Search Concordia Parish Bench Warrants
Bench warrants in Concordia Parish are issued by the 7th Judicial District Court, which also covers Catahoula Parish. The parish seat is Vidalia, located along the Mississippi River in eastern Louisiana. The Concordia Parish Sheriff's Office under Sheriff David Hedrick is responsible for serving all bench warrants throughout the parish. Concordia Parish also includes the town of Ferriday, where a correctional facility operates. If you need to check whether a bench warrant has been issued in your name, the sheriff's office at (318) 336-5321 can help, or you can visit the main office at 4001 Carter Street in Vidalia.
Concordia Parish Quick Facts
Concordia Parish Warrant Search Methods
Concordia Parish does not offer a public online warrant search database. You need to contact the sheriff's office directly to check for bench warrants. Call (318) 336-5231 during business hours. Provide the full legal name and date of birth. Staff will check for active warrants. Walk-in inquiries are accepted at 4001 Carter Street, Room 7, in Vidalia. The sheriff's office also has a mobile app that allows anonymous tips, which some people use to report information about individuals with outstanding warrants.
The Concordia Parish Sheriff's website provides department information and contact details. While there is no searchable warrant database on the site, it does list office locations and phone numbers for the various divisions. The Concordia Parish Clerk of Court, John F. Anders, maintains all court records at P.O. Box 790, Vidalia, LA 71373. Call (318) 336-4204 for the clerk's office. Under La. R.S. 44:1, court records are public documents and La. R.S. 44:31 gives any adult the right to inspect them.
The Concordia Parish Sheriff's Office website provides contact information and resources for residents with warrant-related questions.
This screenshot shows the Concordia Parish Sheriff's Office website where residents can find phone numbers, addresses, and information about department operations.
How Concordia Parish Issues Bench Warrants
The 7th Judicial District Court issues bench warrants for missed court appearances and probation violations. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 349.1 authorizes judges to sign bench warrants when a defendant fails to appear. The warrant is effective immediately. It goes to the Concordia Parish Sheriff's Office for service. Deputies begin enforcement right away. There are no warnings before the warrant is issued.
Probation violations are common in Concordia Parish. The District Attorney, Bradley R. Burget, at (318) 336-5526 handles prosecutions for the 7th JDC. When your probation officer reports a violation, the DA may request a bench warrant from the judge. Bond amounts on these warrants tend to be higher. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 205 states that Louisiana warrants do not expire. A bench warrant from Concordia Parish will remain active in the system until you are arrested or the judge decides to recall it. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 336 supports this by confirming warrants stay valid until served.
The Cyber Crime Unit under Stephen Lipscomb at (318) 437-0740 Ext. 409 also works with the sheriff's office on cases involving electronic evidence and tip submissions.
Concordia Parish Court Records
The Concordia Parish Clerk of Court stores all records for the 7th JDC. Case files, judgments, and bench warrant documents are available for public inspection under La. R.S. 44:31. Visit the clerk's office in Vidalia during regular hours. The clerk's fax number is (318) 336-8777 if you need to send a written request. Provide the defendant's name or case number for faster results.
Copy fees are governed by La. R.S. 44:32. Certified copies cost approximately $5 per page. Plain copies are about $1. La. R.S. 44:3 exempts certain records from public access. Juvenile cases, sealed files, and active investigations are restricted. Most adult bench warrant records remain available. The Clerk Connect portal may have some Concordia Parish records available electronically, though availability depends on the parish's participation in the statewide system.
Clearing Concordia Parish Bench Warrants
Resolving a bench warrant in Concordia Parish means getting back in front of the 7th Judicial District Court. Hire an attorney to file a motion to recall the warrant. Your lawyer will work with the court to set a new hearing date. Some judges allow voluntary surrender without booking. Others want the defendant processed through the jail first. The Concordia Parish Jail at 4001 Carter Street in Vidalia handles bookings for the main facility. The Concordia Parish Correctional Facility at 26356 Highway 15 in Ferriday, under Warden Lance Moore, is the larger detention facility at (318) 757-1865.
The public defender handles qualifying cases in the 7th JDC. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 211.1 allows for summons and release in some misdemeanor cases. Bond amounts vary by charge. Minor bench warrants might have bonds of a few hundred dollars. Serious felony warrants could mean much higher bonds or no bond at all. The Vidalia Police Department at (318) 336-5254 and the Ferriday Police Department at (318) 757-3606 handle municipal warrants within their respective city limits.
Concordia Parish Warrant Legal Standards
La. C.Cr.P. Art. 202 defines what a warrant must include. The defendant's name, the offense or reason for issuance, and the judge's signature are required. Art. 203 adds more format details. These standards apply to all bench warrants from the 7th JDC in Concordia Parish. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 162 governs search warrants separately. A deputy serving a bench warrant at your residence cannot search your home without a separate search warrant unless an exception applies.
La. R.S. 44:1 defines public records in Louisiana. Most bench warrant records qualify. La. R.S. 44:3 provides exemptions for certain categories. Understanding these laws helps when requesting records or dealing with law enforcement. The sheriff's office and clerk of court both follow state law on record access. La. R.S. 44:32 sets the fees for copies. The process is the same across all Louisiana parishes.
Nearby Parishes
Concordia Parish bench warrants can be served anywhere in Louisiana. Officers in neighboring areas will enforce these warrants during routine stops or encounters. These parishes and areas border Concordia: