Beauregard Parish Jail Criminal Court Process

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Criminal Court Process for Beauregard Parish Louisiana

DeRidder is the parish seat of Beauregard Parish, and the parish forms the 36th Judicial District all by itself. The 36th Judicial District Court, at the Beauregard Parish Courthouse on West 1st Street, hears both felony and state misdemeanor cases for the whole parish because Beauregard has no city court. Charges are brought by the 36th Judicial District Attorney in DeRidder. The Beauregard Parish Sheriff's Office keeps arrested adults at the parish jail on Bolivar Bishop Drive.

  • Beauregard Parish Clerk of Court (criminal records of the 36th JDC), Beauregard Parish Courthouse, 201 West 1st Street, DeRidder, LA 70634, (337) 463-8595
  • 36th Judicial District Court, Beauregard Parish Courthouse, 201 West 1st Street, DeRidder, LA 70634
  • 36th Judicial District Attorney, P.O. Box 99, DeRidder, LA 70634, (337) 463-5578
  • 36th District Public Defender, 112 North Stewart Street, DeRidder, LA 70634, (337) 462-8891
  • Beauregard Parish Jail, 412 Bolivar Bishop Drive, DeRidder, LA 70634, (337) 460-5520
  • Beauregard Parish Sheriff's Office, DeRidder, (337) 462-2400
  • DeRidder Mayor's Court, 200 South Jefferson Street, DeRidder, LA 70634, (337) 462-8900
  • Merryville Mayor's Court, 530 Hennigan Street, Merryville, LA 70653, (337) 825-8740

Which court hears your case. A state-law misdemeanor or DWI arrest anywhere in Beauregard Parish is prosecuted in the 36th Judicial District Court in DeRidder, the same court that handles every felony. City police in DeRidder and Merryville may instead cite a person for breaking a municipal ordinance, and those tickets go to the mayor's court of that town, not to the district court.

Where people arrested in Beauregard Parish are held. Booking and pretrial detention for the parish take place at the Beauregard Parish Jail, 412 Bolivar Bishop Drive, DeRidder, (337) 460-5520, under the Sheriff's authority. Arrests made by DeRidder police, Merryville police, deputies or State Police all end up there, and people who are not released remain in that jail while their charges are pending.

Misdemeanor (for example, theft, a first DWI, simple battery, criminal trespass)

Beauregard Parish misdemeanor cases come to the 36th Judicial District Court in one of two ways. Officers may simply hand over a summons with a DeRidder court date. Or they arrest and transport the person to Bolivar Bishop Drive, where booking is completed and bail is set, usually by the 36th District's schedule for common offenses.

Release from the Beauregard jail

Several forms of bail are accepted at the DeRidder jail: the full sum in cash, real estate pledged as security, or a bond written by a licensed bondsman, whose fee is not returned. A DeRidder judge may also release a person on recognizance. If the bail cannot be met, the 72-hour rule applies: the detainee must be presented to a 36th District judge within that time (weekend days and holidays excepted), so that bail can be revisited and a lawyer appointed. Separately, for anyone picked up without a warrant, Louisiana requires a judge to determine probable cause no more than 48 hours after the arrest.

The DA's decision and arraignment

Prosecutors at the 36th District Attorney's office decide whether a Beauregard misdemeanor goes forward. Their deadline is 45 days from arrest for a defendant held on Bolivar Bishop Drive, or 90 days for one who is out. Diversion is sometimes offered at this stage. When a bill of information is filed, the defendant is arraigned in DeRidder, enters a plea, and receives later court dates.

Appointed counsel

People who cannot pay a lawyer may apply to the 36th District Public Defender at 112 North Stewart Street, (337) 462-8891. A $40 fee may be collected with the application, though the 36th District court has authority to forgive it.

Beauregard Parish penalties

  • Theft of property worth under $1,000 in Beauregard: six months in the DeRidder lockup is the most a 36th District judge may impose, with a fine reaching $1,000.
  • Simple battery: the same limits of six months and $1,000.
  • First-offense DWI in Beauregard Parish: between 10 days and 6 months of jail, where the judge has discretion to suspend all except 48 hours or to accept community service; a $300 to $1,000 fine; a suspended driver's license, though an ignition interlock may permit driving; and certificates showing the defendant finished substance abuse treatment and driver improvement training.

