Slidell Bench Warrants
Bench warrants in Slidell are issued through the Slidell City Court and the 22nd Judicial District Court in St. Tammany Parish. Chief Daniel Seuzeneau leads the Slidell Police Department, which assists with bench warrant enforcement in the city. The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office handles parish-wide warrant enforcement. Residents who need to check for active bench warrants can contact the Slidell Police Department or the St. Tammany Parish Clerk of Court. Under La. C.Cr.P. Art. 349.1, judges issue bench warrants for failure to appear, and these warrants do not expire under Art. 205.
Slidell Quick Facts
Slidell Police Department
The Slidell Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency within the city. The non-emergency number is (985) 643-3131. The department has several divisions including Patrol, Criminal Investigations (Detectives), Corrections (Slidell City Jail), Communications (Dispatch), Animal Control, Internal Affairs, Public Affairs, and the Slidell Regional Training Academy.
The Slidell PD website shown above provides services like crime tip submission, accident report retrieval, and ticket payment. For bench warrant inquiries, call the non-emergency line or visit the department in Olde Towne Slidell. The department can confirm whether an active bench warrant exists in the city court system.
Checking for Bench Warrants
To check for bench warrants in Slidell, call the police department at (985) 643-3131. The St. Tammany Parish Clerk of Court can also help. The clerk's main office is at 701 North Columbia Street in Covington, LA 70433. The phone is (985) 809-8700. There is a satellite office at 520 Old Spanish Trail, 5th Floor, in Slidell, LA 70458, phone (985) 643-6969. This satellite location is more convenient for Slidell residents.
St. Tammany Parish handles all felony bench warrant cases through the 22nd JDC. The 22nd JDC also covers Washington Parish. La. R.S. 44:1 makes court records public. La. R.S. 44:31 gives adults inspection rights. La. R.S. 44:32 covers copy fees. La. R.S. 44:3 lists exemptions for sealed and juvenile cases.
La. C.Cr.P. Art. 202 covers arrest warrants. Art. 203 lists warrant requirements. Art. 162 deals with search warrants. Art. 349.1 covers bench warrants. Art. 336 governs bail. Art. 211.1 allows summons instead of arrest for certain minor charges.
Understanding Bench Warrants
A bench warrant in Slidell works like any other bench warrant in Louisiana. The judge issues it when someone does not show up for court. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 349.1 gives judges this power. Art. 205 says the warrant does not expire. It stays active until a law enforcement officer serves it or the judge recalls it. A bench warrant from five years ago is still valid today. It will show up when any officer in Louisiana runs your name.
La. C.Cr.P. Art. 203 lists what must appear on a warrant. This includes the name of the accused, the offense, and the judge's signature. Bench warrants also include the original case number, bond amount, and issue date. Under La. R.S. 44:1, all of this information is part of the public record. La. R.S. 44:31 gives adults the right to inspect it. La. R.S. 44:32 covers fees for copies.
Resolving Slidell Bench Warrants
To clear a bench warrant in Slidell, contact the court that issued it. For city court warrants, the Slidell Police Department or the city court can guide you. For 22nd JDC warrants, go through the St. Tammany Parish Clerk of Court. An attorney can file a motion to recall the warrant and set a new hearing. Voluntary surrender is usually better than being arrested during a routine stop.
La. C.Cr.P. Art. 336 lets the judge modify bail when recalling a warrant. The Louisiana State Bar Association has a referral service for finding an attorney. The Slidell City Jail is operated by the police department's Corrections Division. If you surrender on a bench warrant, you will be booked at the city jail or the parish facility depending on the charge. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 211.1 may allow summons in lieu of arrest for certain minor offenses. If your bench warrant is tied to unpaid fines or a traffic ticket, paying what you owe may help the situation, but you will likely still need to see the judge. Bond amounts vary depending on the original charge and how long the warrant has been active. An attorney familiar with the St. Tammany Parish courts can walk you through the process.
Nearby Cities
Slidell is on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain in St. Tammany Parish. Bench warrants can be served anywhere in Louisiana. The nearest city on this site: