On this page
- Hammond drug charges: city court or the 21st JDC in Amite
- Marijuana charges in Tangipahoa Parish: what the law says now
- Clearing a first marijuana conviction
- Paraphernalia and pill charges
- What happens after a drug arrest in Tangipahoa Parish?
- How Barry fights a Hammond drug case
- First steps after a Hammond drug arrest
Hammond drug charges: city court or the 21st JDC in Amite
Felony drug charges from Hammond go to the 21st Judicial District Court at 110 North Bay Street in Amite, which serves Tangipahoa, Livingston and St. Helena parishes. Misdemeanor cases inside the city may be heard by the City Court of Hammond. Check your summons or bond paperwork for the exact court.
Arrests inside the city are made by the Hammond Police Department. People held after arrest are usually taken to the Tangipahoa Parish Jail at 101 Campo Lane in Amite. Louisiana requires a judge appearance within 72 hours of arrest, not counting weekends and holidays.
Marijuana charges in Tangipahoa Parish: what the law says now
- 14 grams or less: a fine of up to $100, no jail, for any offense number, enforced by summons.
- Over 14 grams, first offense: up to $500 and/or up to 6 months.
- Second offense: up to $1,000 and/or up to 6 months.
- Third offense: up to $2,500 and/or up to 2 years.
- Fourth or more: up to $5,000 and/or up to 8 years.
- Distribution or intent, under 2.5 pounds: 1 to 10 years and up to $50,000.
Read more in our guide to Louisiana marijuana laws.
Clearing a first marijuana conviction
A first-offense marijuana possession conviction can be expunged just 90 days after the conviction. That is much faster than the usual 5-year wait for misdemeanors. A small-amount conviction also stops counting as a prior if 2 years pass after the sentence with no new marijuana conviction, a one-time benefit.
Article 894 offers another route: the judge can defer sentence, and after probation the conviction is set aside and dismissed. Then it can be expunged. If your case is dismissed or refused instead, the arrest can usually be expunged once the case is over, with no waiting period. Expunged records are hidden from the public but remain available to law enforcement and some licensing agencies. See our expungement page.
Paraphernalia and pill charges
Paraphernalia for personal marijuana use is fine-only: $100 for a first offense, $500 for a second and $2,500 for a third or more. Other drug paraphernalia carries up to $300 and/or 15 days for a first offense, rising to up to $2,500 and/or 2 years for a third.
Pill charges are more serious. Oxycodone is a Schedule II drug, and possessing under 2 grams carries up to 2 years. Fentanyl under 2 grams carries 2 to 4 years. Our main drug charges defense page explains each drug.
What happens after a drug arrest in Tangipahoa Parish?
After an arrest, the case follows deadlines set by Louisiana law. A person in jail must see a judge within 72 hours, not counting weekends and holidays, and bail can be set or reviewed then. The district attorney then has to formally charge the case: within 60 days for a jailed felony defendant and 30 days for a misdemeanor, or 150 and 90 days if the person is out on bail.
Arraignment, where you enter a plea, must follow within 30 days of the formal charge unless there is just cause for delay. If a deadline is missed, a jailed person must be released or a bailed person is freed from the bail obligation. Barry tracks each date so nothing slips by, and he uses the time before trial to build your defense.
How Barry fights a Hammond drug case
Barry looks first at the search. Was there a warrant, valid consent or a legal exception? If not, he can move to suppress the evidence. He also checks whether the State can prove you knew about and controlled the drugs, whether the lab confirmed what the substance is, and whether the weight really crosses the 14-gram line.
That last point matters in marijuana cases. The difference between 14 grams and 15 grams is the difference between a fine and a criminal charge. As a former trial prosecutor, Barry knows how much the State needs to prove and where it falls short. Call (504) 905-8399 to talk through your case.
First steps after a Hammond drug arrest
- Do not explain or apologize to police. Ask for a lawyer.
- Keep your summons, citation or bond papers and note the court named.
- Do not agree to searches of your phone, car or room.
- Call (504) 905-8399 for a free, confidential consultation. Barry is available 24/7 and offers remote consultations.
Our Kenner office is about 50 to 55 minutes (roughly 50 miles) from Hammond. See our Hammond criminal defense and Tangipahoa Parish pages.