There is no jury for these offenses; Louisiana limits jury trials to crimes with possible penalties over six months or $1,000. The DA's diversion options, including a DWI program, resolve many DeRidder cases with dismissal. Article 894 lets a first offender's sentence be deferred and the conviction later set aside after probation. Most Beauregard misdemeanors wrap up in one to four months.

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Felony (for example, burglary, felony theft, drug distribution, second-degree battery)

A felony charge in Beauregard Parish is handled from start to finish by the 36th Judicial District Court in DeRidder. After the jail booking, a judge sets bail, and anyone who remains locked up attends the 72-hour hearing, where the public defender can be appointed.

The charging clock

While a Beauregard felony defendant stays in custody, formal charges, whether by the DA's bill or a grand jury, must arrive within 60 days. If that window closes without charges and the DA cannot show just cause, Louisiana law requires release without bail. The window is 150 days for a defendant who has bonded out. A preliminary examination, requested by the defense, makes the 36th District prosecutor show the judge there is probable cause. After charges are filed, arraignment takes place in DeRidder.

Possible sentences in DeRidder

  • Beauregard Parish felony theft: property valued $1,000 to $4,999 exposes the defendant to 5 years; $5,000 to $24,999, to 10; and $25,000 or more, to 20.
  • Simple burglary: as many as 12 years, and the DeRidder judge decides whether hard labor attaches.
  • Second-degree battery: up to 8 years.
  • Drug distribution: penalties depend on which drug and how much was involved.

For a Beauregard defendant with older felony convictions, the DA can seek habitual offender status and a far stiffer sentence. Article 893 permits a deferred sentence for certain first-time felony offenders. A Beauregard felony jury has six seats when hard labor is up to the judge and twelve when the statute compels it; since 2019 Louisiana has required a unanimous verdict for any conviction. The state usually has two years after filing a non-capital felony to try it in DeRidder. Eligible defendants keep the 36th District Public Defender through sentencing. Expect six to 18 months for most Beauregard felonies, the large majority ending with a plea agreement.

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Violent felony (for example, murder, rape, armed robbery)

Murder, rape and armed robbery cases arising in Beauregard Parish are tried in the 36th Judicial District Court. A DeRidder judge typically sets a towering bail or refuses one, so the accused often remains at the Bolivar Bishop Drive jail until the case ends. Murder in the first or second degree and first-degree rape, like any charge exposing a DeRidder defendant to death or life, cannot be filed until a Beauregard Parish grand jury votes an indictment.

Sentencing ranges

  • First-degree murder (36th District): death or mandatory life imprisonment with no parole.
  • Second-degree murder: life without parole, by law.
  • Manslaughter: a maximum of 40 years.
  • First-degree rape: life without parole; second-degree rape is 5 to 40 years.
  • Armed robbery: 10 to 99 years without benefit of parole, with an additional 5 years for a firearm; first-degree robbery, 3 to 40 years; simple robbery, up to 7 years.

Beauregard defendants whose offense falls on or after August 1, 2024 face the Legislature's 2024 near-elimination of parole, meaning the DeRidder sentence is largely spent behind bars. Death sentences remain lawful here, and Louisiana's first nitrogen-gas execution in 2025 ended a long period without any. A Beauregard crime victim may invoke the state constitution's victims' rights guarantee (Art. I, §25) to be told of each proceeding and to address the court.

Counsel and timeline

The 36th District Public Defender represents qualifying defendants, with capital defense specialists joining when the DA pursues the death penalty. A capital prosecution in DeRidder is ordinarily allowed three years from charging before trial must begin. Violent felony cases in Beauregard Parish typically take one to three years.

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Juveniles (under 17) arrested in Beauregard Parish

Beauregard Parish children charged with delinquent acts appear before the 36th Judicial District Court in DeRidder, which serves as the parish's juvenile court. Under Louisiana's 2024 crime legislation, 17-year-olds are prosecuted as adults, so the juvenile system covers children who are 16 or younger.

A Beauregard youngster under arrest goes home with family or is driven to a licensed juvenile detention facility; the adult jail on Bolivar Bishop Drive is off limits. Since the parish does not have a juvenile detention center of its own, the Sheriff places detained youths at a licensed facility under contract with Beauregard Parish. Every detained Beauregard child gets a continued custody hearing in DeRidder inside 72 hours, and the judge rules then on continued detention versus conditional release. Only the 36th District Attorney can file a delinquency petition in Beauregard, and qualifying children are defended by the 36th District Public Defender.

