West Carroll Parish Bench Warrants
Bench warrants in West Carroll Parish are issued by the 5th Judicial District Court when someone fails to show up for court or breaks the conditions of their release. Sheriff Scott D. Mathews and the West Carroll Parish Sheriff's Office in Oak Grove handle enforcement of all bench warrants in the parish. The parish does not have an online warrant search database, so residents must contact the sheriff's office by phone or in person to check for active bench warrants. Louisiana law under La. C.Cr.P. Art. 349.1 gives judges the authority to issue these warrants, and under Art. 205, they do not expire.
West Carroll Parish Quick Facts
Checking for Bench Warrants
West Carroll Parish has no online warrant database. To find out if a bench warrant has been issued, call the sheriff's office at (318) 428-2331. This line is staffed 24 hours a day. You can also visit in person at 305 East Main Street in Oak Grove during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Walk-in requests are common in smaller parishes like West Carroll, and staff can run a check on the spot.
Public access terminals are available at the West Carroll Parish Courthouse at 106 Albany Street in Oak Grove. These terminals let you look at some court records. The VINELink system can also show inmate information for people currently in custody. The sheriff's office periodically holds community outreach events where residents can ask about warrant status and other law enforcement matters.
For written requests, send a letter to P.O. Box 744, Oak Grove, LA 71263. Include the full legal name and date of birth of the person you are checking on. La. R.S. 44:32 allows the parish to charge reasonable fees for copies of records. Standard Louisiana Public Records Act rules under La. R.S. 44:1 apply to all court documents in the parish.
West Carroll Parish Sheriff's Office
Sheriff Scott D. Mathews has led the West Carroll Parish Sheriff's Office since July 2020. The department focuses on keeping the parish safe and maintaining a low crime rate. The office sits at 305 East Main Street in Oak Grove. Deputies serve bench warrants, patrol the community, and operate the parish jail. The department is certified for the Louisiana Incident-Based Reporting System (LIBRS), which means arrest and warrant data is reported to the state.
The West Carroll Parish Sheriff's Office website provides basic information about the department and its services.
The screenshot shows the main page for the West Carroll Parish Sheriff's Office. It includes contact details and information about department operations. While the site does not feature an online warrant search, it does list phone numbers and addresses for making bench warrant inquiries.
What Bench Warrant Records Contain
Bench warrant records in West Carroll Parish follow Louisiana standards. They include the case identification number and filing date, the full legal name and any known aliases, the date of birth and physical description when available, a residential address or last known location, the nature of the alleged offense, statutory authority for the warrant, the name and title of the issuing judge, and the date of issuance. If an expiration date applies, that will be noted too, though most Louisiana warrants do not expire under La. C.Cr.P. Art. 205.
La. C.Cr.P. Art. 203 lists the requirements for arrest warrants. Bench warrants follow a similar format. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 202 addresses arrest warrants from investigations, while Art. 349.1 covers bench warrants issued by a judge during court proceedings. La. R.S. 44:31 gives adults the right to inspect these records, with some exceptions under La. R.S. 44:3 for sealed and juvenile cases.
Types of Warrants in West Carroll Parish
The 5th JDC issues several types of warrants. Arrest warrants come from police investigations. Bench warrants come from judges when defendants fail to appear. Search warrants under La. C.Cr.P. Art. 162 let officers search specific locations. Execution warrants are tied to court judgments in civil cases. Each type serves a different purpose, but bench warrants make up a significant portion of the active warrants in the parish, mostly tied to missed court dates for traffic offenses, misdemeanors, and probation violations.
Warrant Search Resources
To check for bench warrants in West Carroll Parish, call the sheriff's office at (318) 428-2331 or visit the clerk of court at 106 Albany Street in Oak Grove. These are the only official sources that can confirm whether a bench warrant is currently active in the 5th JDC.
Resolving Bench Warrants and Paying Fines
If you have a bench warrant in West Carroll Parish, you need to address the underlying case. An attorney can file a motion to recall the warrant and set a new hearing with the 5th JDC. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 336 covers bail conditions. La. C.Cr.P. Art. 211.1 allows for summons instead of arrest in certain misdemeanor cases. Voluntary surrender at the sheriff's office is generally viewed better by judges than getting arrested during a routine traffic stop.
Fines are paid at the West Carroll Parish Sheriff's Office at 305 East Main Street in Oak Grove. The office accepts cash or money order only. Call (318) 428-2331 with questions about fine amounts. The District Attorney's office at 100 Albany Street can be reached at (318) 428-2704 for questions about specific charges. The clerk of court at (318) 428-3281 handles court files and can provide copies of warrants and other documents for a fee.
Nearby Parishes
West Carroll Parish is in the northeast corner of Louisiana. Bench warrants from the 5th JDC can be served in any parish. Here are the parishes that border West Carroll: