St. Martin Parish Public Records / St. Martin Parish Arrest Records

St. Martin County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in St. Martin County

Arrest records in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, are generally considered public records under state law. Pursuant to the Louisiana Public Records Law, codified at La. R.S. § 44:1 et seq., members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of records maintained by government agencies, including law enforcement bodies, unless a specific statutory exemption applies. The Louisiana Legislature has established that the default presumption favors public access, placing the burden on the custodial agency to justify any denial of access.

An important distinction exists between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not indicate guilt or a criminal conviction. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. Under Louisiana law, individuals who are arrested but not convicted retain certain rights regarding the disposition of those records, including the potential to seek expungement under La. C.Cr.P. art. 971. Law enforcement agencies in St. Martin Parish, including the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office, are the primary custodians of arrest records at the local level.

St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office 415 S Main St, St. Martinville, LA 70582 (337) 394-3071 St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office

What's in St. Martin County Arrest Records

St. Martin Parish arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and throughout the custodial process. The following categories represent the information typically documented in an official arrest record.

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and any known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Race, sex, height, weight, and physical descriptors
Social Security Number (may be redacted in public copies)
Last known residential address

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Name and badge number of arresting officer
Arresting agency (e.g., St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office, St. Martinville Police Department)
Narrative description of circumstances leading to arrest

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed (felony, misdemeanor, or infraction)
Louisiana Revised Statute citation for each charge
Charge classification and severity level

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Date warrant was issued
Jurisdiction of originating warrant

Booking Information:

Booking number and date
Facility where the individual was processed
Fingerprint and photograph (mugshot) notation

Bond/Bail Information:

Bond type (cash, surety, personal recognizance)
Bond amount set by the court or magistrate
Name of bonding company, if applicable

Court Information:

Assigned court docket number
Scheduled arraignment or hearing dates
Presiding court (e.g., 16th Judicial District Court)

Custody Status:

Current incarceration status
Release date and method of release
Transfer information if moved to another facility

Additional Information May Include:

Prior arrest history references
Detainer or hold information from other jurisdictions
Probation or parole status at time of arrest

How To Look Up Arrest Records in St. Martin Parish in 2026

Members of the public seeking arrest records in St. Martin Parish may submit requests through several official channels. The process is governed by the Louisiana Public Records Law, which requires custodial agencies to respond to requests within three business days.

In-Person Request: Individuals may visit the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office Records Division at 415 S Main St, St. Martinville, LA 70582, during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Requestors should bring a valid government-issued photo identification and be prepared to specify the subject of the record and the approximate date of arrest.
Written Request: A written public records request may be submitted by mail or in person to the Records Division. The request should include the full name of the subject, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest to facilitate retrieval.
Court Records: Arrest records connected to filed criminal cases may also be obtained through the 16th Judicial District Court Clerk's Office, which maintains case files for St. Martin Parish.
Fees: Agencies may charge reasonable fees for copies of records. Under current law, fees are limited to the actual cost of reproduction.

16th Judicial District Court – St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court 415 S Main St, St. Martinville, LA 70582 (337) 394-2210 St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court

St. Martinville Police Department 118 S New Market St, St. Martinville, LA 70582 (337) 394-6024 St. Martinville Police Department

How To Find St. Martin Parish Arrest Records Online

Several official and state-level online resources are currently available for locating arrest records associated with St. Martin Parish.

Louisiana State Police Criminal Records: The Louisiana State Police maintains a statewide criminal history repository. Members of the public may submit a name-based criminal history request through the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information.
St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Online Resources: The Sheriff's Office website at stmartinsheriff.com may provide access to current inmate rosters and recent booking information.
Louisiana Department of Corrections Offender Search: The Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections offers an online offender search tool for individuals currently or previously incarcerated in state facilities.
Court Records Portal: Case information for matters filed in the 16th Judicial District Court may be accessible through the Louisiana Supreme Court's case management resources or directly through the Clerk of Court's office.

How To Search St. Martin Parish Arrest Records for Free

Certain methods of accessing arrest records in St. Martin Parish involve no cost to the requestor under current law and practice.

In-Person Inspection: Pursuant to La. R.S. § 44:32, members of the public have the right to inspect public records in person at no charge. Fees apply only when copies are requested.
Louisiana DOC Offender Search: The Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections provides a free online offender search tool at no cost to users.
Sheriff's Inmate Roster: The St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office may publish a current inmate roster on its official website, which is accessible at no charge.
Court Case Lookup: Basic case information, including charges and court dates, may be reviewed at the Clerk of Court's office during public counter hours without a fee for inspection.
Louisiana State Police Name-Based Search: A fee-based option exists for certified records; however, informal name-based inquiries through law enforcement may yield basic information at no cost in certain circumstances.

