Search Washington Parish DUI Records
Washington Parish DUI records are held by the 22nd Judicial District Court Clerk in Franklinton and include criminal case filings, arrest histories, court judgments, and sentencing records for DWI and DUI charges brought in the parish. Washington Parish shares the 22nd JDC with St. Tammany Parish, though each parish maintains its own case files at its local clerk's office. This page covers how to search those records and where to find related documents like crash reports and driving history.
Washington Parish Clerk of Court
The Washington Parish Clerk of Court is located at the corner of Washington and Main Streets in Franklinton, LA 70438. The office phone number is (985) 839-4661. The clerk's office handles all civil and criminal case filings for the 22nd JDC in Washington Parish, including DUI and DWI cases. Walk-in visitors can search records in person, request copies, and obtain certified documents during regular business hours.
Washington Parish is one of two parishes served by the 22nd Judicial District Court. The other is St. Tammany Parish. Both parishes share the same judicial district, but each clerk's office operates independently. If a DUI case was filed in Washington Parish, it stays in the Washington Parish system. You would need to contact the St. Tammany clerk separately for cases filed there.
The eClerks LA portal allows online access to Washington Parish court records. The image below shows the portal interface used to search DUI case filings, docket entries, and related criminal court records in Washington Parish.
The eClerks LA portal is the primary online tool for finding Washington Parish DUI records and court filings through the 22nd JDC.
The portal search allows you to look up cases by party name or docket number and view current case status and docket history.
DUI Statutes That Apply in Washington Parish
All DUI cases in Washington Parish are governed by Louisiana state law. The core statute is La. Rev. Stat. § 14:98, which defines operating a vehicle while intoxicated and sets out first-offense penalties. A first DUI is a misdemeanor in most cases, but it carries real consequences: fines, possible jail time, and a mandatory driver's license suspension.
Second-offense DUI penalties are found in La. Rev. Stat. § 14:98.1. The penalties go up significantly for a second offense, including mandatory jail time of 48 hours and higher fines. A third DUI is a felony under La. Rev. Stat. § 14:98.2, and a conviction can result in a prison sentence. Fourth and aggravated offenses are covered under La. Rev. Stat. § 14:98.4.
Chemical test refusal rules apply in Washington Parish. Under La. Rev. Stat. § 32:661, any driver on a Louisiana road is treated as having given consent to a chemical test if stopped on suspicion of DUI. Refusing the test leads to an administrative license suspension, which is separate from any criminal penalties and is governed by La. Rev. Stat. § 32:667.
How to Get Washington Parish DUI Records
The fastest way to search Washington Parish DUI records is through the eClerks LA portal. It gives you access to case filings, docket entries, and case status for criminal matters handled by the 22nd JDC in Washington Parish. You do not need to visit the courthouse to do a basic search.
For certified copies or documents not available online, contact the clerk's office directly at (985) 839-4661 or visit the courthouse at Washington and Main Streets in Franklinton. Staff can locate case files and provide copies for a fee. If you need to send a written request by mail, include the full name of the defendant, the approximate year of the case, and the nature of the charge if known.
If you are searching across multiple parishes and want to check St. Tammany at the same time, the Clerk Connect platform covers many Louisiana clerk offices. It is a useful starting point when you are not sure which parish handled a specific case.
Note: For older Washington Parish records, an in-person visit or written mail request to the clerk is often the only way to access the file. Not all historical records are available through digital portals.
Crash Reports and Driving Records
Crash reports tied to DUI arrests in Washington Parish are maintained by Louisiana State Police. You can order an official crash report through the LSP crash report portal for $11.50. These reports are separate from the court file and include the responding officer's observations, vehicle information, and any notes about impairment at the scene.
Driver's license records, including suspensions tied to DUI convictions or chemical test refusals, are held by the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. A three-year driving record costs $20 and can be ordered through the OMV ExpressLane portal. This report shows current license status, any active restrictions, and penalty points applied after a DUI conviction.
Neither the crash report nor the driving record is part of the court's criminal case file. You may need all three types of documents to get a complete view of a DUI case in Washington Parish.
Public Records Access in Washington Parish
Louisiana's Public Records Law, La. R.S. 44:1, makes criminal court records available to any member of the public, as long as the records have not been expunged or sealed. Washington Parish DUI case filings fall under this law. You do not need a court order or attorney to request access to a non-sealed criminal case file from the Washington Parish Clerk of Court.
If you need a broader statewide criminal history check, the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information provides BCII background checks for $26 online. This report covers convictions from across the state, not just Washington Parish. It is useful when you want to know whether a person has DUI records from more than one parish or region in Louisiana.