📖 Complete Guide · Criminal Defense
The Louisiana Criminal Defense Guide
A comprehensive, chapter-by-chapter guide to Louisiana criminal law, the arrest process, your rights, and what to expect at every stage — written for the people going through it, not for lawyers.
Your Rights After Arrest in Louisiana
[Jacob to write — opening narrative explaining the moment of arrest and why knowing your rights in the first minutes matters more than anything else that follows. Conversational, direct, written for someone who may be reading this in a state of panic.]
The Right to Remain Silent
[Jacob to write — explaining Miranda rights in Louisiana, when they apply, what invoking silence means in practice, and the single most important thing to do after an arrest in Lake Charles. Include the specific language to use.]
The Right to an Attorney
[Jacob to write — explaining the right to counsel in Louisiana, the difference between a public defender and a private attorney, when the right to counsel attaches, and how to invoke it clearly and effectively.]
What You Should and Should Not Do Immediately After Arrest
Stay calm and do not resist
[Jacob to write — practical guidance on physical conduct during arrest and why resisting adds charges regardless of whether the underlying arrest is lawful.]
Invoke your right to remain silent — out loud
[Jacob to write — the exact language to use, why silence alone is not enough in Louisiana, and what happens if you start talking and then try to stop.]
Ask for an attorney immediately
[Jacob to write — how to invoke the right to counsel, what law enforcement must do once you do, and why this single step changes the entire trajectory of your case.]
Call your attorney or a family member as soon as you are allowed
[Jacob to write — when you get your phone call in Louisiana, who to call, and what information to give them.]
The one thing that matters most
[Jacob to write — a one-paragraph plain-language distillation of this chapter for the reader who is skimming. What is the single most important takeaway from everything above?]
Just arrested in Lake Charles? The decisions made in the first 24 hours matter more than anything that follows. Call Jacob Colonna now for a free 30-minute consultation.
Call (337) 656-3212 →Chapter 2 — The Booking Process at Calcasieu Parish Correctional Center
[Jacob to write — what happens at CPCC, fingerprints, mugshot, initial charges, bond magistrate, what to expect in the first 48 hours.]
Chapter 3 — Bond and Release — How It Works in the 14th JDC
[Jacob to write — types of bond in Louisiana, how bond is set, bond reduction hearings, bail bondsmen, conditions of release.]
Chapter 4 — Your First Court Appearance — Arraignment
[Jacob to write — what arraignment is, what plea to enter, why you should always plead not guilty at arraignment, what the judge asks, what happens next.]
Chapter 5 — Understanding Your Charges — Felony vs. Misdemeanor
[Jacob to write — Louisiana’s felony/misdemeanor distinction, what hard labor means, how charges affect your rights and record, common charges in Calcasieu Parish.]
Chapter 6 — Discovery, Pre-Trial Motions, and Suppression
[Jacob to write — what discovery is, what you are entitled to see, motions to suppress, Fourth Amendment challenges, how evidence gets thrown out.]
Chapter 7 — Plea Agreements vs. Going to Trial
[Jacob to write — how plea negotiations work with the Calcasieu Parish DA, what a plea means for your record, when trial is the right choice, what a jury trial looks like in the 14th JDC.]
Chapter 8 — Sentencing in Louisiana
[Jacob to write — how sentences are structured in Louisiana, suspended sentences, probation, mandatory minimums, concurrent vs. consecutive sentences, alternatives to incarceration.]
Chapter 9 — Expungement — Clearing Your Record After a Case
[Jacob to write — Louisiana expungement eligibility, waiting periods, the filing process in the 14th JDC, what expungement does and does not do, how it affects background checks.]
Chapter 10 — Why Local Representation Matters in the 14th JDC
[Jacob to write — first-person explanation of why knowing the courts, the judges, the prosecutors, and the local procedures gives clients a real advantage, and what to look for in a Lake Charles criminal defense attorney.]
Criminal defense questions from Lake Charles clients
What should I do immediately after being arrested in Louisiana?
Remain calm, do not resist, and invoke your right to remain silent out loud. Ask for an attorney immediately. Do not answer any questions from law enforcement without your attorney present. Call an attorney or a family member as soon as you are permitted to use the phone.
What is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor in Louisiana?
In Louisiana, a felony is any crime punishable by hard labor or death — typically meaning a sentence of more than one year to be served in state prison. A misdemeanor carries a sentence of up to one year in a parish jail. The distinction affects your rights, your sentence, and your record for years after a conviction.
Can I get my record expunged in Louisiana?
Yes, depending on the charge and outcome. Dismissed charges and acquittals are generally eligible for immediate expungement. First-offense misdemeanor convictions may be expunged after a waiting period. Certain felony convictions can also be expunged under specific conditions. Jacob can review your record and advise on eligibility.
How long does a criminal case take in the 14th JDC?
[Jacob to write based on his direct experience with case timelines in Calcasieu Parish for misdemeanor and felony matters.]
The Louisiana Criminal Defense Guide was written by Jacob Colonna, criminal defense attorney in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It covers Louisiana criminal law, the arrest process, booking at Calcasieu Parish Correctional Center, arraignment in the 14th JDC, plea agreements, sentencing, and expungement. Jacob Colonna has practiced criminal defense in Lake Charles since 2009.
Jacob Colonna · Colonna Law Firm LLC · 900 Ryan St Suite 402, Lake Charles LA 70601 · (337) 656-3212 · #1 Criminal Justice Attorney Lake Charles (BusinessRate 2026) · Top Criminal Defense Lawyer (Expertise 2026)
Last Reviewed: May 2026 | Content reviewed by Jacob Colonna, Attorney at Law