Following an adjudication, the 36th District judge may order probation, counseling, restitution or other services, or may place the youth in the custody of the Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ). Kids who skip school constantly, leave home, or act out in non-criminal ways are usually steered toward Beauregard's FINS caseworkers (Families in Need of Services) rather than a delinquency petition. Once a Beauregard youth turns 14, a charge on Louisiana's list of gravest offenses (murder, aggravated kidnapping and the top-tier rape counts among them) can move the case into adult court in DeRidder, either through indictment or when the 36th District DA invokes the juvenile transfer statute. Juvenile records are confidential.

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The material above summarizes how criminal cases typically proceed in Beauregard Parish; it is not legal advice. Anyone facing a Beauregard charge should speak with a criminal defense lawyer or call the 36th District Public Defender in DeRidder at (337) 462-8891, while the Beauregard Clerk of Court keeps the docket and can be reached at (337) 463-8595.

Criminal Court Process for Beauregard Parish Louisiana

Beauregard Parish Louisiana Criminal Court System - Definitions

It might be helpful to define some words that will be used on this site, when explaining the Louisiana Court System and how it works. The definitions on this site are for general information and not legal advice. It is always preferred to follow information given by your attorney or local authorities.

If you scroll down below this content, and the listing of the courts in Beauregard Parish, you will find a simple flowchart diagram and a video that will help you visualize the stages of the Criminal Court Process.

Arrest is when Louisiana, Beauregard Parish or local police take a person into custody and start the legal process. The arrested person may or may not be immediately jailed. 

In less serious crimes, the person may only be given a citation ordering that they appear in municipal or Beauregard Parish court on a certain date. In cases involving more serious crimes, the person is usually placed in the county jail until an arraignment, or a judge decides the next step.

Booking is when the Beauregard Parish sheriff or local police gather information such as the detainee’s name, address and why the person is being arrested. Booking also includes fingerprinting, criminal history, investigation, and verification of identity. Bail for lower-level crimes may be set right after booking so the arrested can “bail or bond out” before being detained.

The prosecution, sometimes called “the government” or “the people” or “the state” is the side that presses the charges and seeks punishment for the offense. These are attorneys that work for the state of Louisiana, Beauregard Parish or a city or town.  The prosecuting attorney for Beauregard Parish or the district is called the District Attorney or Parish District Attorney. A U.S. Attorney prosecutes federal cases.  

Jurisdiction is an important term in the court system that means whether a court has the obligation or duty or right to handle a case.  For example, if you run a red light in your town or city, a municipal court would likely have jurisdiction over your case, but the next town or city over would not have jurisdiction over your case.  If you attempted to flee from police when they attempted to stop you after you ran the red light, it becomes a more serious crime, and the municipal court might not have jurisdiction so you might be assigned to a higher-level court that has jurisdiction over the more serious crime.  Jurisdiction varies from state to state and sometimes county to county.

Arraignment is when a judge determines whether the charges are supported by the prosecution’s initial evidence and tells the arrested what they are charged with, and the person says whether they are guilty or not guilty. At this time, the person is called the defendant, and the opposing side is called the prosecution. If there is reason to believe that the arrested is guilty, the judge will set bail conditions or send the defendant to jail or release them ROR (release on recognizances). An arraignment is not a trial, and the defendant is entitled to a trial within a reasonable amount of time after the arraignment.

Bail is money paid that is held by the Beauregard Parish or municipal court to make sure that the arrested does not flee the area before their trial.

Bail amounts and other conditions are determined at the arraignment. Once the case is over, the bail money is returned to the defendant. If a person does not pay bail, they remain in the Beauregard Parish Jail until their trial.  

Bail can be denied if the court feels that the arrested would be a danger to others if released. Sometimes the court decides that there is a good chance that the arrested will show up for trial and not flee so they are released on their own promise, or recognizance without having to pay bail.

A bond proceeding is the determination of how much bail is to be paid and usually happens at the same time as an arraignment. During bond proceedings, the defendant can have an attorney present but does not have the right to an attorney. A judge or court officer in the {county extended} or municipal court sets bail. Judges in Louisiana rely on a statewide bail schedule, which sets out a recommended range of bail amounts for different offenses. Judges can still exercise discretion in setting bail above or below the recommended range.

A judicial public bond or personal recognizance bond is a bond where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the money if the defendant does not show up to court. If the defendant does not show, the full amount will be due and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court.  Sometimes the court decides that there is a good chance that the arrested will show up for trial and not flee so they are released on their own promise, or recognizance.  

