Livingston Parish Detention Center Criminal Court Process

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Criminal Court Process for Livingston Parish Louisiana

The town of Livingston is the parish seat of Livingston Parish, and its courthouse on Government Boulevard is where most criminal cases from the parish are decided. Felonies and state misdemeanors belong to the 21st Judicial District Court, a three-parish district that also includes Tangipahoa and St. Helena. The 21st Judicial District Attorney handles prosecution, and Denham Springs City Court takes some misdemeanor and traffic cases on the parish's western side. Adults who are arrested are jailed at the Livingston Parish Detention Center on Charlie Watts Road, operated by the Sheriff.

  • Livingston Parish Clerk of Court (criminal case records), 20300 Government Boulevard, Livingston, LA 70754; mailing address P.O. Box 1150, Livingston, LA 70754, (225) 686-2216
  • 21st Judicial District Court, Livingston Parish Courthouse, 20300 Government Boulevard, Livingston, LA 70754
  • District Attorney, 21st Judicial District (Livingston Parish office), (225) 686-3070; district mailing address P.O. Box 639, Amite, LA 70422
  • Louisiana State Public Defender, District 21 (Livingston Parish office), 28446 Charlie Watts Road, Livingston, LA 70754; district headquarters in Amite, (985) 748-4922
  • Livingston Parish Detention Center (Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office), 28445 Charlie Watts Road, Livingston, LA 70754; mailing address P.O. Box 1000, Livingston, LA 70754, (225) 686-2241
  • Denham Springs City Court, 400 Mayor Herbert Hoover Avenue, Denham Springs, LA 70726

Which court hears your case. All felonies from Livingston Parish are prosecuted in the 21st Judicial District Court at the courthouse in Livingston. State misdemeanors and DWI cases are also filed there, except that offenses arising within Denham Springs City Court's territory can be heard in that city court, which also handles traffic tickets and Denham Springs ordinance violations. Other municipalities, such as Walker, Albany and Springfield, may run a mayor's court for their own ordinance and traffic citations.

Where people arrested in Livingston Parish are held. Arrests by the Sheriff's Office, Denham Springs or Walker police, other town departments and State Police all lead to the Livingston Parish Detention Center at 28445 Charlie Watts Road in Livingston, (225) 686-2241. People who are not bonded out remain there while their cases are pending, a short drive from the courthouse.

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

Livingston Parish is one of the fastest-growing suburban parishes near Baton Rouge, and its misdemeanor dockets are busy. Whether your case lands in Denham Springs City Court or the 21st Judicial District Court in Livingston depends largely on where the offense took place and the agency that made the arrest; your summons or bail papers will name the court.

Bail after booking

At the Detention Center, booking includes fingerprints, a photograph and a warrant check. Most minor charges have a scheduled bail amount that can be paid in cash or covered by a licensed bail bondsman, who keeps a fee. Release on recognizance is also possible. Anyone not released appears before a 21st District judge within 72 hours of arrest, excluding weekends and holidays, to be told of the right to counsel, have a lawyer appointed and seek a bail change. For a warrantless arrest, a judge must find probable cause within 48 hours.

Filing and arraignment

The District Attorney's office reviews the case and, if it proceeds, files a bill of information. On a misdemeanor, Louisiana gives the DA 45 days when the person is in custody and 90 days when released. At arraignment, the defendant enters a plea and the court sets the next date. Livingston Parish misdemeanor trials are decided by a judge unless the charge could bring more than six months in jail or a fine over $1,000.

Public defender

The District 21 public defender has a Livingston Parish office at 28446 Charlie Watts Road, beside the jail, and a district headquarters in Amite at (985) 748-4922. Ask the judge for appointed counsel if you cannot afford a lawyer; a $40 application fee may be charged unless it is waived.

Misdemeanor sentences in the 21st Judicial District

  • Simple battery in Livingston Parish: as long as six months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines.
  • Theft valued under $1,000: on a first conviction, a ceiling of six months and $1,000.
  • Criminal trespass: usually fines for a first offense, escalating for repeat offenders.
  • A first DWI in Livingston Parish: between 10 days and six months in jail, with the judge able to suspend all but 48 hours or allow community service instead; a fine of $300 to $1,000; a license suspension, frequently with an ignition interlock option; plus a substance abuse program and a driver improvement course.

DA diversion programs and Article 894 deferred sentences, which lead to dismissal after probation, are common for first offenders. Expect most misdemeanors to take one to four months.

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

Felony arrests in Livingston Parish are booked on Charlie Watts Road, and a district judge generally reviews the arrest and fixes bail. Bail can be posted through a commercial bondsman, by cash or with property. The 72-hour appearance is where a public defender is first assigned to those who qualify.

Charging

The 21st District Attorney charges most felonies by bill of information. The deadline is 60 days after arrest for a jailed defendant and 150 days for one on bail; if the DA misses it without just cause, a detained defendant must be released. The defense may ask for a preliminary examination, giving a judge the chance to rule on probable cause and the defense the chance to question witnesses.

