St. Landry Parish Arrest Records

In St. Landry Parish, arrest records provide information on arrests conducted within the parish. Such records may include arrest details like the arrestee’s name, arrest charges, and the arresting agency's name.

Arrests are legal procedures for apprehending individuals who violate state or federal laws. Peace officers have the legal right to conduct arrests with or without the aid of an arrest warrant. In addition, officers may temporarily detain arrestees in the parish jail pending the outcome of subsequent investigations.

St. Landry Parish arrest records are primarily under the jurisdiction of local law enforcement agencies. The agencies generate and store arrest information as incident or arrest reports. Interested persons or entities may request these documents from the agency that conducted the arrest.

Arrest information is also a major constituent of crime-related documents. For example, citizens may find arrest information in St. Landry Parish court records, rap sheets, and inmate records.

Are Arrest Records Public in St. Landry Parish?

In St. Landry Parish, arrest records are publicly accessible unless they contain information that is exempt under state laws. The Louisiana State Legislature governs the disclosure and procedures for accessing public records. Per state laws, interested parties may view and get copies of arrest records from specific government entities. To get arrest records, inquirers must fulfill the requirements set by the record custodian.

However, record custodians have the right to withhold or redact certain arrest information from public view. Exempted arrest information typically contains information that may violate a concerned party’s right to safety or privacy. Per RS 44:3, the following arrest information is exempt from public view:

• Information about pending criminal litigations
• Information on investigative or security procedures used in terrorist-related activities
• Identity of confidential sources in a criminal investigation.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

In St. Landry Parish, arrest records may contain the following public information:

• The arrestee’s name, age, race, and gender
• Arrest charges
• Arrest date and location
• The arresting agency's information

St. Landry Parish Arrest Statistics

The Louisiana Statistical Analytics Center creates annual reports on arrests documented within the state. While there are no parish-level arrest statistics, the 2023 report revealed a total of 99,044 arrests were conducted in Louisiana.

According to the agency’s 2023 report, St. Landry Parish correctional centers admitted and released 196 and 202 inmates, respectively.

Find St. Landry Parish Arrest Records

In St. Landry Parish, inmate records are one of the major sources for finding arrest records. Such records mostly include information on post-arrest events, such as arrest charges, mugshots, bond type and amount, and booking information.

To find inmate records, inquirers may use online or offline resources that are provided by government entities. For instance, the St. Landry Parish jail maintains an online roster for arrestees detained in the parish jail. Inquirers may scroll down the roster and click on the arrestee’s name to view the records.

Louisiana’s Department of Public Safety and Corrections also offers online access to St. Landry Parish. The agency partnered with a third-party search database to provide information on parolees and current inmates in the state correctional facilities. To view records on the database, users must provide search details like the inmate's name or ID number.

Likewise, interested parties may find arrest information via the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate locator. The platform features a database of inmates held in federal correctional institutions. Users must provide the inmate name or ID number to view records on the platform.

Free Arrest Record Search in St. Landry Parish

Citizens may conduct free searches for arrest records through government-owned search sites. For instance, the Federal Bureau of Prisons maintains an online search platform for arrestees detained in federal correctional institutions.

In contrast, the St. Landry Parish sheriff’s office may allow free searches for arrest records. Inquirers using this option must provide search information in person at the parish sheriff’s physical location:

1592 East Prudhomme Street
Opelousas, LA 70570
Phone: (337) 948-6516

Alternatively, interested parties may search arrest records for free via third-party search sites. These sites may feature arrest information in crime-related records, such as inmate and criminal history records. Third-party search sites are typically easy to navigate and do not restrict users based on their geographical location. In addition, the sites may allow the download of public records. Despite the clear benefits of using such sites, they are unregulated and may not provide accurate arrest data.

St. Landry Parish Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

St. Landry Parish arrests and criminal records are different in the following ways:

They contain different information,

Citizens will only find arrest-related data in arrest records. The records may include information generated before and after an arrest event, including warrants, arrest charges and description, booking number, and the arresting agency. However, criminal records contain more than arrest information; they also include court files and incarceration information.

