Find Criminal Records in Ascension Parish

Criminal records in Ascension Parish are filed with the Ascension Parish Clerk of Court under the 23rd Judicial District and are available through two office locations in Gonzales and Donaldsonville, as well as through the eClerks LA online access system. This page explains how to request Ascension Parish criminal records, who handles criminal cases in Ascension Parish, and what the expungement process looks like for Ascension Parish residents.

Ascension Parish Clerk of Court

The Ascension Parish Clerk of Court, Bridget Hanna, oversees the office that stores all Ascension Parish criminal records, civil filings, and court documents for the 23rd Judicial District. The Ascension Parish clerk's office has two locations: the main office in Gonzales and a second office in Donaldsonville. Most Ascension Parish criminal record requests are handled through the Gonzales location, but you can contact either office to confirm which location handles the specific criminal case you need.

The Gonzales main office is at 815 E. Worthey Street, Gonzales, LA 70737. The phone number is (225) 621-8400, and the fax is (225) 621-8403. For criminal division matters specifically, including Ascension Parish criminal minutes, motions, criminal record searches, expungements, and juvenile records, contact the Minute Clerk and Criminal Department at 828 South Irma Blvd., Gonzales, LA 70737, phone (225) 621-8400 ext. 7, fax (225) 644-8790.

The Criminal Clerk is Chandra Gipson, who can be reached at cbatiste@ascensionclerk.com. Gipson handles all Ascension Parish criminal record searches, expungement filings, and related criminal record requests. If you have a specific question about a criminal case in Ascension Parish, emailing or calling her directly is the most direct path to an answer about Ascension Parish criminal records.

The Donaldsonville office is at 300 Houmas Street, Donaldsonville, LA 70346. The phone number is (225) 473-9866. This office handles some clerk functions and can assist with questions about Ascension Parish criminal records, though most criminal matters go through the Gonzales location.

The ascensionclerk.com site lists office details, services, and information about online record access through the eClerks LA system for Ascension Parish criminal records.

eClerks LA Online Access for Ascension Parish Criminal Records

Ascension Parish participates in the eClerks LA ACCESS online system, which allows subscribers to search Ascension Parish criminal records remotely. This system is available for attorneys, title companies, researchers, and members of the public who need regular access to Ascension Parish court records. You do not have to visit the Ascension Parish courthouse to look up a criminal case if you have an active subscription.

The eClerks LA system includes several types of Ascension Parish records: Mortgage, Conveyance, and Map records; Criminal, Traffic, and Civil case records; and Marriage records. The Ascension Parish criminal case index allows you to search by name or case number. Depending on the criminal case, you may be able to view criminal case documents directly in the system. Some older Ascension Parish criminal records may be available only as index information, requiring you to request copies in person or by mail.

Subscriptions are available at a monthly rate or a day rate if you only need access to Ascension Parish criminal records for a short time. Check the clerk's website at ascensionclerk.com for current subscription pricing and how to sign up. The system is a practical option if you search Ascension Parish criminal records frequently or need access outside of normal business hours.

Note: eClerks LA online access is a subscription service. Free access to Ascension Parish criminal records through this system is not currently available for general users.

Ascension Parish Sheriff Records

The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office is a separate source of criminal records from the Ascension Parish Clerk of Court. The Ascension Parish sheriff handles arrests, incident reports, and law enforcement records for the parish. If you need an arrest report or incident report from Ascension Parish, contact the sheriff's office directly rather than the clerk.

The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office is located at 828 S. Irma Blvd., Gonzales, LA 70737. The main phone number is (225) 621-8300. The Ascension Parish sheriff's records division can tell you what types of criminal records are available and how to request them. Some Ascension Parish criminal records may be available for public release, while others tied to active criminal investigations may not be.

Arrest records from the Ascension Parish sheriff are separate from the court case records held at the Ascension Parish Clerk of Court. Once an arrest in Ascension Parish leads to criminal charges filed in the 23rd Judicial District Court, those documents become part of the clerk's criminal case file. But the initial arrest report stays with the Ascension Parish sheriff's office. You may need to request criminal records from both offices to get the full picture of a criminal case in Ascension Parish.

23rd Judicial District Court in Ascension Parish

The 23rd Judicial District Court covers two Louisiana parishes: Ascension and Assumption. This court hears all criminal cases in both parishes, from misdemeanor criminal matters to serious felony charges. Judges from this district preside over criminal trials, hearings, and sentencing proceedings in Ascension Parish. All criminal case records from these proceedings are held by the Ascension Parish Clerk of Court at the Gonzales location.

Because the district covers two parishes, the Ascension Parish clerk's office in Gonzales handles criminal filings for Ascension Parish cases specifically. Assumption Parish has its own clerk. If you are looking for a criminal case that was filed in Assumption rather than Ascension Parish, contact the Assumption Parish Clerk of Court directly. Criminal cases appealed from the 23rd Judicial District go to the First Circuit Court of Appeal, which covers south-central Louisiana.

Criminal Record Searches in Ascension Parish

You have two main ways to search criminal records in Ascension Parish. The first is in person at one of the two Ascension Parish clerk office locations. The second is through the eClerks LA online access system if you have a subscription. For most people, the in-person visit or a direct request to the Ascension Parish criminal division is the simplest approach to getting criminal case information.

To search Ascension Parish criminal records in person, go to the Criminal Department at 828 South Irma Blvd. in Gonzales. Bring a valid photo ID. Know the full legal name you are searching and any other details you have, such as a date of birth or criminal case number. Staff will run the search and tell you what Ascension Parish criminal case records are on file. You can then request copies of criminal records at the standard copy rates. Certified copies of criminal court documents require additional time and fees.

If you prefer to call ahead, reach the Ascension Parish criminal division at (225) 621-8400 ext. 7. You can also email Criminal Clerk Chandra Gipson at cbatiste@ascensionclerk.com. This is useful if you want to confirm what Ascension Parish criminal record information is available before making a trip to the courthouse. For attorneys who file criminal cases frequently, the eClerks online system at ascensionclerk.com is a more efficient option.

The ClerkConnect multi-parish portal may also have some Ascension Parish criminal case data available online for general searches.

ClerkConnect allows users to search multiple Louisiana parish clerk systems from a single portal, including criminal and civil case indexes from Ascension Parish and other parishes.

Note: Online tools may not include every Ascension Parish criminal case, and older records may only be available by contacting the clerk's office directly.

Expungements in Ascension Parish

Louisiana Revised Statute 44:9 sets the rules for expunging criminal records in Ascension Parish and across the state. An expungement seals an Ascension Parish criminal record from public view. This means most people and companies doing a background check on an Ascension Parish defendant won't see it. Qualifying for expungement of an Ascension Parish criminal record depends on the type of charge, how the criminal case ended, and whether enough time has passed since the conviction or dismissal.

The total cost to file an expungement for an Ascension Parish criminal record is around $550. This is paid across multiple agencies. Each agency plays a role in the expungement process for Ascension Parish criminal records and must update its own records once the court approves the motion. The breakdown covers the Ascension Parish clerk's filing fee, state police processing, and fees to the Ascension Parish sheriff and district attorney. Exact amounts can vary, so confirm the current fees with the Ascension Parish criminal division before filing.

To start an expungement in Ascension Parish, contact Criminal Clerk Chandra Gipson at the 23rd Judicial District Criminal Department. Gipson handles all Ascension Parish expungement filings. She can provide the current forms, explain the expungement process for Ascension Parish criminal records, and tell you what documents to include. Reach her by email at cbatiste@ascensionclerk.com or by phone at (225) 621-8400 ext. 7. After filing, the court schedules a hearing, and if the judge approves the motion, the Ascension Parish criminal record is sealed with all relevant agencies notified.

Note: Even after expungement of an Ascension Parish criminal record, law enforcement can still access sealed records for purposes such as sentencing in future criminal cases.

State Resources for Ascension Parish Criminal Records

Louisiana State Police operates the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information, which handles statewide criminal history checks. If you need a background check that covers all Louisiana parishes, not just Ascension Parish criminal records, an LSP background check is the right option. This check is fingerprint-based and covers the full state criminal history database including Ascension Parish criminal convictions and arrests.

The LSP site provides links to background check services, forms, and instructions for submitting a statewide criminal history request covering Ascension Parish and all other Louisiana parishes.

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections also maintains an offender search tool that allows the public to look up individuals who have been sentenced to state correctional facilities after Ascension Parish criminal convictions. This is separate from Ascension Parish court records and is useful for researching criminal cases from Ascension Parish that ended in a state prison sentence. The search is available on the DOC website and is free to use.

Note: LSP statewide background checks require fingerprints and have their own fee schedule separate from Ascension Parish clerk fees.

Cities in Ascension Parish

Ascension Parish includes the community of Prairieville along with Gonzales, Donaldsonville, and several other smaller towns and unincorporated areas. All criminal cases from across Ascension Parish go through the 23rd Judicial District Court and are filed with the Ascension Parish Clerk of Court in Gonzales.

Nearby Parishes

These parishes border Ascension Parish. If you are not sure which parish a criminal case was filed in, check the court documents or call the clerk to confirm before submitting a request.