Pointe Coupee Parish Arrest Records

According to the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure (Article 202), a magistrate may issue an arrest warrant when evidence establishes that a crime has been committed and the accused person is responsible for it. Arrests can occur with or without a warrant, depending on circumstances. Once arrested, individuals are typically taken to the Pointe Coupee Parish Detention Center, where they undergo the booking process:

Pointe Coupee Parish Detention Center
8809 LA-981, New Roads,
Louisiana, 70760
Phone: (225) 638-5407

The Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff’s Office is the primary agency responsible for generating and maintaining arrest records within the parish. These records become part of a larger network of criminal justice documentation that includes Pointe Coupee Parish Court Records, district attorney files, and state-level criminal history databases maintained by the Louisiana State Police.

The sheriff’s office documents each arrest with detailed information, including the arrestee’s name, charges, booking date, and the circumstances surrounding the detention.

Are Arrest Records Public in Pointe Coupee Parish?

Yes, arrest records are generally public in Pointe Coupee Parish, as mandated by the Louisiana Public Records Law (La. R.S. 44:1 et seq.). This legal provision requires government agencies to make public records available for inspection and copying by any person of legal age.

However, certain arrest information is exempt from public disclosure under La. R.S. 44:3:

• Arrest records involving juveniles
• Those who could compromise ongoing investigations
• Records containing information that would reveal confidential informant identities are not subject to public disclosure

Records of arrests remain confidential until a final judgment of conviction or acceptance of a guilty plea occurs. But the following exceptions apply:

• Initial officer’s report
• Booking records (CCRP Article 228)
• Summons or citation issuance records
• Bill of information filing records

To access public arrest records in Pointe Coupee Parish, residents may contact the Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff’s Office at:

The Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff’s Office
215 East Main Street,
New Roads, LA 70760,
P.O. Box 248
Phone: (225) 638-5400

The office operates Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm and provides various methods for records requests.

Pointe Coupee Parish Arrest Statistics

According to the Louisiana Statistical Analysis Center, Pointe Coupee Parish reported a total of 431 arrests in 2023, comprising 145 violent crimes and 185 property crimes. The violent crime arrests included seven for rape, one for robbery, and 56 aggravated assaults. There was one murder and a non-negligent arrest. The property crime arrests included 33 for burglary, 34 for vandalism of property, 24 for motor vehicle theft, and none for arson.

Find Pointe Coupee Parish Arrest Records

Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff’s Office
Individuals can visit the Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff’s Office in person during business hours, send a mail, or contact them to inquire about arrest records and inmate information:

The Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff’s Office
215 East Main Street,
New Roads, LA 70760,
P.O. Box 248
Phone: (225) 638-5400

Federal Bureau of Prisons
For federal inmates, the Federal Bureau of Prisons provides an Inmate Locator, which contains records from 1982 to the present. Individuals can search by name or federal inmate number to locate individuals in federal custody.

Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections
For state-level searches, the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections maintains an Imprisoned Person Locator System on the website. It is accessible by visiting the website or calling (225) 383-4580, which requires the inmate’s DOC number, name, and date of birth.

Pointe Coupee Parish Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records and criminal records serve different purposes within Louisiana’s criminal justice system. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement. It includes information such as the date of arrest, charges filed, booking details, and the arresting agency. This record is created immediately upon arrest, regardless of whether charges are ultimately filed or a conviction occurs.

Criminal records, by contrast, cover a broader history of an individual’s interactions with the criminal justice system, including arrests, court proceedings, convictions, sentences, probation, and parole information.

In Pointe Coupee Parish, arrest records are generated by the Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff’s Office during the booking process at the detention center, while criminal records are compiled by multiple agencies, including courts, the district attorney’s office, and the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information (BCI).

An individual may have an arrest record without a criminal conviction if charges were dismissed, the person was acquitted, or prosecution never occurred.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

According to the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Articles 971-985, eligibility for expungement depends on several factors:

Non-conviction arrests
For dismissed charges, acquittals, or no prosecution, individuals may file for expungement at any time, though practical timelines vary.

