On this page
- The 32nd Judicial District Court on Main Street in Houma
- Booking at the Terrebonne Criminal Justice Complex
- How long does the State have in a Terrebonne Parish case?
- What families in Houma can do after an arrest
- DWI arrests in Terrebonne Parish
- Theft and shoplifting charges in Houma
- Federal charges from Terrebonne Parish
- Communities from Schriever to Dulac
The 32nd Judicial District Court on Main Street in Houma
Felony cases in Terrebonne Parish are heard by the 32nd Judicial District Court at the Terrebonne Parish Courthouse, 7856 Main Street, Houma, LA 70360. The 32nd Judicial District Attorney's Office prosecutes them.
Some misdemeanor and traffic matters from inside the city may be handled by a city court instead of the 32nd JDC. Your ticket or bond paper names the court, so check it carefully, and call us if anything is unclear.
Where your case is heard affects more than the address. A felony in the 32nd JDC carries the possibility of hard labor and a jury trial, while a misdemeanor is usually decided by a judge alone. Before your first court date, it helps to know exactly what kind of case you are facing and what the State has to prove.
Booking at the Terrebonne Criminal Justice Complex
The parish jail is the Terrebonne Criminal Justice Complex at 3211 Grand Caillou Road, Houma, LA 70361, run by the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office. Arrests in the parish may be made by the Sheriff's Office, the Houma Police Department or State Police.
After booking, a judge must see the person within 72 hours of arrest, not counting weekends and legal holidays. At that first appearance, the judge explains the person's rights, appoints a lawyer if the person qualifies, and sets or reviews bail. If there was no warrant, a judge should review probable cause within 48 hours.
Need help with a bond right now? Call (504) 905-8399. We answer 24/7.
How long does the State have in a Terrebonne Parish case?
Louisiana puts the State on a clock at every stage of a criminal case. These deadlines protect you, and a defense lawyer can use them when the government drags its feet.
| Stage | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Start a prosecution (most felonies at hard labor) | 6 years from the offense |
| Start a prosecution (other felonies) | 4 years |
| Start a prosecution (misdemeanors with possible jail) | 2 years |
| Formally charge a jailed felony defendant | 60 days from arrest |
| Formally charge a felony defendant out on bail | 150 days |
| Arraignment after charges are filed | 30 days |
| Begin trial of a non-capital felony | 2 years from charging |
| Begin trial of a misdemeanor | 1 year from charging |
Some deadlines can be extended for just cause or paused by defense motions, so they are not automatic wins. But tracking them closely is part of holding the State accountable. Offenses punishable by death or life in prison have no time limit to begin prosecution.
What families in Houma can do after an arrest
If a family member was just arrested in Terrebonne Parish, focus on three things: information, a lawyer and silence about the facts.
- Information. Get the person's full name, date of birth, charge and the court named on any paperwork.
- A lawyer. Call before the first appearance if you can. Bail is often decided there.
- Silence. Do not discuss what happened on jail calls, by text or online. Those words can end up as evidence.
Our page on bail and bond hearings explains how a lawyer can ask the court to lower bail.
DWI arrests in Terrebonne Parish
A DWI arrest in Terrebonne Parish creates two fights: the criminal case and the license suspension. Request your OMV hearing within 30 days of the arrest, or the suspension starts automatically.
Penalties grow with each offense. A first DWI is a misdemeanor with a $300 to $1,000 fine and 10 days to 6 months in jail, much of which can be suspended with probation. A third DWI is a felony carrying 1 to 5 years and a $2,000 fine, and the court can order the vehicle seized and sold on the DA's motion. Prior DWIs count if the new offense happened within the 10-year lookback period, which is extended by time spent in jail or on probation.
Commercial drivers face added risk: a DWI in any vehicle can disqualify a CDL for 1 year. See our Houma DWI lawyer page and our Louisiana DWI penalties guide.
Theft and shoplifting charges in Houma
In Louisiana, the penalty for theft depends mostly on the value of what was taken. Shoplifting no longer has its own statute; it is charged as theft using the same value tiers:
- Under $1,000: a misdemeanor, up to 6 months and up to a $1,000 fine. With two or more prior theft convictions, it rises to up to 2 years.
- $1,000 to under $5,000: up to 5 years and up to $3,000.
- $5,000 to under $25,000: up to 10 years and up to $10,000.
- $25,000 or more: up to 20 years at hard labor and up to $50,000.
Prosecutors can add up several thefts to reach a higher tier, so the value the State claims is often the first thing we challenge. A first-time theft case may also qualify for a deferred sentence that leads to dismissal and, later, expungement.
Learn more about theft and shoplifting defense.
Federal charges from Terrebonne Parish
Some cases from Terrebonne Parish are charged in federal court rather than the 32nd JDC. Terrebonne is one of the 13 parishes in the Eastern District of Louisiana, and Barry S. Ranshi is admitted to practice in that court.
Federal cases run on different rules. Sentences are based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which judges must calculate but are not bound by, and there is no parole in the federal system. Mandatory minimum sentences still apply when a statute requires them.
Learn more on our federal criminal defense page.
Communities from Schriever to Dulac
We represent people throughout Terrebonne Parish, including Houma, Bourg, Gray, Schriever, Montegut, Chauvin and Dulac. Our office in Kenner is about 55 to 65 minutes (roughly 55 miles) from the courthouse in Houma, and we offer both in-person and remote consultations.
We also defend domestic violence, violent crimes, theft, probation violations and warrant cases. Terrebonne is one of the parishes where Barry regularly handles cases. Your first consultation is free and confidential: call (504) 905-8399.