Allen Parish Arrest Records

Louisiana state laws define an arrest as the taking into custody of an individual by law enforcement with restraint. This restraint could be imposed by force or result from a willful surrender of the arrested individual. An arrest is usually implemented when law enforcement agents suspect a criminal action is about to be performed or witness one. An arrest warrant issued by a court may also be the basis for an arrest in Allen Parish.

Law enforcement agencies typically document information about the arrest, the person(s) arrested, and the arresting agency after making an arrest. These documented records are referred to as Arrest Records. Allen Parish Arrest Records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office or other city police departments. Arrest records are usually helpful in initiating a criminal proceeding, hence they may be featured in Allen Parish Court Records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Allen Parish?

Yes, per the Louisiana Public Records Law (R.S. 44:1) and Article XII, Section 3 of the Louisiana Constitution. These laws guarantee public access to Allen Parish arrest records unless otherwise stated by law.

Although the aforementioned laws ensure public access to arrest records, they also try to maintain the integrity of the subject's privacy rights and prevent misuse of public records by imposing certain restrictions and exemptions. These exemptions are put in place to protect public peace and safety. Generally, arrest records of active investigations, juvenile arrest records, confidential information, witness/victim information, audio/video information from body-worn cameras, and other records exempt from federal laws are not publicly available for inspection and copying.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

A publicly available arrest record in Allen Parish will generally contain the following information:

• Personal details of the arrestee, such as age, birth date, aliases, ethnicity, and sex
• A physical description of the arrestee, including body scars, tattoos, hair/skin color, and height
• A brief narrative of the arrest and the events preceding it
• Description of the alleged offense and the charges filed
• Location, time, and date of the arrest
• The agency/agent in charge of the arrest
• Weapons, possessions, and illegal materials were seized from the suspect at the time of the arrest
• Damaged properties or injuries inflicted on victims
• Booking details, including bail or release conditions

Allen Parish Arrest Statistics

According to data published by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Allen Parish recorded 95 arrests in 2023. The law enforcement agencies arrested 76 males and 19 females in 2023. The common offenses for which the arrests were recorded included drug/narcotic offences (41), simple assault (21), burglary (9), larceny (8), and aggravated assault (6).

Find Allen Parish Arrest Records

Allen Parish arrest records and booking information are available at the Allen Parish Sheriff's Office or the 33rd Judicial District Attorney's Office. Requestors are to note that only arrest records that have been adjudicated are publicly available at the Sheriff's or District Attorney's Office. Interested persons may submit requests in person or via mail to the Sheriff's Office using the information below:

Allen Parish Sheriff's Office
601 Court Street
Oberlin, LA 70655
Phone: (337) 639-4353
Fax: (337) 639-2855
Email: info@allenparishso.com.

In addition, the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections(LA-DPS&C) maintains a public inmate locator for accessing inmate and arrest information. This inmate locator provides the public with information about inmates incarcerated in state facilities, their booking information, and bail/release information.

Free Arrest Record Search in Allen Parish

Free access to Allen Parish arrest records is possible by paying a visit to the Sheriff's Office during regular hours. Interested persons may also search the online roster maintained by the Sheriff's Office to obtain information about current inmates or persons released within the past 48 hours. It is also not out of place to review arrest information contained in the court records maintained by the Allen Parish Clerk of Court.

Alternatively, one may utilize independent aggregators, also known as third-party search websites. These sites usually provide robust information that cuts across different jurisdictions from the comfort of one's personal device. The majority of these sites may require a subscription plan or one-time payments to access comprehensive reports in the repository. However, it might be possible to find sites that offer free access to arrest information or provide low-cost and affordable payment options.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Forever unless expunged. Arrest records will typically remain permanent on the subject's records once they have been created by law enforcement agencies in Allen Parish. The only legal option for erasing an arrest record is to file for expungement or sealing under State laws.

Expunge Allen Parish Arrest Records

Under Louisiana laws expungment entails the sealing/removal of affected records from public disclosure and not necessarily the destruction of such records. Residents of Allen Parish with eligible arrest records may file for expungement under Article 976 of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure. The following types of arrest records may qualify for expungement under Louisiana laws:

• Records of arrest with no conviction or prosecution due to a statute of limitations
• Arrest records where the district attorney failed to prosecute the subject
• Records of arrests where the charges filed were dismissed, discharged, or acquitted
• Arrest records of felonies or misdemeanors where the waiting period of ten or five years has elapsed
• Arrest records of subjects who have satisfied all court-ordered fines, obligations, or sentences
• Arrest records of individuals with a clean record during their assigned waiting periods.

Individuals who qualify for an arrest record expungement may complete the relevant application forms and file a motion to expunge with the Criminal Department of the Allen Parish Clerk of Court's Office. Applicants may be required to provide other supporting documents and pay the filing fees specified by the Clerk's office. There is also a mandatory fee of $250 payable by money order made out to the Louisiana State Police. Once the motion has been filed and granted, the court issues and serves an order mandating all record custodians, including third-party websites, to remove the affected records from public access. The State Police upon receipt of the expungement order, issues a "Certificate of Compliance" to the record subject to affirm that the affected records have been expunged.

Allen Parish Arrest Warrants

Allen Parish arrest warrants are legal documents written in the name of the State of Louisiana and issued by magistrates directing a law enforcement agency to arrest an individual in relation to a suspected criminal act. Arrest warrants in Allen Parish may only be issued based on reasonable evidence, a well-established probable cause, and a sworn affidavit provided by a law enforcement officer.

The details disclosed by an arrest warrant issued in Allen Parish typically include:

• The date and municipality of issuance
• The name, aliases, or physical descriptions of the alleged offender
• The charges and offense type filed against the suspect
• An order for the named individual to be arrested and booked
• The signature and title of the magistrate issuing the warrant
• Bail/bond information where available

Do Allen Parish Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Louisiana laws state expressly that arrest warrants issued in Allen Parish remain valid and active until they are executed. An arrest is assumed to be executed when an arrest is made, or the subject makes a willful appearance in court. In Louisiana, the presence of a defect or informality in an issued arrest warrant does not invalidate it. Rather, the arrest warrant should be amended and reissued to resolve the defect. Nonetheless, arrest warrants that were issued for the wrong probable cause or based on a mistaken identity may be quashed by the issuing court.