Warrant of Arrests


Justices of the peace have parish-wide criminal authority to issue Arrest Warrants for crimes committed anywhere in the parish.

A justice of the peace CANNOT issue an arrest warrant for an offense committed in another parish. When a complaint is made before a justice of the peace relating to an offense carried out in another parish, the justice of the peace shall immediately notify the district attorney of the parish in which the offense is alleged to have been committed.

An arrest warrant is made up of (1) an affidavit executed by the person making the complaint and (2) the warrant itself.

An arrest warrant may be issued when a magistrate has probable cause to believe that an offense was committed and that the person against whom the complaint was made committed it.

Once satisfied that an arrest warrant should be issued, the JP must make sure that it is in proper form and contains correct information. An arrest warrant must be in writing and in the name of the State of Louisiana.

The warrant may set forth the amount of bail in those cases where the justice of the peace has the authority to fix bond. Those instances are misdemeanors and non-capital felony cases which are not necessarily punishable by hard labor.

Execution of Arrest Warrants:

  • · An arrest warrant is be directed to all peace officers in Louisiana.

  • · It can be executed in any parish by any peace officer in this state having authority in the territorial jurisdiction where the person arrested is found.

  • · It can also be executed by any peace officer having authority in one territorial jurisdiction in this state who enters another jurisdiction in close pursuit of the person arrested.

  • · Arrest Warrants can be executed at any time of the day on any day of the week, including weekends and holidays.

There are "restrictions" on who a justice of the peace may issue an arrest warrant against:

  • Peace Officers

  • Juveniles

  • School Employees


Arrest Warrants remain in effect until they are executed. However, if the justice of peace determines, after an arrest warrant has been issued, that probable cause no longer exists such that the warrant is no longer proper, he or she has the power to recall the warrant that has been issued.

A justice of the peace should NEVER recall a warrant in a domestic abuse matter.