St. Martin Parish Public Records /St. Martin Parish Criminal Records

St. Martin County Criminal Records

What Is St. Martin County Criminal Records

Criminal records in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are generated and maintained by multiple agencies across the parish and state, and they serve as the authoritative source of information for background checks, employment screening, licensing, and judicial proceedings.

Members of the public should understand the key distinctions among the types of records that fall under this category:

Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court. An arrest does not constitute a conviction, and individuals may have arrest records without any resulting conviction.
Felony vs. misdemeanor: Felonies are serious offenses punishable by imprisonment of one year or more in a state correctional facility. Misdemeanors are lesser offenses typically resulting in fines or jail sentences of less than one year.
Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public under Louisiana law. Juvenile records are presumptively confidential and are sealed by operation of law in most circumstances, pursuant to Louisiana Children's Code Art. 412.
Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants reflect current judicial orders for an individual's arrest. Historical records document past charges, proceedings, and dispositions that have been resolved.

The principal agencies responsible for maintaining St. Martin Parish criminal records include:

St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking logs, and jail records
16th Judicial District Court — maintains case filings, arraignment records, pleas, trial records, sentencing orders, and probation/parole documentation
Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information — maintains statewide criminal history records
Local municipal police departments — maintain incident and arrest reports within their respective jurisdictions

A complete criminal record may include charges filed, arraignment proceedings, entered pleas, trial outcomes, sentencing details, conditions of probation or parole, and any subsequent modifications to those conditions.

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

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

Are Criminal Records Public In St. Martin County

Criminal records in St. Martin Parish are presumptively public under Louisiana's Public Records Law. Pursuant to Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:1 et seq., all records held by public bodies are available for inspection and copying by any person, unless a specific statutory exemption applies. This framework reflects Louisiana's strong public policy favoring transparency in government operations, including the administration of criminal justice.

The following categories of records are generally accessible to the public:

Adult conviction records, including charges, pleas, verdicts, and sentencing orders
Court dockets and case filings in the 16th Judicial District Court
Arrest logs and booking records maintained by the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office
Sex offender registration information maintained pursuant to state law

The following categories are restricted or exempt from public disclosure:

Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, where disclosure would impede law enforcement
Juvenile adjudication records, which are sealed under Louisiana Children's Code provisions
Expunged records, which are removed from public access following a court order
Certain victim information, including addresses and identifying details protected under victim privacy statutes
Mental health and medical records generated in the course of criminal proceedings

Members of the public seeking access to court records may also consult the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections for information related to incarcerated individuals and correctional supervision.

How To Look Up Criminal Records In St. Martin County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain St. Martin Parish criminal records through several official channels. The process varies depending on the type of record sought and the agency that maintains it.

Step 1 — Identify the appropriate agency. Court case records are held by the 16th Judicial District Court Clerk of Court. Arrest and booking records are held by the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office. Statewide criminal history records are maintained by the Louisiana State Police.

Step 2 — Submit a public records request. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or in some cases electronically. Requesters should provide the full legal name of the subject, date of birth, and any known case or booking numbers to facilitate the search.

Step 3 — Pay applicable fees. Louisiana law permits custodial agencies to charge reasonable fees for copies of public records. Current fee schedules are available at each agency's public counter.

Step 4 — Request a statewide background check. For a comprehensive criminal history, members of the public may submit a request through the LSP Internet Background Check portal, which provides name-based criminal history records compiled by the Louisiana State Police.

Step 5 — Obtain certified copies if required. Employers, licensing boards, and courts may require certified copies of criminal records. Certified copies are available through the Clerk of Court upon payment of the applicable certification fee.

St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court 415 S. Main St., St. Martinville, LA 70582 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (337) 394-2210 St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court

Louisiana State Police — Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information 7919 Independence Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806 (225) 925-6095 Louisiana State Police

How To Find Criminal Records in St. Martin County Online?

Several official online portals currently provide access to St. Martin Parish criminal records and related information. Each portal contains distinct categories of records, and users should consult multiple sources for a comprehensive search.

