Plaquemines Parish Criminal Court Records

Plaquemines Parish criminal court records are maintained by the Clerk of Court for the 25th Judicial District Court, with administrative offices serving the parish at Belle Chasse and the official parish seat at Pointe a la Hache. The parish covers a long, narrow stretch of land running south along the Mississippi River from the greater New Orleans area to the Gulf of Mexico, and criminal filings from across that geography all flow through the 25th JDC. This page explains how to search criminal case records for Plaquemines Parish, what tools are available online, and how to get records in person or by mail.

25th Judicial District Court and Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Court for the 25th Judicial District is the official keeper of criminal case records in Plaquemines Parish. The 25th JDC serves Plaquemines Parish alone. Because the parish seat at Pointe a la Hache is located deep in the lower part of the parish, many court operations and administrative functions are handled from Belle Chasse, which sits closer to the New Orleans metro area and is more accessible to most residents.

The clerk maintains records for felony criminal cases, including charges, court minutes, judgments, sentencing records, and related documents. Misdemeanor and traffic cases may be handled at a different court level depending on the jurisdiction where the incident occurred. When in doubt about which office holds a particular record, call the clerk directly to confirm before making a trip.

For in-person requests, bring a valid photo ID. Staff can search by defendant name, case number, or charge type. Copy fees follow the standard Louisiana rate schedule. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. If you need a background name search, the clerk can run one for a fee. Call the clerk's office for current fee amounts and hours before visiting.

Appeals from the 25th JDC go to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeal, which is the same appellate court serving Orleans and St. Bernard parishes. The 4th Circuit handles cases from the greater New Orleans region.

How to Search Plaquemines Parish Criminal Records Online

The best free starting point for searching Plaquemines Parish criminal records online is eClerks LA. This statewide portal provides index-level access to criminal case data across all 64 Louisiana parishes at no cost.

Through eClerks LA, you can search by defendant name and find case numbers, charge descriptions, and basic docket information without creating an account or paying a fee.

The eClerks LA index gives you enough to confirm whether a case exists and identify its case number. It does not provide document images. To get actual filed documents, you would need to request them in person at the clerk's office or through a subscription service that covers Plaquemines Parish.

Clerk Connect is a paid multi-parish portal that offers deeper access to case records and document images. Subscription options include daily, monthly, and annual plans. If you search Plaquemines records regularly, a subscription can save time compared to in-person visits. Check the Clerk Connect site for current pricing and which parishes are included in the system.

Note that sealed records, juvenile case files, and records involving certain victim categories are not available through any public-facing online system, regardless of what portal you use.

In-Person and Mail Requests

For records not available online, your options are an in-person visit or a written mail request to the 25th JDC clerk. Because Plaquemines Parish stretches far south along the river, make sure you know which location handles the type of record you need before driving out.

Belle Chasse is the more accessible office for most people coming from the New Orleans side. Pointe a la Hache is the official parish seat but is located much further south on the east bank of the river. Call ahead to confirm which office holds the records you want and what their current hours are.

For mail requests, write to the Clerk of Court for the 25th Judicial District Court. Include the defendant's full name, approximate date of any court proceedings, and the case number if you have it. Include payment for the copy fee. The clerk's office will confirm the total cost when they respond. Processing time for mail requests varies, so allow extra time if your need is not urgent.

Louisiana law under La. R.S. 44:32(A) requires clerks to provide public records to any adult who requests them. This applies to criminal case records that are not sealed or otherwise restricted. You do not need to state a reason for your request.

Louisiana State and Federal Resources

When parish-level records are not enough, several state and federal databases can fill in the gaps.

The Louisiana State Police background check system costs $31. Louisiana is a "closed record state" under La. R.S. 15:587, which means the LSP check returns only conviction data. Arrests that did not end in conviction are not included. This is the formal background check most commonly used by employers and housing providers.

The Louisiana Department of Corrections offender search is free and searchable by name. It shows current and past DOC inmates, their custody status, facility assignment, and release information. This tool covers people who served or are serving sentences in state custody.

The Louisiana Sex Offender Registry is free. You can search by name or location to find registered sex offenders in Plaquemines Parish.

Federal cases involving Plaquemines Parish fall under the Eastern District of Louisiana. You can access federal court records through PACER. Federal records cost $0.10 per page, with a $3 cap per document. Most routine criminal cases in Plaquemines are handled at the state level, but federal charges can arise in cases involving drug trafficking, smuggling, or other federal violations in the coastal and river corridor areas.

The Louisiana Supreme Court website also provides case information for matters that have been appealed to the state's highest court.

Record Retention and Expungement in Plaquemines Parish

Louisiana sets rules for how long criminal records are kept under La. R.S. 44:36. Felony records are permanent. Misdemeanor records are kept for at least 10 years. Traffic offense records are kept for at least 3 years. These are minimum retention periods, and actual retention may be longer depending on the severity of the case or other factors.

If you want to remove a record from public access, you can file for expungement through the 25th JDC clerk's office. Louisiana expungement is governed by La. C.Cr.P. Art. 971 and following sections. Not all records qualify. Cases that were dismissed, resulted in acquittal, or meet other specific criteria may be eligible.

The standard expungement fee structure in Louisiana includes a Clerk of Court fee of $200, a Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information fee of $250, a District Attorney fee of $50, and a Sheriff fee of $50. Total base cost is around $550. An attorney is not required to file, but many people find the process easier with legal help. The clerk's office can provide the forms but cannot give legal advice about whether your case qualifies.

Once an expungement order is granted, the record is sealed from public access. It remains accessible to law enforcement agencies. Databases like eClerks LA and Clerk Connect will no longer show the record after the expungement is processed.

Cities in Plaquemines Parish

Plaquemines Parish communities include Belle Chasse, Buras, Port Sulphur, Empire, and several smaller settlements along the river. Belle Chasse is the most populated and serves as the practical administrative hub for the parish. None of these communities exceed the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site, so criminal records for the entire parish are handled through the 25th JDC clerk described above.

Nearby Parishes

Plaquemines Parish borders Jefferson, Orleans, and St. Bernard, all part of the greater New Orleans metro area.