus, and state leaders turn a proven local practice into protection available across Louisiana. OPDA will continue pairing rigorous prosecution with survivor-centered support so that accountability, dignity and healing remain part of the same pursuit of justice.

The Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office works to promote public safety, pursue accountability and serve victims and survivors with dignity, respect and compassion. Through specialized teams, victim services and partnerships with law enforcement, forensic experts and community organizations, OPDA seeks justice that strengthens both individual healing and community trust. Learn more at orleansda.com.