Plaquemines Parish Arrest Records

Under Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 213, Plaquemines Parish law enforcement officers may arrest anyone they observe committing a crime or whom they reasonably suspect of criminal activity. The Plaquemines Parish Sheriff's Office (PPSO) and the Plaquemines Police Department carry out these arrests and compile the resulting arrest records. Arrest records launch criminal prosecutions and chronicle an individual's encounters with the justice system. Once officers take someone into custody, detention staff book the person at the Plaquemines Parish Detention Center, where the individual remains until appearing before a judge.

Arrest records connect to a wider web of public records rather than existing independently. For instance, the public can retrieve arrest details from Plaquemines Parish Court Records, which describe the judicial steps taken after an arrest. Moreover, the Louisiana State Police maintains criminal history files that incorporate arrest data, while the Plaquemines Parish District Attorney's Office also holds records containing such information, together presenting a full perspective on an individual's criminal past.

Are Arrest Records Public in Plaquemines Parish?

Yes. Under Louisiana's Public Records Act, codified as Louisiana Revised Statute 44, the public can access arrest records in Plaquemines Parish.

However, Louisiana Revised Statute 44:3 sets limits on access to protect active investigations, privacy, and public safety. Restricted information includes:

• Details that could endanger witnesses or others, such as personal contact information.
• Data exposing sensitive investigative methods.
• Legally protected criminal offender data.
• Confidential juvenile records.
• Documents that might jeopardize a fair trial.
• Analytical or advisory sections of investigative reports.
• Sensitive personal records, such as medical information.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Louisiana Revised Statute 44:3(A)(4)(b) specifies that Plaquemines Parish publishes arrest records from both the initial report and booking records. These records deliver a straightforward account of each arrest while preserving individual privacy. They ordinarily provide the following information:

• The arrestee's full legal name and birth date
• A physical description such as gender, height, weight, distinctive scars or tattoos, and eye and hair color
• The person's occupation at the time of apprehension
• When and where officers made the arrest
• When and where the booking occurred, if different
• A concise, factual narrative of the events leading to the arrest
• The formal charges lodged against the individual
• Any active parole or probation holds and outstanding warrants
• The arrestee's release status or current detention location

By statute, juvenile arrests generally remain confidential. Nevertheless, when law enforcers detain minors aged fourteen or older on serious felony charges, they may release limited identifying details under specified legal exceptions.

Plaquemines Parish Arrest Statistics

Law enforcement agencies in Plaquemines Parish submit arrest data to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, which aggregates national crime and arrest figures. The Louisiana Statistical Analysis Center (LSAC) also gathers criminal-justice statistics, leveraging the UCR's incident-based framework, but it does not break down results by parish.

Though parish-level arrest totals are not provided by the LSAC, the FBI's Crime Data Explorer offers access to statewide and local figures sorted by offense category. According to the most recent information on the Crime Data Explorer, the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff's Office reported 498 arrests in 2023. Drug/Narcotic Offenses lead with 129 arrests, which constitute 25.9% of arrests made by the agency. Aggravated Assault follows with 72 arrests (14.4%), and Disorderly Conduct with 43 arrests (8.6%). Plaquemine Police Department reported 79 arrests, out of which 17 instances (21.5%) are a case of Larceny. This is followed by Aggravated and Simple Assaults with 15 (18.9%) and 12 (15.1%) arrests, respectively.

Find Plaquemines Parish Arrest Records

In Plaquemines Parish, individuals obtain arrest records by requesting a criminal history background check from the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information (BCII). The Louisiana Applicant Processing System (LAPS), accessible through the official website, processes these checks. The service provides access details at $26 service fee. LAPS provides an internet-based check (which attracts an additional $5 technology fee), as well as an in-person and mail-in option.

The in-person and mail-in option process involves the following steps:

• Schedule an Appointment: Applicants are to use LAPS to book a session at a nearby IdentoGO center for fingerprint capture.
• Fingerprinting: At the chosen IdentoGO location, technicians scan digital fingerprints. Applicants present valid identification and pay the $26 service fee.
• Report Delivery: BCII issues background reports either as a mailed hard copy bearing the raised state seal (this is required for official uses such as licensing and employment) or as an electronic file for personal review.
• Service Codes: Before scheduling, applicants must obtain the appropriate service code from the requesting agency (e.g., employer or licensing board).

Free Arrest Record Search in Plaquemines Parish

The PPSO provides free online access to arrest records via the Jail Roster hosted on its website. This roster includes the name of the arrestee, date of birth, race, gender, and arrest date.

Also, the Plaquemines Parish Clerk of Court provides free online access to criminal court record indices through the E-search portal. By signing in as a guest, individuals can search for records that may include arrest-related information, though viewing full documents may require a subscription.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Louisiana, arrest records linger on an individual's criminal record indefinitely except it is expunged. The state law does not provide for automatic removal or expiration of arrest records after a set period, meaning even arrests that did not lead to convictions persist unless action is taken to remove them through the expungement process.

Expunge Plaquemines Parish Arrest Records

In Plaquemines Parish, individuals can pursue a legal process to expunge their arrest records, thereby removing them from public access. This procedure, governed by the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Articles 971-986, does not destroy the record but restricts it from public view.

Those eligible for expungment include:

• Petitioners never charged, whose cases were dismissed, or who secured acquittals may request expungement immediately.
• Convicted individuals qualify only after completing all sentencing requirements, including probation or parole (Some misdemeanors become eligible after five years, while eligible felonies require a ten-year waiting period. Violent offenses and sex crimes generally remain ineligible).
• Those who finish a pretrial diversion program become eligible under the same provisions.

Expungement Procedure

• The applicant obtains an official criminal history record from the Louisiana State Police within 60 days before filing.
• The applicant submits a motion for expungement in the arrest parish, including all prescribed forms and the $250 filing fee (fee waivers remain unavailable to anyone with any felony conviction, even if previously expunged).
• The court clerk notifies the arresting agency, the district attorney's office, and the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information, each of which has 60 days to lodge objections.
• If no objections arise or after resolution at a hearing, the court grants expungement, typically within six months.

Plaquemines Parish Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant, a judicial order that authorizes law enforcement to apprehend a person suspected of committing a crime, is issued by a judge or magistrate in Plaquemines Parish upon the establishment of probable cause. According to the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 202, law enforcement officers establish probable cause when the judicial officer considers an affidavit outlining the alleged offense to be sufficient. An arrest warrant includes several key details, as seen below:

• The name of the person to be arrested or a description if the name is unknown.
• The particular offense charged.
• A charge for law enforcement to arrest and book the individual.
• The magistrate's signature and title.
• The bail amount, if applicable, for offenses that do not carry a capital punishment

Judges typically issue warrants when officers do not apprehend the suspect at the scene of the crime, thus ensuring legal authority for the arrest.

Do Plaquemines Parish Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Arrest warrants in Plaquemines Parish do not expire, according to the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 205. They remain active until the individual is arrested or the warrant is recalled by the court.