Vermilion Parish Arrest Records

An arrest, as defined by La. Code Crim. Proc. art. 201, refers to the act of taking a person into police custody. While law enforcement officers are typically empowered to make arrests, there are specific circumstances where a private citizen may be authorized to arrest someone else. Once an arrest happens, the arresting agency documents the suspect's personal details and information about the arrest in an arrest record.

Arrested individuals are typically confined in the Parish jail run by the Vermilion Parish Sheriff's Office. Each arrestee faces the possibility of having formal charges filed against them by the Parish prosecutor's office, in which case they will have to answer for the crimes in court.

Arrest records are usually maintained in local law enforcement agency databases, as part of the Vermilion Parish court records, and within state and federal databases.

Are Arrest Records Public in Vermilion Parish?

Yes. Vermilion Parish arrest records are public records under La. Rev. Stat. § 44:1 et seq. This means that an inquisitive party may freely inspect or obtain a copy of a Vermilion Parish arrest record from the record's custodian. Notwithstanding, individuals may not be allowed access to all types of arrest records. Access to some arrest records in the Parish has been limited by state statute or court order. Vermilion Parish arrest records that typically are inaccessible to the general public are:

• Juvenile arrest records
• Arrest records sealed or expunged by the court
• Sensitive personal information
• Information on victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence
• Evidence gathered from investigations
• Medical-related records

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Vermilion Parish public arrest records contain information generally not restricted by state law. These records disclose basic information about an arrest event, including:

• An arrestee's full name, date of birth, sex, race, picture, and physical description (height, weight, hair color, eye color)
• An arrestee's last known address
• Date of the arrest
• Time and location of the arrest
• Arresting agency
• Booking date and number
• Bond amount

Vermilion Parish Arrest Statistics

The Louisiana Statistical Analysis Center (LSAC) is a division of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement responsible for compiling statewide crime and arrest data. The LSAC receives crime and arrest data from law enforcement agencies through the UCR, LIBRS/NIBRS, and LEMIS IBR programs. Individuals can access this data through the LSAC's yearly Crime in Louisiana reports.

These reports, however, are generalized and not Parish-specific. Consequently, researchers may search the FBI's Crime Data Explorer for arrest statistical information exclusive to Vermilion Parish. The Crime Data portal categorizes arrest data by the four respective reporting agencies in Vermilion Parish. A researcher can select any of these agencies to view their annual arrest reports.

Individuals may also obtain arrest statistics by contacting local law enforcement agencies.

Find Vermilion Parish Arrest Records

Individuals interested in accessing a Vermilion Parish arrest record may do so at local law enforcement offices, particularly the agency that made the arrest. If the individual is detained at the Vermilion Parish jail, inquiries can also be made at the sheriff's office. The Sheriff's Office Prisoners portal can be used to remotely access arrest record information of detainees in the Parish jail. Users can view the recent arrest log on the portal or locate an inmate by name or CCN number.

Information on persons incarcerated in a Louisiana correctional facility run by the state's Department of Public Safety and Corrections can be located in one of two ways.

By Phone: Researchers can locate an inmate in prison by calling (225) 383-4580 to be connected to the Imprisoned Person Locator. To obtain specific information, a caller will need to provide the inmate's DPS&C or name and date of birth. The information available includes the facility address where the inmate is incarcerated, housing assignment, contact phone number, and projected release date.

Online: An inmate can be located online using the state partner private vendor platform. The database is updated every 24 hours to provide the public with developments as they occur. The database also contains information on persons under probation or parole (community) supervision. To search for an inmate on the platform, individuals may use the inmate's location, name, or ID/case number.

Individuals can locate federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to the present using the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator. Inmates can be located using their names or respective FBI, DCDC, INS, or BOP register numbers.

Free Arrest Record Search in Vermilion Parish

Vermilion Parish arrest records can be accessed through third-party vendors. Several third-party vendors provide arrest record search capabilities to interested members of the public, with the primary search criteria often being the name of the arrest record's subject. Depending on the vendor, a limited amount of arrest record information may be available for free once the search is completed. The researcher may need to pay a fee to access more detailed information.

