This bill amends Code of Criminal Procedure Article 812 to enhance the procedures for polling juries in criminal cases. It stipulates that the court must order the clerk to poll the jury if requested by either the state or the defendant. The polling process will now include a provision for cases where a verdict has not been reached, allowing for a written poll to be conducted in open court. The bill specifies that jurors will receive slips of paper asking for their verdict, with options for "guilty," "not guilty," or "guilty of a lesser offense," and their responses will be collected and recorded.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new section that outlines the procedure for polling jurors in cases where a mistrial has been declared due to an inability to reach a verdict. This includes similar requirements for the written polling process, ensuring that the results are available for inspection by the court and counsel. The bill also maintains provisions for sealing polling slips and redacting juror names if the court orders their release, thereby enhancing the confidentiality of juror responses while ensuring transparency in the polling process.