Louisiana eCourt Public Access Portal — Members of the public may search 16th Judicial District Court case records, including criminal filings, docket entries, and dispositions, through the statewide court case management system. No registration is required for basic case searches.
LSP Internet Background Check System — The Louisiana State Police background check portal provides name-based criminal history searches compiled from statewide records. A fee applies, and users must agree to terms of use prior to accessing results.
St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office Jail Roster — The Sheriff's Office maintains a current jail roster on its official website, listing individuals currently held in the parish detention facility. This resource reflects real-time booking information.
Louisiana Sex Offender Registry — The Louisiana State Police maintain a publicly searchable sex offender registry, which includes registrants residing in St. Martin Parish.
Public Information resources from the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections provide additional guidance on accessing correctional and supervision records online.

Certain records, including sealed cases, expunged records, and records predating electronic filing systems, are available only through in-person requests at the Clerk of Court or Sheriff's Office.

Can You Search St. Martin County Criminal Records for Free?

Louisiana law mandates that members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. Under Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:32, custodians of public records must make records available for inspection during regular business hours without imposing a fee for the act of inspection itself. Fees may be assessed only for copies or for staff time required to fulfill requests exceeding a reasonable threshold.

The following resources are currently available at no cost:

In-person inspection of court case records at the 16th Judicial District Court Clerk of Court during public counter hours
St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office jail roster, accessible online at no charge
Louisiana Sex Offender Registry, searchable online without registration or fee
Basic court case searches through the Louisiana eCourt Public Access Portal

Fees are assessed for the following:

Printed or certified copies of court records (per-page fees apply)
Statewide criminal history background checks through the LSP Internet Background Check system
Expedited processing requests

Members of the public seeking offender location information may also use the offender information search provided by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections at no charge.

What's Included in a St. Martin County Criminal Record?

A complete St. Martin Parish criminal record may contain several categories of information, depending on the subject's history and the agencies involved in their case.

Identifying Information:

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and physical description (height, weight, eye and hair color)
Photograph (mugshot) taken at booking
Last known address
State Identification Number (SID) and FBI number, where assigned

Arrest Information:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Arresting agency (Sheriff's Office, municipal police, or state agency)
Booking number and facility
Charges filed at the time of arrest
Bail or bond amount set
Name of detention facility

Court Case Information:

Case number and court of jurisdiction (16th Judicial District Court)
Filing date and assigned judge
Charges and applicable statutes, including felony or misdemeanor classification
Entered plea (guilty, not guilty, nolo contendere)
Attorney of record and prosecuting agency

Disposition Information:

Verdict or dismissal
Conviction date, if applicable
Sentence type and length (incarceration, probation, suspended sentence)
Fines, restitution orders, and special conditions
Appeals filed and outcomes
Probation or parole supervision status

Additional Record Elements:

Active or recalled arrest warrants
Protective or restraining orders
Sex offender registration status
DUI/DWI adjudications
Traffic violations adjudicated in criminal court
Pending charges not yet resolved

How Long Does St. Martin County Keep Criminal Records?

St. Martin Parish agencies retain criminal records in accordance with Louisiana's statewide records retention schedules and applicable statutory mandates. Retention periods vary by record type and the agency responsible for custody.

Felony conviction records: Retained permanently by the Clerk of Court and the Louisiana State Police
Misdemeanor conviction records: Retained for a minimum of ten years following final disposition
Arrest records without conviction: Retained for a minimum of five years; subject to expungement under Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 977 et seq.
Juvenile records: Sealed upon the subject reaching the age of majority and retained in sealed status for a period determined by the court; eligible for destruction after applicable periods
Booking and jail records: Retained for a minimum of three years by the Sheriff's Office
Court dockets and case files: Retained permanently for felony matters; misdemeanor dockets retained for a minimum of ten years

The Louisiana Secretary of State's Office publishes the official records retention schedules applicable to all Louisiana public agencies. Agencies are required to comply with these schedules and may not destroy records prior to the expiration of the applicable retention period without authorization.

Louisiana Secretary of State — Archives and Records 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 (225) 922-1000 Louisiana Secretary of State