Shreveport Bench Warrants
Bench warrants in Shreveport are issued by the Shreveport City Court and the 1st Judicial District Court in Caddo Parish. The city court handles misdemeanor and traffic cases, while the district court takes felony matters. When someone fails to pay a citation or misses a scheduled court date, a bench warrant may be issued for their arrest. The Shreveport Police Department and the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office both help enforce these warrants throughout the city and surrounding areas. Residents can check on bench warrant status by contacting the court's Criminal Division or using the online court tools.
Shreveport Quick Facts
Shreveport City Court and Warrants
Shreveport City Court is at 1244 Texas Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71101. The Criminal Division phone is (318) 673-5830. The fax is (318) 673-5856. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The court recently put in a new Case Management System that includes some online tools for looking up court dates and paying citations.
The City Courts page shown above provides access to court tools and information. Citizens who fail to pay a citation or schedule a court date by the deadline on the citation may have a warrant issued for their arrest. The court has extended the time people have to handle traffic matters, giving citizens about 12 weeks to budget and prepare for potential costs.
If your ticket is court mandatory, the fine amount is set by the judge during your mandatory court appearance. You cannot pay these online. For non-mandatory tickets, online payment is available. Night court is held the first Monday of each month at 5:30 PM for those who cannot make daytime hours.
Checking for Bench Warrants in Shreveport
The Court Date Lookup tool on the City of Shreveport website lets you check on your case status. You can find it under the Criminal and Traffic Tools Menu. You can also call the Criminal Division at (318) 673-5830. The Shreveport Police Department main line is (318) 673-7300 at 1234 Texas Avenue.
The city website provides a portal for various court-related lookups. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 349.1 gives judges the power to issue bench warrants. Art. 205 means they do not expire. Art. 203 lists what must appear on a warrant. La. R.S. 44:1 makes these records public.
The Shreveport City Marshal's Office serves summons, warrants, and court documents for the city court. Contact through the city court for marshal services. The first six witness subpoenas are issued at no cost. Additional witnesses may involve fees set by the marshal's office. The Indigent Defender's Office charges an application fee for those who need a public defender.
Parish Court System
Caddo Parish handles all bench warrant cases through the 1st JDC for felony matters and through Shreveport City Court for misdemeanors. The Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office at (318) 681-0700 assists with warrant enforcement parish-wide. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 202 covers arrest warrants from investigations. Art. 162 covers search warrants. Art. 336 governs bail conditions. La. R.S. 44:31 gives adults the right to inspect public records. La. R.S. 44:32 sets fees for copies.
You have three options for handling a citation from Shreveport City Court. You can pay the fine and costs in full at the violation bureau. You can contest the citation, but you must call to schedule a court date. Or you can attend night court on the first Monday of the month at 5:30 PM. If you do nothing, a bench warrant will be issued. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 211.1 allows summons in place of arrest for minor offenses, but once a bench warrant is active, that option may no longer be available.
Resolving Shreveport Bench Warrants
To clear a bench warrant from Shreveport City Court, contact the Criminal Division at (318) 673-5830. An attorney can file a motion to recall the warrant. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 336 allows judges to modify bail when recalling a warrant. For district court bench warrants, the 1st JDC handles those separately through the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court. Court forms are available on the city website, including the Court Information Sheet and Request for Warrant of Possession. La. R.S. 44:3 lists exemptions to public records access for sealed and juvenile cases.
Legal aid is available through local organizations. The Louisiana State Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. Contact the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court for copies of your court file. The court has multiple forms available online, including civil relief act affidavits and various notice forms that may be relevant to your case.
Nearby Cities
Shreveport sits in the northwest corner of Louisiana, right next to Bossier City across the Red River. Bench warrants from Caddo Parish or Shreveport City Court can be served statewide. The nearest city with a page on this site is: