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The courthouse on Main Street
Felony cases from Houma are heard at the 32nd Judicial District Court, inside the Terrebonne Parish Courthouse at 7856 Main Street. The 32nd Judicial District Attorney's Office prosecutes them. Houma is the parish seat, so cases from across Terrebonne Parish come here.
Not every case goes to the district court. Some misdemeanor and traffic matters from inside the city are handled by city court. Your citation or bond paperwork will name the court, so check it before your date.
Arrested by Houma police or the Sheriff's Office
Inside the city, arrests are made by the Houma Police Department. Elsewhere in the parish, it is usually the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office. Either way, adults are generally booked into the Terrebonne Criminal Justice Complex at 3211 Grand Caillou Road in Houma.
A judge must see the person within 72 hours, not counting weekends and legal holidays, to explain their rights and set or review bail. If they stay in jail, the state generally has 60 days to file formal felony charges. Read our guide to what to do after an arrest in Louisiana.
When a Houma DWI becomes a felony
A DWI becomes a felony on the third offense in Louisiana, and the penalties climb fast from there.
| Offense | Fine | Jail or prison |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd offense | $2,000 | 1 to 5 years, 1 year without benefit |
| 4th or later | $5,000 | 10 to 30 years, at least 2 years without benefit |
On a third or later offense, the court can order your vehicle seized and sold at auction when the District Attorney asks. Starting August 1, 2026, a third offense DWI by someone with a prior vehicular homicide or first degree vehicular negligent injuring conviction carries 5 to 15 years.
Old convictions do not always count. A prior DWI generally drops off for enhancement if it was committed more than 10 years before the new offense, but time spent on probation, in jail or awaiting trial is not counted in those 10 years. See our Houma DWI lawyer page.
Your license after a felony DWI
A felony DWI conviction brings a long license suspension on top of any sentence. Under Office of Motor Vehicles policy, a third offense conviction carries a suspension of 1,095 days, which is 3 years.
Getting back on the road usually means an ignition interlock. Louisiana requires one for reinstatement when a driver tests 0.08% or higher on an arrest that comes within 10 years of a prior arrest, and in several other situations, such as a refusal or a child 12 or younger in the car.
The license fight starts right after the arrest. You have 30 days to request an OMV hearing, even on a third offense. Do not let that deadline pass while you focus on the criminal case. A free consultation at (504) 905-8399 can help you protect both.
Drug charges in Terrebonne Parish
Louisiana treats fentanyl more harshly than almost any other drug. Possessing under 2 grams carries 2 to 4 years. Distributing or possessing with intent to distribute under 28 grams carries 5 to 40 years at hard labor, with the first 5 years served without benefit.
Other drug charges range from fine-only marijuana possession to long prison terms for distribution. The charge the state picks, and the weight it claims, make a huge difference. Our Houma drug lawyer page and our drug charges page explain more.
Federal cases can be heard in Houma too
Terrebonne Parish is part of the Eastern District of Louisiana, and Houma is one of that district's court locations along with New Orleans. If federal agents are involved in your case, it may be heard in federal court rather than at the 32nd JDC.
Federal cases follow their own rules. Judges use the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines as a starting point, and there is no parole in the federal system. Barry S. Ranshi is admitted to practice in the Eastern District. Learn more about federal criminal defense.
Other Houma charges we handle
We also defend Houma residents against:
Some of these charges also climb with each new arrest. A second domestic abuse battery, for example, carries 60 days to 1 year, and a third is a felony with 1 to 5 years.
Defending Houma clients from our Kenner office
Our office is about 55 to 65 minutes (roughly 55 miles) from Houma. Barry regularly handles cases in Terrebonne Parish, and Senior Partner John J. Mason practices there as well. Barry also spent time as a public defender in the neighboring 17th Judicial District.
You do not have to make the drive to get started. We offer remote consultations by phone or video and can handle much of the early work without an office visit. We serve Houma, Bayou Cane, Bourg, Gray and Schriever. For more on the parish, see our Terrebonne Parish criminal defense page.
Call (504) 905-8399 any time, 24/7. Your consultation is free and confidential.