The records are under the purview of different government agencies

Local law enforcement agencies generate arrest records after conducting an arrest. The agencies also keep arrest records and release them to interested persons and entities. On the other hand, criminal records are under the purview of the Louisiana State Police. The agency generates arrest records after collecting crime-related data.

The records have different social implications.

Arrest records do not have negative implications since they do not indicate if the record subject was convicted. However, criminal records reveal court convictions, and this may lead to negative social impacts. For example, offenders may face discrimination when applying for certain jobs.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In St. Landry Parish, arrest records remain permanently on record unless they are sealed or expunged. There are set guidelines for expunging arrest records in the parish. Note that certain arrest records are not eligible for expungement.

Expunge St. Landry Parish Arrest Records

Expungement is the legal process of removing an arrest or criminal conviction record from an individual’s public record. In St. Landry Parish, you may expunge arrest records by filing a motion to expunge with the parish clerk of courts.

Who is eligible to expunge arrest records in St. Landry Parish?

Per Art. 978 of the Louisiana State Legislature, you may expunge arrest records under these conditions:

• The prosecution or conviction was dismissed pursuant to Article 893(E)
• You have no pending criminal charge, and it has been more than ten years since you completed a sentence for a felony conviction.
• You are entitled to a first-offender pardon for an offense listed under Article IV, Section 5(E)(1).

How may I expunge St. Landry Parish's arrest records?

Follow these instructions to expunge arrest records in St. Landry Parish:

1. Complete the right petition for your specific offense:
   1. Motion to Set Aside Conviction and Dismiss Prosecution form (for expunging dismissed arrest charges or non-conviction records).
   2. Motion for Expungement form (for expunging criminal conviction records)
   3. Motion for Interim Expungement (to expunge a felony conviction that was reduced to a misdemeanor).
2. Attach a supplemental sheet to provide arrest details like date and location.
3. Send the original document to the parish clerk of courts at:
   18 South Court Street
   Suite 207
   Opelousas, LA 70570
   Phone: (337) 942-5606
4. Upon receiving the petition, the court judge will sign and set a motion for a hearing date.
5. If the court grants the expungement petition, the petitioner must present an order for expungement form to the court judge to sign.
6. Make copies of the court order and the petition documents.
7. Send the documents along with the required fees to the following agencies:

The Louisiana State Police at:

Louisiana State Police
BCII-LCJIS
Post Office Box 66614
Box A-6
Baton Rouge, LA 70896

Include a $250 money order payable to the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification/Information.

St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s office at:

1592 East Prudhomme Street
P.O. Box 1029
Opelousas, LA 70571

St. Landry Parish District Attorney’s office at:

231 South Union Street
Opelousas, LA 70570
Phone: (337) 948-3041

Note: Contact the clerk of court to determine the filing fee. Petitioners may qualify for a fee waiver if the arrest charges were dismissed or did not lead to a court conviction. Record seekers may also be able to obtain a fee waiver from the parish district attorney’s office.

St. Landry Parish Arrest Warrants

In St. Landry Parish, arrest warrants authorize the arrests of defendants named in the document. Court magistrates may issue arrest warrants under these conditions:

• An applicant presents an affidavit that contains sufficient evidence that an individual committed a crime.
• The court magistrate has probable cause to believe that a defendant committed a crime.

The court magistrate will issue arrest warrants to an arresting agency. Arrest warrants issued in St. Landry Parish may include the following information:

• The defendant’s name and physical description.
• Arrest charges
• Arrest warrant issuance date and location.
• A statement that the defendant must be arrested and booked.
• Court magistrate signature and official position.

Do St. Landry Parish Arrest Warrants Expire?

St. Landry Parish arrest warrants do not expire. They remain valid unless the court recalls them or the defendant is arrested. The statute of limitation does not affect the validity of an arrest warrant.