Plaquemines Parish Bench Warrants
Bench warrants in Plaquemines Parish are issued by the 25th Judicial District Court when someone does not appear for a scheduled court hearing or violates conditions set by a judge. The Plaquemines Parish Sheriff's Office under Sheriff Gerald A. Turlich, Jr. enforces these warrants throughout the parish, which stretches roughly 80 miles along the Mississippi River south of New Orleans. With over 264 regular deputies and 33 part-time deputies, the department uses its Criminal Patrol Division, Marine Division, and Aviation Unit to locate and apprehend individuals with outstanding warrants across this large geographic area.
Plaquemines Parish Quick Facts
Plaquemines Parish Warrant Search Process
Plaquemines Parish does not maintain a publicly accessible online warrant search database. To check for active bench warrants, you need to contact the sheriff's office or the clerk of court directly. The Plaquemines Parish Sheriff's Office business number is (504) 934-6776. The main office is at 302 Main Street in Belle Chasse, with an additional location at 8022 Highway 23. Call during business hours to ask about warrant status. Staff will need the full legal name and date of birth of the person you are inquiring about.
Written requests are accepted by mail at P.O. Box 40, Belle Chasse, LA 70037. The Plaquemines Parish Clerk of Court, Kim Turlich-Vaughan, can also help with warrant inquiries. The clerk's office is at 301 Main St in Belle Chasse. Call (504) 934-6610 for court records. The District Attorney, Charles J. Ballay, is at 333 F. Edward Hebert Blvd., Bldg 201, and can be reached at (504) 934-6630 for case-related questions. La. R.S. 44:31 gives any adult the right to inspect public records, including bench warrant documents, during regular business hours.
How Plaquemines Parish Bench Warrants Work
A bench warrant is a court order. It comes from the judge, not from a police investigation. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 349.1 gives judges the authority to issue bench warrants when someone misses court or breaks the terms of their release. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 202 covers arrest warrants, which are different. Bench warrants are specifically about forcing someone to appear before the court. In Plaquemines Parish, the 25th Judicial District Court handles all criminal matters and issues bench warrants as needed.
Once issued, a Plaquemines Parish bench warrant does not expire. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 205 makes this clear. The warrant stays in the system until the person is apprehended, turns themselves in, or the judge recalls it. Plaquemines Parish is part of a six-parish intelligence-sharing group that includes Jefferson, Orleans, St. Tammany, St. Bernard, and St. Charles parishes. This collaboration means that if you flee Plaquemines Parish to avoid a bench warrant, officers in any of these neighboring jurisdictions can find you through shared databases.
Plaquemines Parish Detention and Resources
The Louisiana Department of Corrections page for Plaquemines Parish provides information about detention facilities in the area.
People arrested on bench warrants in Plaquemines Parish are processed at the Plaquemines Parish Detention Center at 110 Prison Rd. in Braithwaite. You can reach the detention center at (504) 934-7602. Warden Denise Narcisse oversees operations. Inmates booked on bench warrants are held until they can see a judge or post bond. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 336 governs how bail is set after a bench warrant arrest.
The Plaquemines Parish Government website offers general parish information and links to various departments.
This site connects you to parish services, elected officials, and contact information that may help if you are dealing with court matters in Plaquemines Parish. The parish covers over 2,567 square miles on both the east and west banks of the Mississippi River, making it one of the largest parishes in the state by area.
Plaquemines Parish Warrant Record Contents
Under La. C.Cr.P. Art. 203, every bench warrant issued in Plaquemines Parish must contain certain information. The warrant is written and issued in the state's name. It shows the date of issuance and names Plaquemines Parish as the originating jurisdiction. The person to be arrested is identified by name or a description sufficient for identification. The offense is stated with relevant statutory citations. The issuing judge signs the warrant and includes their official title. Bond amounts, case numbers, and any special conditions are also included.
La. R.S. 44:1 classifies these records as public documents. However, La. R.S. 44:3 does provide some exemptions. Records connected to ongoing law enforcement investigations, confidential informant identities, and juvenile cases may be restricted. Standard adult bench warrants, though, are accessible to the public through the clerk of court or the sheriff's office. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 162 details the procedures officers must follow when serving warrants, including identifying themselves and presenting the warrant to the subject when feasible.
Resolving Bench Warrants in Plaquemines
If you have an active bench warrant in Plaquemines Parish, ignoring it will make things worse. The six-parish intelligence group means your warrant information is shared across a wide area of southeast Louisiana. Any encounter with law enforcement in Jefferson, Orleans, St. Tammany, St. Bernard, or St. Charles parishes could result in your arrest on the Plaquemines warrant. Contact a lawyer who practices in the 25th Judicial District Court. An attorney can check your case status, file a motion to recall the warrant, and help you appear before the court voluntarily.
La. C.Cr.P. Art. 211.1 gives officers some discretion with minor misdemeanor bench warrants, but arrest remains the standard response for most warrants. Voluntary surrender shows the judge that you are willing to comply with the court's orders. This can influence decisions about bond amounts and penalties. The Chief Civil Deputy, Monica Nicosia, handles tax-related matters, while the criminal side of warrant enforcement falls under Chief Deputy Lon Boudreaux's oversight. Call (504) 934-6776 to get started on resolving your bench warrant.
Nearby Parishes
Plaquemines Parish sits south of New Orleans along the Mississippi River. These neighboring parishes may be relevant for bench warrant searches in the greater metro area.