Pretrial and trial

After arraignment come discovery, motions and plea talks, and the majority of Livingston Parish felony cases end in a negotiated plea. At trial, a six-person jury hears cases where hard labor is optional and a twelve-person jury hears cases where it is mandatory; either way the verdict has to be unanimous. A non-capital felony generally must be tried within two years of the charge being filed.

Defense counsel

Felony defendants who qualify are represented by the District 21 public defender, whose Livingston Parish attorneys work from the office next to the jail. The Amite headquarters can be reached at (985) 748-4922.

Felony ranges in Livingston Parish

  • Simple burglary charged in Livingston Parish: up to 12 years, with or without hard labor.
  • Felony theft: 5 years maximum for $1,000 to $5,000 in value, 10 years for $5,000 to $25,000, and 20 years beyond $25,000.
  • Second-degree battery: up to 8 years.
  • Drug distribution: the range depends on the drug and amount, and some offenses have mandatory minimums.

First felony offenders may be eligible for an Article 893 deferred sentence, and those with prior felonies can face the habitual offender law. Six to 18 months is typical for a felony here.

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

Violent felony defendants in Livingston Parish often remain at the Detention Center for months or years because bail is set high. A Livingston Parish grand jury must indict before the 21st District Attorney can prosecute a crime punishable by death or life imprisonment, such as murder or first-degree rape; robbery and many other violent felonies can proceed on a bill of information.

Penalty ranges

  • First-degree murder: life without parole, probation or suspension, or the death penalty if the state seeks and obtains it.
  • Second-degree murder: the law requires life without parole.
  • Manslaughter: a maximum of 40 years.
  • First-degree rape: life without parole. Second-degree rape: from 5 to 40 years.
  • Armed robbery: 10 to 99 years with no parole eligibility, and 5 more years if a firearm was used. First-degree robbery runs 3 to 40 years; simple robbery up to 7.

Under Louisiana's 2024 sentencing laws, parole has been largely eliminated for crimes committed on or after August 1, 2024, including those prosecuted in the 21st Judicial District. The state has the death penalty and resumed executions in 2025 with nitrogen gas. The Louisiana Constitution, Article I, Section 25, gives victims rights to notice, to be present and to be heard.

Defense and timeline

The District 21 public defender represents eligible defendants, and capital cases are staffed by specially qualified attorneys. Murder and rape trials are heard by twelve jurors who must be unanimous. Most such Livingston Parish prosecutions need one to three years to conclude.

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Juveniles (under 17) arrested in Livingston Parish

Louisiana treats 17-year-olds as adults under a 2024 change in the law, so the juvenile process in Livingston Parish applies to children under 17. Delinquency cases are heard by the 21st Judicial District Court sitting as a juvenile court, because Livingston has no separate juvenile court.

A child who is not released to a parent is taken to the Florida Parishes Juvenile Detention Center, a regional facility that serves the parishes of the 21st and 22nd Judicial Districts, including Livingston, (985) 893-6292. A continued custody hearing must take place within 72 hours, where the judge decides whether the child will remain in detention and appoints a lawyer if the family cannot afford one. The District 21 public defender represents qualifying youth.

The 21st District Attorney files the delinquency petition, and the case is decided by a judge at an adjudication hearing. Dispositions can include probation, counseling, community service, restitution or commitment to the Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ). Truancy, running away and ungovernable behavior are usually handled by referral to Families in Need of Services (FINS). For the most serious crimes, such as first- or second-degree murder, aggravated or first-degree rape, aggravated kidnapping or armed robbery, a youth 14 or older can be prosecuted as an adult after a grand jury indictment or a transfer by the DA. Juvenile records are confidential.

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This page explains the general path of a criminal case in Livingston Parish and does not provide legal advice. For guidance on a particular charge, contact a defense attorney or ask the court to appoint the District 21 public defender, reachable at (985) 748-4922; the Livingston Parish Clerk of Court can confirm court dates at (225) 686-2216.

Criminal Court Process for Livingston Parish Louisiana

Livingston 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 Livingston 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, Livingston 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 Livingston 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 Livingston 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, Livingston Parish or a city or town.  The prosecuting attorney for Livingston 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 Livingston 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 Livingston 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 Livingston 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 Livingston 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 Livingston 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.

Courts

CITY WARD 2 COURT MARSHALL
116 N RANGE AVE
DENHAM SPRINGS LA, 70726
225-665-8568
LIVINGSTON PARISH DIST COURT
29770 S MAGNOLIA ST
LIVINGSTON LA, 70754
225-686-1060

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Livingston Parish

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Every detail on this page is checked by hand, not scraped. This unofficial directory helps friends and family of incarcerated individuals find critical information — inmate lists, locations, bail resources, visitation hours, rules, and text, phone, email, and mail services — for jails, detention centers, and prisons across the United States.