St. Mary County Criminal Records
What Is St. Mary County Criminal Records
Criminal records in St. Mary 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 maintained by multiple agencies across the parish and state, each responsible for a distinct segment of the criminal process.
A fundamental distinction exists between arrest records and conviction records. An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause; it does not indicate guilt. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt entered by a court of law. Similarly, felony records document serious offenses carrying potential sentences of one year or more in state prison, while misdemeanor records cover lesser offenses typically punishable by fines or parish jail time. Juvenile records are treated separately under Louisiana law and are generally sealed from public view to protect the interests of minors, whereas adult records are presumptively open. Active warrant records reflect outstanding judicial orders for an individual's arrest, while historical records document resolved matters.
The principal agencies maintaining criminal records in St. Mary Parish include:
- St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking logs, and jail records
- 16th Judicial District Court — maintains case filings, arraignment records, pleas, trial transcripts, sentencing orders, and probation/parole documentation
- Louisiana State Police, Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information — maintains statewide criminal history repositories
- Morgan City Police Department and other municipal agencies — maintain local arrest and incident reports
Criminal records encompass charges filed, arraignment proceedings, entered pleas, trial outcomes, sentencing details, and any subsequent probation or parole conditions imposed by the court.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office 500 Main Street, Franklin, LA 70538 (337) 828-1960 St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office
16th Judicial District Court — St. Mary Parish 500 Main Street, Franklin, LA 70538 (337) 828-4100 Louisiana Judicial Branch
Are Criminal Records Public In St. Mary County
Criminal records in St. Mary Parish are presumptively public under Louisiana's Public Records Law. Pursuant to Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:1 et seq., all records maintained by public bodies — including law enforcement agencies and courts — are available for public inspection unless a specific statutory exemption applies. The law establishes that the burden of proof rests with the custodian to justify any denial of access, not with the requestor.
Under current law, the following categories of criminal records are generally accessible to members of the public:
- Adult conviction records and court dispositions
- Arrest logs and booking records
- Court dockets, case filings, and hearing schedules
- Sentencing orders and probation terms
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 pursuant to Louisiana Children's Code Art. 412
- Expunged records, which are legally removed from public access following a court order
- Confidential informant identities and certain victim information
Members of the public may inspect non-exempt criminal records during regular business hours at the offices of the maintaining agency without being required to state a reason for the request.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In St. Mary County in 2026
Members of the public seeking criminal records in St. Mary Parish may follow these steps to obtain records through official channels:
Step 1 — Identify the Correct Custodian Determine which agency holds the record sought. Arrest and booking records are held by the arresting agency (Sheriff's Office or municipal police). Court case records are held by the 16th Judicial District Court Clerk of Court.
Step 2 — Submit a Public Records Request Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or in some cases by email to the relevant custodian. Under Louisiana R.S. § 44:32, the custodian must respond within three business days of receiving a written request.
Step 3 — Provide Identifying Information Requestors should supply the full legal name of the subject, date of birth, and any known case or booking numbers to facilitate an accurate search.
Step 4 — Pay Applicable Fees Agencies may charge reasonable fees for copies of records. Inspection of records in person is generally provided at no charge.
Step 5 — Request Statewide Criminal History For a comprehensive background check, members of the public may submit a request through the Louisiana Department of Public Safety's public information portal, which coordinates access to statewide criminal history data maintained by the Louisiana State Police.
St. Mary Parish Clerk of Court 500 Main Street, Franklin, LA 70538 (337) 828-4100 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. St. Mary Parish Government
How To Find Criminal Records in St. Mary County Online?
Several online portals currently provide access to St. Mary Parish criminal and court records without requiring an in-person visit.
Louisiana eCourt / Judicial Portal The Louisiana Supreme Court's electronic case management system allows members of the public to search court case records by party name or case number. The portal provides access to case filings, hearing dates, and dispositions for matters handled by the Louisiana judicial branch, including the 16th Judicial District Court.
