On this page
- Where is a Marrero arrest prosecuted?
- Is my Marrero charge a felony or a misdemeanor?
- Can a first offense in Marrero end without a conviction?
- What if I am on probation and get picked up again?
- Which charges do we defend for Marrero residents?
- Why hire Barry for a Marrero case?
- How far is Marrero from our Kenner office?
Where is a Marrero arrest prosecuted?
In Gretna. Marrero is an unincorporated community, so there is no Marrero police department or mayor's court. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office makes arrests, and anyone held is taken to the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center at 100 Dolhonde St. in Gretna.
Misdemeanors, including most first and second offense DWIs, are heard in Second Parish Court at 100 Huey P. Long Ave. Felonies are heard in the 24th Judicial District Court at 200 Derbigny St. The Jefferson Parish District Attorney prosecutes both.
Is my Marrero charge a felony or a misdemeanor?
Look at the possible sentence. In Louisiana, any crime that can be punished by hard labor is a felony, and everything else is a misdemeanor. If the statute says "with or without hard labor," it is a felony, even if you never serve a day.
The difference changes almost everything about the case:
- Court. Misdemeanors stay in Second Parish Court. Felonies go to the 24th JDC.
- Jury. A misdemeanor gets a jury only if it carries more than 6 months or a fine over $2,500. Felony jury verdicts must be unanimous.
- Expungement. Misdemeanors can usually be expunged after 5 clean years. Felonies usually take 10.
Theft is a good example. Taking property worth under $1,000 is usually a misdemeanor, but $1,000 to under $5,000 carries up to 5 years. Read felony vs. misdemeanor in Louisiana.
Can a first offense in Marrero end without a conviction?
Often it can, if you qualify. Louisiana gives judges two tools that let a first offense be wiped clean after probation:
- Article 894 for misdemeanors, with probation of up to 2 years.
- Article 893 for many first-offense felonies, with probation of up to 5 years (longer in drug, DWI, veterans or other specialty courts).
When you finish probation, the conviction is set aside and the case dismissed, and you can then seek expungement. Article 893 is not available for crimes of violence, sex offenses involving a victim under 17, or drug offenses punishable by more than 10 years. Getting into one of these programs is something a lawyer has to negotiate and argue for, which is why early representation matters. A prior record, the facts of the arrest and how the case is charged all affect whether the DA and the judge will agree.
What if I am on probation and get picked up again?
Call a lawyer right away, because what happens next depends on why you were picked up. A new arrest or conviction while on probation can lead to full revocation, meaning you may have to serve the sentence that was suspended.
Technical violations, like missed appointments, are treated differently for many people. For offenses committed on or after August 1, 2024, a first technical violation is capped at 15 days in jail, a second at 30 days and a third at 45 days, unless you are on probation for a crime of violence or a sex offense. You then return to probation.
Revocation hearings are decided by a judge, not a jury, and the state's burden is lower than at trial. See our probation violation page, or call (504) 905-8399.
Which charges do we defend for Marrero residents?
Along with probation and first-offense cases, Marrero clients call us about:
- Drug charges. Possession of more than 14 grams of marijuana carries up to $500 and 6 months on a first offense.
- Gun charges. A first illegal carrying charge carries up to $500 and 6 months, but carrying a gun while possessing illegal drugs carries 5 to 10 years.
- DWI and domestic violence
- Old warrants and expungements
For West Bank DWI and drug cases, our Gretna DWI and Gretna drug pages cover the same courts.
Why hire Barry for a Marrero case?
Barry has handled criminal cases as a judge's staff attorney, an Orleans Parish prosecutor and a 17th JDC public defender. He has also won writs in the Louisiana courts of appeal and the Louisiana Supreme Court. He understands the arguments judges and prosecutors take seriously, and he puts that knowledge to work for people who made a mistake or were wrongly accused.
He also knows the West Bank setting. Both courts that hear Marrero cases are in Gretna, along with the DA's office and the parish jail, so most of your case will play out in one town. We prepare clients for what a court day there looks like so nothing catches them off guard.
No lawyer can promise an outcome, but you deserve someone who will fight for the strongest outcome the law allows.
How far is Marrero from our Kenner office?
Our office at 4224 Florida Ave. in Kenner is about 20 to 25 minutes (roughly 13 miles) from Marrero. We serve Estelle, Avondale, Westwego, Harvey and the rest of the West Bank.
We answer 24/7, and your first consultation is free and confidential, in person or by phone or video. Call (504) 905-8399 or visit our Jefferson Parish page.