A free arrest record search in Vermillion can also be conducted through the Sheriff's Office Prisoners portal.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

When an arrest is added to an individual's criminal history in Vermilion Parish, there is no specified timeframe for how long it will remain on file. Generally, the record is retained indefinitely, even after the subject's death.

If an individual wishes to erase their arrest record, they may file a request with the court. Louisiana law allows for the expungement of arrest records under specific conditions.

Expunge Vermilion Parish Arrest Records

Expungement of an arrest record in Vermilion Parish refers to the redaction of the Parish's publicly available information. An expungement restricts public access but does not eradicate the record. The laws that govern the expungement of Vermilion Parish arrest records are found in La. Code Crim. Proc. arts. 971 through 999.1. The requirements for expunging an arrest record depend on the class of offense committed.

For misdemeanor offenses, an individual may file a motion to expunge the arrest record if:

• The conviction was nullified, and the prosecution was dismissed under La. Code Crim. Proc. art. 894(B).
• Over five years have passed since the completion of their sentence, probation, or parole, with no felony conviction or pending felony charges in that period. A certification from the district attorney will be required for verification.
• The conviction was for a first offense of marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol, or chemical derivatives, and 90 days have passed from the conviction date.

A motion for the expungement of the arrest record of a misdemeanor conviction will not be granted if the conviction was for any of the following offenses:

• A sexual-related offense
• A domestic abuse battery offense
• Stalking offenses

Individuals can file a motion of expungement of the arrest record of a felony offense if:

• The conviction was nullified, and the prosecution was dismissed under La. Code Crim. Proc. art. 893(E).
• Ten years have passed from the completion of any sentence or probation, and there are no other criminal convictions or pending charges.
• The individual qualifies for a first-offender pardon provided the offense is not a violent crime or sex offense.

Persons convicted of a felony offense will not be allowed to file an expungement motion if the felony conviction was for any of the following offenses:

• Violent crimes
• Sexual offenses or crimes against minors
• Certain drug-related offenses, unless they qualify under specific exceptions like possession or first-offender pardon

An individual may file a motion to expunge more than one felony arrest record if each arrest is eligible for expungement. For certain violent crimes, like aggravated assault or second-degree battery, the court may hold a contradictory hearing to determine if the record can be expunged, provided certain conditions are met.

A Vermilion Parish court is not allowed to charge more than $550 for expunging an arrest record. If an individual meets certain requirements, they may also be entitled to an expedited expungement (an expungement without filing a motion).

Vermilion Parish Arrest Warrants

A Vermilion Parish arrest warrant is an official document issued by a magistrate requesting that an individual be taken into custody. An arrest warrant is issued when a person makes a formal complaint to the court that an individual has committed a crime. The complaint must be accompanied by an affidavit stating the nature, date and place of the offense, the name and surname of the offender, and the victim if known.

The arrest warrant will subsequently be issued if the magistrate has probable cause to believe that the accused named in the complaint is culpable for a crime. Arrest warrants in Vermilion Parish can be issued via telephone or fax in certain circumstances.

Arrest warrants in Vermilion Parish are directed to all law enforcement officers in the state and can be executed only by law enforcement officers. A Vermilion Parish arrest warrant is required to be in the following form:

• Be in writing in the name of the State of Louisiana
• Contain the date and municipality or parish where it was issued
• Contain the name of the suspect or, if unknown, a name or description by which the suspect can be identified
• Contain the charges laid against the suspect
• Contain a written order demanding the suspect be arrested and booked
• Contain the signature of the magistrate and their title of office

An arrest warrant may also contain a bail amount in noncapital cases when the magistrate has the authority to state bail.

Do Vermilion Parish Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Per La. Code Crim. Proc. art. 205, arrest warrants in Vermilion Parish do not expire after issuance. These warrants remain active until the suspect has been arrested or, in some cases, reviewed and quashed by the court.

The court or the suspect can initiate an arrest warrant review, typically through an attorney. If a review reveals that there is no probable cause for arrest and the suspicions are unfounded, the court will quash the arrest warrant. An arrest warrant will not be quashed if defects are found in the warrant's issue; instead, it will be amended to resolve the defect.