Cash percentage in lieu of bonds.  If the bond order permits, the defendant pays a percentage of the amount, (sometimes up to 100%) to the court, which then holds the money until the case is over. The amount is returned if the defendant is acquitted or the case is dismissed, or it can be used toward paying any court fines incurred by the defendant.

Surety Bond is when defendant pays a percentage of the bond amount (usually 10–15%) to a professional bondsman or bail bond company licensed to do business in Louisiana, {county extended}. The bondsman then signs the bond on behalf of the defendant. The defendant does not receive any of the money back. If the bondsman feels the defendant is a flight risk, they can refuse to give a bond or charge a higher fee. For example, a bondsman may determine a defendant is a flight risk if they are from a state other than Louisiana.

A Property Bond is a bond in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate (mobile homes are not accepted).  Usually, the property must be in Beauregard Parish, and it must be worth at least the amount of the bond.

An Unsecured Bond is when the defendant is released without paying bail upfront, but they must pay the full amount if they do not appear in court.

A criminal defense attorney (also called lawyer or counsel) is hired or retained to represent the arrested as early as possible after the arrest. If there is a chance that the case might go to trial and the defendant cannot afford an attorney, the 6th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires that the court provide an attorney. This is called indigent representation and a public defender or assigned attorney would represent the defendant in all proceedings. Indigent representation is only available misdemeanor and felony cases that could result in jail time, juvenile cases, and certain appeal cases. 

Louisiana is one of the only states that relies largely on local money through court fees such as bail bond fees, recovered property, filing fees and a court cost of $45 for every defendant except for not guilty releases.

The majority of the fees are from traffic tickets.  Public defense is provided through local district offices which vary from district to district. Assigned counsel, contract attorneys, public defenders or a combination are used for indigent defense in Louisiana.

For less serious cases or civil cases, there are pro bono volunteers who volunteer legal services for free or for a small fee. They often will hold clinics to teach people how to represent themselves in court or expunge their record which means to legally erase or eliminate a criminal or arrest record from public view. There are two websites that provide contact information for pro bono services in Louisiana. Here and here.

Many courts will provide forms and help for people who want to represent themselves, called pro se.  Here is a link for legal self-help in Louisiana.

A district court can refer to the first level of the legal system, or a minor court. District courts are in the community.  A district court can also refer to a U.S. Federal District Court that hears federal cases. There are three U.S. federal district courts in Louisiana, with offices throughout the state. It is important that you check the address of the court you are to appear in rather than to ask someone because that person might give you directions to the wrong “district” court. Being late to court can land you in custody as well.

Pretrial proceeding is the process where both sides (prosecution and defense) gather information, interview witnesses, request records, videos etc. Pretrial proceedings also include communications with the judge assigned to the case and these appearances are either in person or by on-line conferencing. Some pretrial proceedings may not require a defendant’s appearance, allowing an attorney to appear in their place. The information that is gathered is called discovery and both sides must share the information that they have gathered.  This information does not include conversations between the arrested and their attorney.

Most cases do not go to trial because both sides reach a plea deal, where both sides try to reach a reasonable punishment based on what was learned in the pretrial proceedings.  A plea deal can only happen if the accused person admits they are guilty in exchange for a lighter punishment.  The reason they must admit guilt is because it would not be fair to punish someone who claims they are not guilty.  There are times in plea bargaining when the prosecution agrees to give a lighter sentence in exchange for information leading to the arrest of a more serious criminal related to the crime.  

Trial is where both sides share their information in front of a judge or a judge and jury. After listening to all the evidence, the judge or jury decides the verdict which is whether the person is guilty or not guilty. If a court has only a judge hearing both sides, it is called a bench trial.  If a jury is selected, it is called a jury trial.  If the defendant is found not guilty, they are released.  If they are found to be guilty, the next step is sentencing.

Sentencing is the punishment that the judge decides the person should get. This could be jail or prison time, fines, community service, probation, or a combination.

Appeal is asking for a higher court to hear the case again at an appellate court.  If the accused person thinks something went wrong at trial or has new information that was not available during the trial or that the sentence is too harsh, the defense attorney can ask for an appeal. It is not unusual for an appeal when there is a long jail sentence, but an appeal can be denied if the appellate court feels that the original trial or sentencing was fair.

