Expungement Attorney in Lake Charles, Louisiana

That Arrest Is Still Following You

You served your time, completed your probation, or watched the charges get dismissed — and you thought it was over. Then a job offer disappeared after a background check. A landlord stopped returning your calls. A professional license application came back denied. The arrest that you thought was behind you is still in the system, still showing up, and still costing you opportunities you should have.

Louisiana law provides a mechanism to remove certain arrests and convictions from your public criminal record — but the eligibility rules are specific, the waiting periods are real, and the process requires a court order. An expungement is not automatic. It does not happen because time has passed. It happens because someone files the right paperwork in the right court at the right time.

I evaluate expungement eligibility as part of every criminal defense representation I handle, and I take standalone expungement cases for clients who completed their cases years ago and are ready to move forward. If you have an arrest or conviction on your Louisiana record that is affecting your life, the first step is finding out whether you qualify.

If you haven’t already spoken to an attorney, you’re already behind. Contact Colonna Law Firm now.

What Does Expungement Do in Louisiana?

An expungement order in Louisiana directs law enforcement agencies, the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information, and other repositories to remove the record of an arrest or conviction from public access. Under Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 973, an expunged record is not destroyed — it is sealed from public view. Law enforcement retains access for limited purposes, including future criminal proceedings and certain background checks for law enforcement employment.

For most practical purposes — employment background checks, housing applications, professional licensing — an expunged record does not appear. Louisiana law also provides that a person whose record has been expunged may lawfully deny the arrest or conviction in most contexts, with limited exceptions.

Who Is Eligible for Expungement in Louisiana?

Eligibility depends on the nature of the charge, the outcome of the case, and whether applicable waiting periods have been satisfied. The three primary categories are:

Arrests That Did Not Result in Conviction

If you were arrested but the charges were refused, dismissed, or you were acquitted at trial, you are generally eligible for expungement immediately — with no waiting period. This is the cleanest and most straightforward expungement scenario. A not-guilty verdict or a dismissal does not automatically clear your record. You must file a petition to trigger the expungement process.

Misdemeanor Convictions

A first-offense misdemeanor conviction may be eligible for expungement after a five-year waiting period from the date the sentence was completed — including any probation or parole. The waiting period is waived if the conviction was under Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 894, which allows a misdemeanor conviction to be set aside upon successful completion of probation. If your sentence was set aside under Article 894, you may be eligible for expungement immediately upon completion of probation.

Felony Convictions

Felony expungement carries a ten-year waiting period from the completion of the sentence, including probation and parole. Certain felony offenses are categorically ineligible for expungement regardless of the waiting period, including crimes of violence as defined by La. R.S. 14:2(B), sex offenses requiring registration, and offenses involving minors. The eligibility analysis for felony expungement is more complex and requires a detailed review of the specific statute of conviction.

How Sentencing Affects Expungement Eligibility

How your case was sentenced matters as much as what you were convicted of. Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Articles 893 and 894 provide mechanisms for first-time offenders to have their conviction set aside upon successful completion of probation — which dramatically affects expungement eligibility and timing.

Article 893 applies to first-offense felony convictions. If you were sentenced under Article 893 and successfully completed probation, the conviction may be set aside and the record becomes eligible for expungement without serving the full ten-year waiting period. Article 894 applies to misdemeanor convictions and operates similarly. Being sentenced under these articles is not automatic — it requires advocacy at sentencing. I argue for Article 893 and 894 treatment in every eligible case because the long-term expungement consequences begin at the sentencing hearing, not five or ten years later.

The Expungement Process at the 14th JDC

An expungement in Louisiana is a court proceeding. It requires filing a petition with supporting documentation in the court where the original charge or conviction occurred, serving the petition on the District Attorney’s Office and other required agencies, and obtaining a signed order from the judge. The DA’s Office has the right to object to an expungement petition, and a hearing may be required if an objection is filed.

I handle expungement proceedings at the 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish City Court, and related courts in Southwest Louisiana. I evaluate eligibility, prepare the petition and all required documentation, manage the service requirements, and appear at any required hearing. The process from filing to order typically takes 60 to 90 days depending on the court’s docket and whether any objection is filed.

Why Hire Jacob Colonna for an Expungement in Lake Charles?

Expungement is not a form you fill out online. It is a legal proceeding with specific eligibility requirements, strict procedural rules, and real consequences if the petition is filed incorrectly or prematurely. A denied petition can restart waiting periods and complicate future eligibility.

I have handled expungement proceedings at the 14th JDC in Calcasieu Parish for more than 17 years. I know the eligibility rules, I know the process, and I know when a client qualifies and when they do not. I evaluate every expungement case honestly — including telling clients when they are not yet eligible or when their offense is categorically ineligible — because a failed petition is not in anyone’s interest.

Frequently Asked Questions