Madison Parish DUI Records

About Madison Parish DUI Records

Madison Parish is one of Louisiana's smaller parishes, located in the northeast corner of the state along the Mississippi River. The parish has around 10,000 residents, with most living in or near Tallulah, the parish seat. DUI cases here move through the 6th Judicial District Court, which handles all felony and misdemeanor criminal matters for the parish.

A DUI charge in Louisiana falls under Louisiana Revised Statute § 14:98, which makes it a crime to operate a vehicle while impaired. The law covers alcohol, drugs, and controlled substances. First offenses are typically misdemeanors. Repeat offenses under § 14:98.2 and § 14:98.3 carry heavier penalties and may be charged as felonies.

When someone is arrested for DUI in Madison Parish, the case generates a set of public records. These include the arrest report, court filings, hearing dates, and any judgment or sentence. All of these are kept by the Clerk of Court and are open to the public unless sealed by a judge.

Madison Parish Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Court for Madison Parish is Hon. Marion Hopkins. The office is the official keeper of court records for the parish, including all criminal filings and DUI case files. As the office states, "The Madison Parish Clerk of Court maintains and preserves the official records of the parish." The Clerk is also described as "the custodian of the land records, marriage licenses, civil, criminal and probate records."

The clerk's website is available at madisonparishclerk.com. In-person requests are the most direct way to get court records. You can visit during business hours and search for cases by name or case number. Staff can help you find the right file, though the actual research is your responsibility.

If you cannot visit in person, you may send a written request by mail. Include the full name of the person whose records you're looking for, the approximate date of the case, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Requests that lack enough detail may not be filled.

Online DUI Record Search Options

Madison Parish participates in two statewide online platforms that let you search court records remotely. These tools are useful if you can't make a trip to Tallulah.

The first is eClerks LA, a free public portal that gives access to index data for many Louisiana parishes. You can search by name and pull up case summaries, filing dates, and case types. The portal does not always show the full text of documents, but it's a fast way to check whether a DUI case exists in the system.

Visit eClerks LA at eclerksla.com to start a search. The screenshot below shows the eClerks search interface used to locate Madison Parish DUI records.

eClerks LA is a good starting point. Results vary by parish and not every case appears in the index, but for Madison Parish the coverage is generally reliable for criminal matters filed in recent years.

The second platform is Clerk Connect, a subscription-based system used by clerks across the state. Clerk Connect provides deeper access to court records, including civil suits, criminal cases, and land records. A subscription is needed to view full case files. You can access it at clerkconnect.com.

For most people, starting with eClerks is the right move. If you need full documents or certified copies, contact the clerk's office directly or visit in person.

The 6th Judicial District Court

DUI cases in Madison Parish are heard in the 6th Judicial District Court. The courthouse is located at 100 North Cedar Street in Tallulah, the same building that houses the Clerk of Court. This is where DUI arraignments, hearings, and trials take place.

The 6th JDC covers Madison Parish. Felony DUI charges, as well as all felony criminal matters, are handled here. Misdemeanor DUI cases may be heard at the local court level, but records for both are generally maintained by the Clerk of Court.

If you need information about a specific court date or hearing, you can contact the clerk's office. They can confirm scheduled proceedings and help you find docket information. Court schedules are not always posted online for smaller parishes, so calling ahead saves time.

Madison Parish Sheriff and Arrest Records

The Madison Parish Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the parish. Sheriff Chad Ezell oversees operations, and the office is located at 100 North Cedar Street in Tallulah. You can reach the sheriff's office at (318) 574-1831.

When a DUI arrest is made, the sheriff's office creates an arrest report. This report documents the date, time, and circumstances of the stop, the results of any field sobriety or breath tests, and the charges filed. Arrest reports are public records in Louisiana under La. R.S. 44:1, though some information may be redacted in active cases.

To request an arrest report, contact the Madison Parish Sheriff's Office directly. Provide the name of the person arrested and the approximate date of the incident. The office can confirm whether an arrest occurred and how to obtain a copy of the report.

Louisiana's implied consent law, found at § 32:661, requires drivers to submit to chemical tests when lawfully requested. Refusal to take a test can lead to license suspension under § 32:667. These suspension records are handled separately through the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, not the Clerk of Court.

Detention Facilities in Madison Parish

Madison Parish has two detention facilities. The Madison Parish Jail is located at 404 East Green Street in Tallulah. The Madison Parish Correctional Center is at Route 3, Box 3, 158 Treatment Plant Road, also in Tallulah. Booking records from these facilities may be available through the sheriff's office.

If someone was held after a DUI arrest, the booking record will show the date of intake, the charges, and the bond status. This information is generally public and can be requested from the sheriff or the jail directly. Some parishes make this available online, but Madison Parish does not currently maintain a public online booking database.

Louisiana Statewide DUI Record Tools

Beyond the parish-level clerk and sheriff, several statewide resources can be useful when researching DUI records. These tools aggregate data from multiple sources and give you a broader picture.

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety maintains a crash reports portal at crashreports.dps.la.gov where you can look up accident reports tied to a DUI incident. These are separate from court records but often connected to the same event.

The Office of Motor Vehicles Express Lane site at expresslane.org lets you check driving records, including license suspensions. A DUI conviction in Louisiana typically leads to a suspension, and this record stays on the driving history maintained by the OMV.

The screenshot below shows the Louisiana crash reports portal, which can be used alongside court records to piece together the full record of a DUI incident in Madison Parish.

These tools don't replace the official court record, but they can help fill in gaps if you're doing a thorough background search or need to document all aspects of an incident.

Fees and Copies

The Clerk of Court charges fees for copies and certified documents. Standard copies are typically $1 per page. Certified copies cost more and require an additional fee. Name search fees may apply for written or mail requests. Contact the clerk's office at (318) 574-0655 for the current fee schedule before submitting a request.

If you need a certified copy of a DUI judgment for legal purposes, you'll need to request it from the clerk's office in writing or in person. Certified copies carry the official court seal and are accepted by courts, employers, and agencies as proof of a court record.

Louisiana DUI Law Overview

Louisiana's main DUI statute is § 14:98. It sets a blood alcohol limit of 0.08% for most drivers, 0.04% for commercial drivers, and 0.02% for drivers under age 21. Being impaired by any substance, not just alcohol, can also lead to a charge under this law.

First-time DUI in Louisiana is a misdemeanor. A second offense under § 14:98.1 carries higher penalties. A third offense under § 14:98.2 is a felony. A fourth or subsequent offense under § 14:98.3 brings the most severe penalties, including mandatory prison time.

Each DUI conviction or guilty plea generates a court record that is available to the public. These records don't expire or disappear on their own. They stay in the court system unless a court orders expungement.

Cities in Madison Parish

Tallulah is the parish seat and the largest city in Madison Parish. No cities in the parish meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. Tallulah, Tallulah's surroundings, Delhi, and other smaller communities in the parish all route DUI cases through the same 6th JDC in Tallulah.

Nearby Parishes

If the case you're looking for may have been filed in a neighboring parish, here are the nearby parish record pages:

• East Carroll Parish DUI Records
• Tensas Parish DUI Records
• Richland Parish DUI Records
• Morehouse Parish DUI Records
• West Carroll Parish DUI Records