Washington Parish Bench Warrants
Bench warrants in Washington Parish are issued by the 22nd Judicial District Court when defendants fail to appear for scheduled court hearings or violate conditions set by the court. The Washington Parish Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff Jason Smith, enforces these warrants throughout the parish from offices in both Franklinton and Bogalusa. Residents who need to check on bench warrant status can reach the sheriff's office or the Criminal Records Division for help. Under La. C.Cr.P. Art. 349.1, judges can issue bench warrants for any failure to comply with court orders, and these warrants stay active until they are executed or recalled.
Washington Parish Quick Facts
How to Search for Bench Warrants
Washington Parish provides an online inmate roster through the sheriff's website at wpso.la.gov, but it does not have a dedicated bench warrant search tool. The inmate roster shows who is currently in custody, which can be helpful if you want to know if someone has been picked up on a warrant. For a direct check on outstanding bench warrants, call the Franklinton office at (985) 839-3434 or the Bogalusa office at (985) 661-2021.
The Criminal Records Division at the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office handles court orders, civil warrants, criminal and civil subpoenas, and property seizures. This division also processes background checks and fingerprints. If you need to verify a bench warrant, this is the division to contact. They can look up records by name and date of birth. Walk-in requests are accepted at 1002 Main Street in Franklinton or 302 Mississippi Avenue in Bogalusa.
Fingerprinting services are available on Monday and Wednesday from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM and on Friday from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM. Background checks cost $10 each. Fingerprinting costs $10 per card. Livescan services run $41 for state checks and $54.25 for FBI checks.
Washington Parish Warrant Records
Warrant records in Washington Parish contain the subject's name, date of birth, physical description, offense description, case number, warrant type, and bond amount. Bench warrants are marked as such in the system, separate from criminal arrest warrants or search warrants. Under La. R.S. 44:1, these records are public in Louisiana. La. R.S. 44:31 gives any adult the right to inspect or copy them. Some exemptions under La. R.S. 44:3 may apply to sealed or juvenile cases.
To verify bench warrant information in Washington Parish, contact the sheriff's office directly or visit the clerk of court at 901 Pearl Street in Franklinton. Only official sources can confirm whether a specific bench warrant is currently active in the system.
Understanding Bench Warrants Under Louisiana Law
A bench warrant in Washington Parish works like any other bench warrant in Louisiana. The judge issues it from the bench when a defendant does not show up. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 202 covers arrest warrants, while Art. 349.1 specifically addresses bench warrants for failure to appear. Art. 203 lists what must be included on any warrant. Art. 205 makes it clear that warrants do not expire in Louisiana. They last until they are served or the court recalls them.
Once a bench warrant is issued, it goes into the statewide system. Any law enforcement officer in Louisiana can arrest you on it. That includes officers in other parishes, state police, and even federal agents working with local task forces. If you get pulled over for a traffic stop in another parish and the officer runs your name, the bench warrant will come up. The best approach is to deal with it before that happens.
La. C.Cr.P. Art. 162 covers search warrants, which are different from bench warrants. Search warrants let police search a specific location. Bench warrants let police arrest a specific person. Both types are filed with the clerk of court and become part of the public record.
Resolving Bench Warrants in Washington Parish
Clearing a bench warrant means getting back in front of the judge who issued it. You can hire a lawyer to file a motion to quash or recall the warrant. The 22nd JDC handles cases for both Washington Parish and St. Tammany Parish. Your attorney can request a hearing date and argue for a reasonable bond. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 336 governs bail conditions and allows the court to modify bond amounts when warranted.
Washington Parish has a jail with over 200 beds. If you turn yourself in on a bench warrant, you will be booked and held until a bond is posted or a judge sees you. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 211.1 may allow for a summons instead of a full arrest in some misdemeanor cases. Talk to an attorney about whether this applies to your situation. The clerk of court can be reached at (985) 839-0434 for information about your case file. The email for the clerk's office is bjbreland@wpgov.org.
Public Records Fees
Washington Parish publishes a fee schedule for records. Accident and incident reports cost $10 each. Background checks are $10 each. Fingerprinting runs $10 per card. La. R.S. 44:32 sets the rules for what parishes can charge for copies of public records. Fees must be reasonable. If you need a certified copy of a bench warrant or court record, expect to pay a per-page fee on top of any base charge. Contact the clerk of court or sheriff's office for exact pricing on the documents you need.
Nearby Parishes
Washington Parish borders two other parishes in the southeastern part of the state. Bench warrants issued here can be served anywhere in Louisiana, but people often get picked up in neighboring areas. Here are the adjacent parishes: