Find DUI Records in Ascension Parish
Ascension Parish DUI records are maintained by the Clerk of Court under the 23rd Judicial District Court, with offices in both Gonzales and Donaldsonville. This page covers how to search OWI case filings, access the ACCESS portal, and find arrest records tied to DUI charges across Ascension Parish.
Ascension Parish Quick Facts
Ascension Parish Clerk of Court and the ACCESS Portal
The Ascension Parish Clerk of Court, Hon. Bridget Hanna, maintains criminal court records for all OWI and DUI cases filed in the parish. The main office is at 607 E. Worthey St., 1st Floor, Gonzales, LA 70737. Criminal records inquiries go to (225) 621-8400 ext. 3. Civil records use ext. 2. A satellite office in Donaldsonville at 300 Houmas Street can be reached at (225) 473-9866 ext. 8. Both offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Ascension Parish offers one of the more robust online record systems in Louisiana. The clerk operates the Ascension Clerk Electronic Search System, known as ACCESS. As stated by the clerk's office: "We are proud to offer an online record search for Mortgage, Conveyance, Maps, Criminal, Traffic, Civil and Marriage records." This system includes criminal and traffic records, making it directly useful for searching OWI case filings.
Access to the portal is subscription-based. The clerk's site explains: "Access to our Ascension Clerk of Court Electronic Search System (ACCESS) is available through monthly subscriptions or day rates." If you need occasional access, a day rate may be the most cost-effective option. Both courthouse locations are also set up for walk-in use: "Each of our offices is equipped with public access computers for retrieving general information on filed records." This means you can use ACCESS on-site without a personal subscription.
Fees for copies are set by state law. A criminal record search costs $20. Copies run $1 per page, and certified copies add $5. For DUI records specifically, a criminal court file may include the charging document, arraignment record, any motions filed, the plea or verdict, and sentencing details. Each item is available as a separate copy or as part of the full case file.
The ACCESS portal provides online search for criminal, traffic, civil, and other record types maintained by the Ascension Parish Clerk of Court.
Users can subscribe by month or pay a day rate to search Ascension Parish OWI records remotely through the ACCESS system at the clerk's official site, ascensionclerk.com.
23rd JDC: OWI Cases Covering Ascension, Assumption, and St. James
Ascension Parish is served by the 23rd Judicial District Court, which also covers Assumption and St. James parishes. The 23rd JDC handles the full range of OWI criminal cases arising in Ascension Parish, from first-offense misdemeanors under La. R.S. 14:98.1 to felony charges for repeat offenders under La. R.S. 14:98.3. All proceedings generate public court records stored by the Clerk of Court.
The 23rd JDC website at 23rdjdc.org provides information on court divisions, judges, and procedures. Case docket information for specific OWI filings is accessible through the ACCESS portal or in person at either clerk's office. The 23rd Circuit Court serves as the appellate court for cases arising from the 23rd JDC, handling appeals in OWI matters where the outcome is contested.
The 23rd Judicial District Court manages all OWI filings for Ascension Parish, and the court's site details procedures for the three-parish district.
Cases from Ascension Parish appear in the 23rd JDC's docket system, with the final record held by the Ascension Parish Clerk of Court.
Ascension Parish Sheriff: Arrest Records and OWI Enforcement
The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office handles OWI enforcement in unincorporated areas of the parish. The Sheriff's website at ascensionsheriff.com provides contact information and department details. When a deputy arrests someone for OWI under La. R.S. 14:98, the booking record is created at the parish jail and becomes a separate document from the court record.
Louisiana's implied consent statute at La. R.S. 32:661 means that drivers stopped on suspicion of OWI are legally required to submit to chemical testing. Refusal triggers an administrative license suspension under La. R.S. 32:667. The sheriff's office initiates this process, but the OMV administers the suspension itself.
The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office enforces OWI laws across the parish and maintains arrest records for OWI stops in its jurisdiction.
For arrest records and booking information, contact the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office directly. Court records require a separate request to the Clerk of Court.
eClerks LA and Statewide DUI Record Search Tools
Not every search requires a subscription to ACCESS. The eClerks LA platform at eclerksla.com offers free, basic searches of Louisiana court records and can return OWI case information for Ascension Parish filings without requiring an account. It is a good starting point if you are not sure whether a record exists before committing to a paid search.
The eClerks LA free search portal allows name-based lookups of court records across Louisiana, including Ascension Parish criminal and traffic filings.
eClerks LA is particularly useful for confirming a case exists before requesting certified copies from the clerk's office, saving time and potentially avoiding unnecessary fees.
Louisiana OWI Law: Statutes That Govern Ascension Parish Cases
The core OWI statute in Louisiana is La. R.S. 14:98. It defines the offense of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and sets out the general elements the state must prove. The law applies to alcohol, controlled substances, or any substance that impairs a person's ability to operate a motor vehicle safely.
Penalty levels increase with prior convictions. A second offense under La. R.S. 14:98.2 brings mandatory jail time starting at 48 hours and a fine of $750 to $1,000. A third conviction becomes a felony under La. R.S. 14:98.3, with prison time of one to five years. All prior OWI convictions count, regardless of which parish or even which state they occurred in, as long as they meet Louisiana's lookback period requirements.
La. R.S. 44:1, Louisiana's Public Records Law, governs access to court records. OWI case files in Ascension Parish are public records unless sealed or expunged. If you believe a record has been expunged, the clerk's office can tell you whether the case is accessible. Expungement does not physically destroy the record but removes it from public view.
Cities in Ascension Parish with DUI Record Pages
Nearby Parishes
DUI records follow the parish where the arrest happened. If the case you need is from a neighboring parish, use the links below to find the right clerk.