Find St. Landry Parish Bench Warrants
Bench warrants in St. Landry Parish are issued by judges in the 27th Judicial District Court when someone fails to appear for a court date or violates conditions set by the court. Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz, now in his fifth term, leads the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office from 1592 E. Prudhomme Street in Opelousas. The department maintains a Warrants Division that can be reached at (337) 948-5841 for bench warrant inquiries. St. Landry Parish also works with Crime Stoppers, which offers rewards up to $2,500 for tips leading to the arrest of individuals with outstanding warrants.
St. Landry Parish Quick Facts
St. Landry Parish Warrant Search Options
The sheriff's office offers limited online warrant search through its website. You can search by name, date of birth, or warrant number when available. The Warrants Division at (337) 948-5841 handles specific inquiries during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The Records Division at 780 Highway 742 in Opelousas processes in-person requests. Bring a valid photo ID. You can also call the main office at (337) 948-6516.
Warrant checks in person are free. Copy fees apply for documents. Standard copies run $1.00 per page, with certified copies at $5.00 per certification. Criminal background searches through the Clerk of Court cost $20.00 per name. Written requests can be mailed to P.O. Box 1220, Opelousas, LA 70571. Include the subject's full name, date of birth, and all known identifying information. La. R.S. 44:31 ensures any adult can inspect public records including bench warrants.
St. Landry Crime Stoppers and Warrants
The St. Landry Crime Stoppers website maintains a wanted persons page showing individuals sought by law enforcement.
Crime Stoppers lists wanted individuals with their names, aliases, physical descriptions, and the charges against them. Tips can be called in anonymously at 948-TIPS (8477). Rewards up to $2,500 are available for information leading to arrests. While not every bench warrant subject appears on the Crime Stoppers list, individuals with multiple outstanding bench warrants or serious underlying charges often do. The wanted page includes details like height, weight, last known address, and the date the warrant was issued.
Recent arrest reports from St. Landry Parish show bench warrant arrests with specific details. For example, individuals have been arrested on multiple bench warrant counts, with some people carrying as many as five bench warrants at once. The sheriff's office publishes these reports, listing the person's name, race, sex, age, address, and the number of bench warrant counts. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 349.1 authorizes these bench warrants, while La. C.Cr.P. Art. 205 ensures they never expire.
St. Landry Parish Court Records
The St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court at 118 S. Court Street, Suite 101, in Opelousas maintains all court records. Phone is (337) 942-5606. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The clerk's office keeps records of warrants issued by parish judges, court records available for public search, and case filings. Proper ID is required for record searches. La. R.S. 44:1 makes these public documents. La. R.S. 44:32 sets the fee structure for copies.
La. C.Cr.P. Art. 203 spells out what every bench warrant must contain. The warrant names the subject, states the offense with statutory citations, shows the date and parish, and includes the judge's signature and title. Bond amounts and charge levels (misdemeanor or felony) are also indicated. La. R.S. 44:3 exempts juvenile records, sealed cases, and active investigation files from public access. Standard adult bench warrants are available to anyone who requests them. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 336 governs bail determinations and La. C.Cr.P. Art. 162 controls warrant execution procedures.
Resolving St. Landry Parish Bench Warrants
Do not ignore a bench warrant in St. Landry Parish. The Crime Stoppers program actively solicits tips about wanted individuals, and rewards create strong motivation for people to report your location. Hire a lawyer who practices in the 27th Judicial District Court. An attorney can check with the Warrants Division at (337) 948-5841, review your case, and file a motion to recall the warrant. Voluntary surrender is always the better path. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 211.1 gives officers limited discretion for minor bench warrants, but most result in arrest. The bench warrant stays in the system until you deal with it. Contact the Records Division at (337) 948-6516 to start the process.
Nearby Parishes
St. Landry Parish is in south-central Louisiana. These neighboring parishes may have relevant bench warrant records.