Misdemeanor convictions
A waiting period of five years after completing the sentence, probation, and parole is required, provided no felony convictions occurred during that period.

Felony Convictions
This requires a ten-year waiting period after sentence completion, with no subsequent felony charges or convictions.

Furthermore, certain offenses are ineligible for expungement, including crimes of violence under La. R.S. 14:2(B), sex offenses involving children, and serious drug trafficking offenses.

Unlike some states with automatic record sealing, Louisiana requires individuals to petition the court for expungement. Hence, Pointe Coupee Parish arrest records generally remain on an individual’s record permanently unless expunged.

Pointe Coupee Parish Arrest Warrants

According to the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 202, arrest warrants are issued when an affidavit establishes probable cause that a crime was committed and the named person is responsible for it. The warrant issuance process begins when a law enforcement officer or complainant submits a sworn affidavit to a magistrate explaining the nature of the alleged crime and identifying information about the suspect and victim.

Arrest warrants in Pointe Coupee Parish contain essential information, including:

• The state’s name (Louisiana)
• The parish (Pointe Coupee)
• Date and place of issuance
• The name or distinctive description of the person to be arrested
• Specific violation charges
• Bail amount if the offense is not capital

The warrant authorizes any peace officer within the parish to execute the arrest at any time and location. In Pointe Coupee Parish, officers must inform the arrestee about the warrant at the time of arrest, though they need not have the physical document in hand during the arrest.

Do Pointe Coupee Parish Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants in Pointe Coupee Parish and throughout Louisiana generally do not expire and remain active indefinitely until executed or recalled by the court. Under Louisiana law, there are no statutory time restrictions on executing arrest warrants, meaning law enforcement can arrest an individual at any time once a warrant is issued, regardless of how many years have passed.

This applies to both misdemeanor and felony arrest warrants. However, bench warrants issued for failure to appear in court only become inactive if the individual dies, resolves the underlying issue with the court, or a judge formally recalls the warrant.

Certain legal factors can influence the duration of warrant validity. While the warrant itself doesn’t expire, the statute of limitations for the underlying criminal offense may affect the prosecution's viability, although the warrant remains active. Search warrants, which are distinct from arrest warrants, typically remain valid for 10 days under CCRP Article 163, though judges may extend this period.

In Pointe Coupee Parish, individuals can check for active warrants by contacting the Sheriff’s Office at:

The Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff’s Office
215 East Main Street,
New Roads, LA 70760,
P.O. Box 248
Phone: (225) 638-5400
(225) 638-9596 (Clerk of Court)

Expunge Pointe Coupee Parish Arrest Records

Expunging arrest records in Pointe Coupee Parish follows Louisiana state law procedures outlined in the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Articles 971-985. Expungement removes records from public access but does not destroy them. The records remain available to law enforcement agencies, criminal justice agencies, certain state licensing boards, and other authorized entities.

Eligibility requirements in Pointe Coupee Parish include:

• Having no pending criminal charges (except minor traffic citations) and meeting specific waiting periods based on the offense type.
• For arrests without conviction, individuals may file immediately if charges were dismissed, not prosecuted, or resulted in an acquittal.
• For misdemeanor convictions, a five-year waiting period is required after completing all sentences and supervision.
• Felony convictions require a ten-year waiting period.

The expungement process:

• Begins by obtaining forms from the Louisiana State Police or legal assistance programs.
• Applicants must obtain a criminal background check from the Louisiana State Police, complete the required forms, and file the petition with the Pointe Coupee Parish Clerk of Court at:
  201 East Main Street,
  New Roads, LA 70760
• A non-refundable filing fee of $250 must be paid, though fee waivers are available for eligible individuals with no other convictions.
• The court reviews the petition and, if unopposed, grants expungement within 60-90 days. If objections are filed, a hearing is scheduled.