On this page
- Is River Ridge part of Harahan or Kenner?
- Which courts hear River Ridge cases?
- What should I do if I think there is a warrant for me?
- What happens after a domestic violence arrest in River Ridge?
- Can the charges be dropped if the other person does not want to press charges?
- What other charges do River Ridge residents face?
- How quickly can we meet with you from Kenner?
Is River Ridge part of Harahan or Kenner?
Neither. River Ridge is an unincorporated community in Jefferson Parish that sits between Kenner and Harahan. It has no city government, no police department of its own and no mayor's court.
That surprises people. A neighbor in Harahan might go to Harahan Mayor's Court for a city ticket, but a River Ridge resident stopped close to home is dealing with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office and parish courts from the start.
Mailing addresses add to the confusion, since River Ridge shares the 70123 ZIP code with Harahan. What controls your case is where the stop or arrest happened and which agency handled it, not the name on your mail. Your paperwork will show both.
Which courts hear River Ridge cases?
Two courts handle almost everything from River Ridge:
- First Parish Court, 924 David Dr., Metairie, for misdemeanors, including most first and second offense DWIs, and traffic cases.
- 24th Judicial District Court, 200 Derbigny St., Gretna, for all felonies. The Jefferson Parish District Attorney prosecutes from the same building.
If you are held after an arrest, it will be at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center at 100 Dolhonde St. in Gretna, and you must see a judge within 72 hours, not counting weekends and holidays.
Both courts are a short drive from River Ridge, but they work very differently. Misdemeanors in First Parish Court are usually decided by a judge, while a felony in Gretna can go to a jury that must reach a unanimous verdict.
What should I do if I think there is a warrant for me?
Call a lawyer before you do anything else. A warrant does not go away on its own, and being picked up at a traffic stop or at work is a hard way to start a case. A planned approach can give you more say in how and when you deal with it.
Louisiana does put limits on how long the state can wait. For most felonies the deadline to begin prosecution is 4 or 6 years, and for misdemeanors punishable by jail it is 2 years. Those clocks can be paused in some situations, so do not count on them running out. Call (504) 905-8399 and see our arrest warrant page.
What happens after a domestic violence arrest in River Ridge?
Domestic cases move fast and carry consequences most people do not expect. A first offense domestic abuse battery carries $300 to $1,000 in fines and 30 days to 6 months in jail, with at least 48 hours served without benefit. Probation requires a 26-week domestic abuse intervention program.
- A conviction bans you from having a firearm for 10 years under state law, and federal law adds a lifetime ban.
- Domestic abuse battery cannot be expunged under the usual misdemeanor rules.
- A court can issue a temporary restraining order quickly, with a hearing set within 21 days.
Because the stakes are high, talk to a lawyer before you speak with anyone about the incident. See our domestic violence defense page and our guide to domestic abuse battery in Louisiana.
Can the charges be dropped if the other person does not want to press charges?
Not by that person alone. In Louisiana, the district attorney decides whether to file or drop criminal charges, not the person who called the police. The Jefferson Parish District Attorney can move forward even if the alleged victim asks to drop the case.
What the other person says can still matter a great deal, and so can what you say. Do not contact them about the case, especially if a protective order is in place. Violating a protective order is its own crime, with up to $500 and 6 months on a first offense. Let your lawyer handle communication with the prosecutor.
What other charges do River Ridge residents face?
We defend every type of criminal charge. Beyond domestic cases, River Ridge clients call us about:
- DWI, including the 30-day deadline to request an OMV hearing
- Drug possession. Possessing under 2 grams of a Schedule II drug like cocaine carries up to 2 years and up to $5,000.
- Juvenile charges for teens under 17
- Probation violations on older cases
Every one of these cases begins with the same question: what can the state actually prove? That is where Barry starts, using what he learned reviewing cases as a prosecutor.
How quickly can we meet with you from Kenner?
Our office at 4224 Florida Ave. in Kenner is about 10 to 12 minutes (roughly 4 miles) from River Ridge. We also serve nearby Harahan, Elmwood and the Jefferson Highway corridor.
Barry has worked as a prosecutor, a public defender and a judge's staff attorney, so he knows what the state looks for when it builds a case. Senior Partner John J. Mason, J.D., Ph.D., also handles state and federal defense. Our phones are answered 24/7, and the first consultation is free and confidential. Call (504) 905-8399 or visit our Jefferson Parish page.