Louisiana Felony vs Misdemeanor

In Louisiana, a misdemeanor is a crime that is not considered a felony.  Misdemeanors are not subdivided into classes in Louisiana and sentenced with fines of up to $1000 and one year or less in a local or county jail.

A felony crime is a more serious crime than a misdemeanor.  In Louisiana, there are no classes of felonies like in other states. Punishments are determined from the offense.  Examples of felony crimes are murder, rape, theft, aggravated assault, drug trafficking, kidnapping and identity theft.  

The Beauregard Parish Clerk of Court is an elected official whose responsibilities for Criminal Court’s administrative issues include receiving criminal warrants, receiving bail, creating the trial schedule, receiving fees, fines and maintaining court records.

A warrant is used to get someone to appear in court or to law enforcement.  There must be good reason to believe that the person is involved in a crime. The warrant gives authority to arrest the person and search for evidence for the investigation of the crime. 

A criminal summons is issued to request that a person appear in court at a particular time and date.  It does not involve an arrest.  A traffic ticket, summary citation or lesser misdemeanor could be considered a summons if you are given a court date.

A summary citation, commonly referred to as a ticket, is a criminal summons by a law enforcement officer either in person or via mail accusing the defendant of a minor offense, stating potential fine, listing the court having jurisdiction and instructions for addressing the issue. Defendants may or may not be required to appear in court or handle the matter by entering a plea via mail.

Fines are usually paid to the District Court or clerk of court and payment methods can be found on the District Court or Beauregard Parish Clerk of Court website. If you do not pay your fine on time, you can lose your driver’s license, must pay additional fees or even have a warrant for your arrest.  It is important to read the instructions on the ticket issued by the police officer or court at the time of your arrest. For a parking ticket or summary citation, the fine amount and how to send payment should be on the ticket. 

Louisiana Criminal Court System - How it Works

The types of lower courts in Louisiana vary depending upon location.  For instance, Orleans Parish divided up civil and criminal courts unlike the rest of Louisiana.  Some towns have city courts and some have a parish court and some have a mayor’s court.

Justice of the Peace courts handle very few criminal cases; they handle a wide variety of civil matters.

City courts handle cases involved in breaking of city ordinances and local traffic violations. They hear misdemeanors and also handle juvenile cases when a separate juvenile court is not present in the local district court. 

Mayor's courts are in smaller towns and villages and handle crimes that occurred in the town. These courts are also able to impart jail sentences.

Parish courts are located in certain parishes and function similar to the city courts. The Parish of Jefferson and the Parish Court of Ascension Parish are two examples of Parish courts that have jurisdiction rather than the city courts. 

District court is the court for all misdemeanor and felony trials and would be considered the court where most criminal cases will be handled.

Courts of Special Jurisdiction include juvenile courts (for individuals under the age of 18).

Specialty courts or problem-solving courts are held in the Louisiana District Courts and these courts are being adopted in many states to handle cases that involve non-violent and first-time offender cases in a way to where the offender can retain a job or responsibilities while following specific orders of the court as returned court appearances, periodic evaluations or testing for substances. The following link provides a comprehensive brochure about Louisiana Drug and Specialty Courts.

Circuit Courts of Appeal.  There are five circuit courts of appeal that hear appeals from lower courts.

The Louisiana Supreme Court is like our United States’ Supreme Court because it has a panel of judges that rule on matters that have to do with someone’s constitutional rights or policies and laws. The Louisiana State Supreme Court deals with the state constitution or laws or policies. Sometimes the Supreme Court will hear criminal cases on appeal when there is a question on the state laws or procedures that lead to the appeal.  

The criminal cases are usually referred from the circuit courts of appeal.

FEDERAL COURT

Federal Court deals with crimes involving violations of United States laws.  Federal crimes include federal drug trafficking, federal tax evasion and fraud that crossed state lines and include crimes that occur on federal property as post offices or federal buildings.  

Cases involving crimes that involve the FBI or DEA or Immigration agencies are federal crimes. Terrorism is a federal crime. 

There are some differences in the Federal court system as compared to the Louisiana state court system. For example, the attorneys who work for the courts are called United States Attorneys and Federal judges are called District Court Judges (not to be confused by local state district courts).  

Federal Magistrate Judges hear the case early on, but they do not decide on the cases at a trial like the Federal District Court Judges. In a federal case, a grand jury is used for indictments.

There are three U.S. Federal Judicial Districts in Louisiana.

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