- Search by: Full name, case number, or filing date range
- Contains: Civil and criminal case dockets, charges, and dispositions
- Registration: No account required for basic case searches
St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office Jail Roster The Sheriff's Office maintains a current online jail roster listing individuals presently held at the St. Mary Parish Correctional Center. The roster is updated regularly and includes booking date, charges, and bond information.
- Contains: Current inmates only; not a historical arrest database
- Registration: None required
Louisiana Department of Corrections Offender Lookup The St. Mary Parish location page of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections provides information on local correctional facilities and offender status for individuals under state supervision.
- Contains: Offender status, facility location, projected release dates
- Registration: None required for basic lookups
Louisiana Sex Offender Registry The Louisiana State Police maintain a publicly searchable sex offender registry at the state level, which includes registrants residing in St. Mary Parish.
Records involving sealed cases, expunged matters, and active investigations are not available through any online portal and require a formal written request with appropriate legal authorization.
Can You Search St. Mary County Criminal Records for Free?
Louisiana law mandates that members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. Pursuant to Louisiana R.S. § 44:32, custodians of public records must allow inspection of non-exempt records during regular business hours without imposing a fee for the act of inspection itself. Fees may only be assessed for the actual cost of reproducing copies.
The following resources are currently available at no cost:
| Resource | Access Type | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| In-person record inspection at Clerk of Court | In-person | Free |
| Louisiana eCourt case search portal | Online | Free |
| St. Mary Parish Sheriff's jail roster | Online | Free |
| Louisiana DOC offender lookup | Online | Free |
| Louisiana Sex Offender Registry search | Online | Free |
Fees are assessed when requestors require printed or certified copies of records. The Clerk of Court currently charges a per-page fee for reproduced documents, and certified copies carry an additional certification fee. Statewide criminal background checks processed through the Louisiana State Police involve a statutory processing fee per subject.
What's Included in a St. Mary County Criminal Record?
A complete criminal record maintained by St. Mary Parish agencies and the Louisiana State Police may contain the following categories of information:
Identifying Information
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth and place of birth
- Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Booking photograph (mugshot)
- Last known address
- State Identification Number (SID) and FBI Number (where assigned)
Arrest Information
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency and officer
- Booking number and booking date
- Charges filed at time of arrest
- Bail or bond amount set
- Jail facility where held
Court Case Information
- Case number and court of jurisdiction
- Filing date and assigned judge
- Charges as filed (including felony or misdemeanor classification and applicable statute)
- Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, nolo contendere)
- Attorney of record (defense and prosecution)
Disposition Information
- Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed, nolle prosequi)
- Conviction date (if applicable)
- Sentence imposed (incarceration type and length, fines, restitution, community service, conditions)
- Appeals filed and outcomes
- Probation or parole terms and supervising agency
Additional Record Elements
- Outstanding warrants
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender registration status
- DUI/DWI adjudications
- Traffic violations processed through criminal court
- Pending charges not yet adjudicated
How Long Does St. Mary County Keep Criminal Records?
St. Mary Parish agencies retain criminal records in accordance with Louisiana's statewide records retention schedules established by the Louisiana Secretary of State's office. Retention periods vary by record type and agency.
Current retention periods for principal record categories include:
- Arrest records and booking logs — Retained permanently by the Sheriff's Office for felony arrests; misdemeanor arrest records are generally retained for a minimum of five years
- Court case files (felony) — Retained permanently by the Clerk of Court
- Court case files (misdemeanor) — Retained for a minimum of ten years following case closure
- Conviction records — Retained permanently as part of the official court record
- Acquittal and dismissed case records — Retained for a minimum of five years; subject to expungement petition under Louisiana law
- Juvenile adjudication records — Sealed upon the subject reaching adulthood and retained under restricted access; eligible for destruction after statutory periods
- Probation and parole records — Retained by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections for a minimum of five years following discharge from supervision
Expungement orders, when granted by a court of competent jurisdiction, direct agencies to remove records from public access; however, law enforcement agencies may retain restricted copies for internal use as permitted by statute. The Louisiana Secretary of State's Records Management Division publishes the official retention schedule applicable to all parish government agencies.