How To Delete Arrest Records in St. Martin Parish

Louisiana law provides two primary legal remedies for individuals seeking to limit public access to arrest records: expungement and sealing. Expungement refers to the legal erasure or destruction of a record, while sealing restricts public access without physically destroying the underlying documentation. Under Louisiana law, these terms are often used interchangeably in practice, with expungement being the predominant remedy available.

Pursuant to La. C.Cr.P. art. 971 et seq., individuals may be eligible for expungement in the following circumstances:

The arrest did not result in a conviction (charges were refused, dismissed, or nolle prossed)
The individual was acquitted at trial
A first-time felony conviction where the sentence has been served and a waiting period has elapsed
Certain misdemeanor convictions following completion of sentence

Steps to Seek Expungement:

Obtain a certified copy of the arrest record and any related court disposition from the Clerk of Court.
Complete the appropriate expungement motion forms, available through the 16th Judicial District Court.
File the motion with the Clerk of Court and pay the applicable filing fee (currently set by statute).
Serve copies of the motion on the district attorney's office and the arresting law enforcement agency.
Attend the scheduled hearing, if required by the court.
Upon granting of the order, the court directs all relevant agencies to expunge the record from their systems.

Individuals with prior felony convictions or those whose charges involved crimes of violence may face additional restrictions on eligibility under current Louisiana statutes.

What Happens After Arrest in St. Martin Parish

The criminal justice process in St. Martin Parish follows a structured sequence from the point of arrest through final case disposition.

Arrest and Booking: Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the St. Martin Parish Correctional Center for booking, where identifying information, fingerprints, and photographs are recorded.
Initial Appearance: The arrested individual is brought before a magistrate or judge, typically within 72 hours, for an initial appearance. Bond is set at this stage.
Preliminary Hearing or Grand Jury: For felony charges, the district attorney may present the case to a grand jury or proceed with a preliminary examination to establish probable cause.
Arraignment: The defendant appears before the 16th Judicial District Court to enter a formal plea of guilty, not guilty, or nolo contendere.
Pre-Trial Proceedings: Discovery, motions, and plea negotiations occur during this phase.
Trial or Plea: The case proceeds to trial or is resolved through a negotiated plea agreement.
Sentencing: Upon conviction, the court imposes a sentence in accordance with Louisiana sentencing guidelines.
Appeals: The defendant retains the right to appeal a conviction to the Louisiana Court of Appeal, First Circuit, or higher courts.

St. Martin Parish Correctional Center 300 Correctional Dr, St. Martinville, LA 70582 (337) 394-3071 St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in St. Martin Parish

Arrest records in St. Martin Parish are subject to retention schedules established under Louisiana law and the policies of individual custodial agencies. The Louisiana Secretary of State's Office publishes official retention schedules applicable to local government agencies, including law enforcement bodies.

Under current Louisiana administrative guidelines and the Louisiana Local Government Records Law, La. R.S. § 44:36, the following general principles govern retention:

Arrest records for cases resulting in conviction are typically retained permanently or for extended periods, as they form part of the official criminal history of an individual.
Arrest records for cases not resulting in conviction may be subject to shorter retention periods, particularly following a successful expungement order.
Booking records and jail logs maintained by the Sheriff's Office are generally retained for a minimum of five years under standard local government retention schedules.
Fingerprint cards and biometric data submitted to the Louisiana State Police are retained in the statewide criminal history repository indefinitely unless expunged by court order.

Different agencies within the criminal justice system—including the Sheriff's Office, the Clerk of Court, and the Louisiana State Police—maintain separate record sets and may apply different retention periods to the same underlying event. Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for ongoing legal proceedings and maintaining accountability within the public record.

How to Find Mugshots in St. Martin Parish

What Mugshots Are A mugshot is a standardized photographic image taken by law enforcement at the time of booking. Mugshots are part of the official arrest record and document the physical appearance of an individual at the time of their arrest.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained Mugshots in St. Martin Parish are maintained primarily by the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office as part of the booking record. Copies may also be transmitted to the Louisiana State Police for inclusion in the statewide criminal history repository.

Finding Mugshots Members of the public may request mugshots as part of a broader public records request submitted to the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office Records Division. Requestors should specify that they are seeking the booking photograph associated with a particular arrest.

Can They Be Found Online The St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office may publish recent booking photographs on its official website or through a publicly accessible inmate roster. Third-party websites may also aggregate and republish mugshots sourced from public records; however, the accuracy and currency of such sites are not guaranteed by any government agency.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially To obtain a certified or official copy of a mugshot, a written public records request should be submitted to:

St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office – Records Division 415 S Main St, St. Martinville, LA 70582 (337) 394-3071 St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office

Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access Mugshots associated with juvenile arrests are not subject to public disclosure under Louisiana law. Additionally, mugshots that are part of an expunged record are no longer accessible to the public following the issuance of a valid expungement order by the 16th Judicial District Court. Certain ongoing investigations may also result in temporary withholding of booking photographs under applicable law enforcement exemptions.