About St. Bernard Parish
St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana (often referred to as a parish equivalent in other states) is located in the southeastern portion of Louisiana, directly southeast of New Orleans along the Gulf of Mexico. The parish seat is Chalmette, which is also the largest parish in the parish. As of the 2020 Census, St. Bernard Parish has a population of approximately 43,764 residents, covering an area of 465 square miles, including significant wetlands and waterways. The parish is bounded by Lake Borgne to the east and the Mississippi River to the west.
the parish is home to the Chalmette Battlefield, the site of the famous Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812, now preserved as part of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. The parish economy has historically centered on fishing, oil and gas, and shipbuilding. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 devastated St.
Bernard Parish, with the entire parish flooded and nearly all structures damaged or destroyed, but the community has since made remarkable recovery efforts. The parish government is located at 8201 West Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette, Louisiana 70043. Key parish offices include the St.
Bernard Parish Assessor's Office, the Clerk of Court (which serves recorder functions), and various departmental offices. The parish is unique for its strong Isleño heritage, descended from Canary Island settlers who arrived in the 18th century, and maintains cultural traditions including the annual Los Isleños Festival. The community is tightly knit, with strong seafood industry roots and resilience demonstrated through post-disaster recovery.
Sheriff, Police & Law Enforcement
Sheriff & Law Enforcement
The St. The office is known for its community policing efforts and various outreach programs meant to crime prevention and public safety education.
Police Departments
Law enforcement in St. Bernard Parish is primarily provided by the St. The Chalmette Police Department serves the city of Chalmette, handling local law enforcement duties within city limits. These agencies coordinate on major crimes and emergencies, often working together on task forces and joint operations to ensure full public safety coverage throughout the parish.
Law Enforcement & Arrests
The St. The main phone number is listed on the office’s official website, and the agency maintains a website at sbpso.com with information on services, press releases, and community programs.
- Arrest records and incident reports can be requested under Louisiana Public Records Law, specifically Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 44, which governs public access to government records.
- Written requests for arrest records should be submitted to the Sheriff's Office Records Division, and requesters may be required to pay reasonable copying fees.
- Citizens can request records in person at the Sheriff's Office administrative building or submit written requests via mail or fax.
St Bernard Parish Prison, operated by the Sheriff's Office, houses inmates arrested in the parish and maintains an inmate roster that can be searched online through the Sheriff's Office website or by calling the detention center directly for Mugshots and booking information are typically available through the online inmate search system, showing current custody status, charges, bond amounts, and booking photos. In addition to the Sheriff's Office, there is no separate municipal police department, as law enforcement services are consolidated under the parish Sheriff. The parish does not have tribal law enforcement, but coordinates with federal agencies including the U.S.
Coast Guard for maritime enforcement in coastal waters. Booking logs, arrest reports, and criminal history information are considered public records, though certain juvenile and sensitive records may be restricted under state law.
Criminal, Arrest & Jail Records
Criminal Records
The criminal records system in St. Bernard Parish includes felony, misdemeanor, traffic violations, and sex offender registry records. The St. Residents can request background checks through the Bureau, which includes a full search of criminal history across Louisiana. The system ensures that residents have access to necessary information while maintaining privacy protections.
Arrest Records
Arrest records in St. Residents and attorneys can request these records by submitting a formal request to the Sheriff's Office, in compliance with the Louisiana Public Records Act. Arrest records typically include the individual's personal information, details of the arrest, charges filed, and the arresting officer's information. The process ensures transparency while protecting sensitive information as required by state law.
Jail & Inmate Records
The St. Bernard Parish Detention Center is the main correctional facility in the parish. It handles the booking process for people arrested within the parish, providing an inmate lookup service through the Sheriff's Office website. Visitation rules are specific to the facility, requiring visitors to schedule appointments and adhere to strict guidelines. The bond and bail process follows Louisiana state law, allowing for cash bonds, surety bonds, and property bonds.
- Information on recently arrested individuals can be accessed through the Sheriff's Office or by contacting the detention center directly.
Mugshots & Booking Photos
Mugshots in St. Bernard Parish are taken and retained by the St. These booking photos can be searched through the Sheriff's Office website or by submitting a request for public records. Louisiana does not have specific mugshot removal laws, but individuals may petition for removal or sealing of records under certain circumstances, such as expungement of charges.
Courts & Case Records
St. Bernard Parish is served by the 34th Judicial District Court, located at 1101 West St. Bernard Parish Highway, Chalmette, LA 70043. St. Bernard Parish Court has jurisdiction over all civil matters exceeding $10,000, felony criminal cases, family law matters including divorce and child custody, successions (probate), and appeals from lower courts.
- The Clerk of Court charges fees for certified copies of judgments, pleadings, and other documents, typically $2.00 per page for copies plus certification fees.
- For historical records and archived case files, researchers may need to submit formal requests to the Clerk's Records Division.
The Clerk of Court for Chalmette area, housed in the same building, maintains all court records and can be contacted through the office’s website. The Clerk's office website at sbpclerkofcourt.com provides information on filing procedures, court dockets, and record searches. Online case lookup is available through the Louisiana Supreme Court's Case Management/Electronic Filing System at https://www.louisiana.gov/services/court-case-records, though some records may require in-person research. the parish also has jurisdiction for lower-level matters through city courts and justice of the peace courts that handle misdemeanors, traffic violations, small claims under $5,000, and preliminary hearings for felony cases.
Court records are generally public under Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 253 and Louisiana Public Records Law (La. R.S. 44:1 et seq.), though certain records such as juvenile proceedings, adoption files, and sealed records are confidential.
Marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of Court, and marriage records are maintained as part of the court's conveyance records. Civil and criminal dockets can be reviewed at the Clerk's office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Property & Public Records
Property and land records for St. Bernard Parish are maintained by the Clerk of Court, which functions as the parish's Recorder of Conveyances. The office is located at 1101 West Chalmette area Highway, Chalmette, LA 70043 The Clerk of Court records and indexes all real estate transactions including property deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, UCC filings, easements, rights-of-way, and plat maps. Louisiana operates under a public records system where all conveyance documents are available for public inspection under Louisiana Revised Statutes 44:1 et seq.
- The Clerk's office provides an online conveyance records search through its website at sbpclerkofcourt.com, allowing users to search by name, instrument number, or legal description.
- Some records may be available for free viewing online, while certified copies require payment of statutory fees.
- Certified copies of deeds and mortgages can be obtained from the Clerk of Court for $2.00 per page plus $5.00 for certification.
Property tax records are maintained separately by the St. Bernard Parish Assessor's Office, located at 8201 West Judge Perez Drive, Suite 308, Chalmette, LA 70043 The Assessor's website at sbpassessor.com provides a free online property search tool where users can look up parcel information, assessment values, ownership details, property characteristics, and tax history by owner name, address, or parcel number.
The parish maintains a GIS mapping system accessible through the Assessor's website, displaying parcel boundaries, flood zones, and property data layers. Property tax payments and millage information are handled by the St.
Historical land records dating back to Spanish and French colonial periods may require research assistance from the Clerk's staff.
Vital Records
Vital records for St. Bernard Parish, including birth and death certificates, are primarily maintained by the Louisiana State Registrar of Vital Records, which is part of the Louisiana Department of Health. Birth certificates for births occurring in St Bernard Parish can be obtained from the Louisiana Vital Records Registry, P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160, or in person at their office at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 1200, New Orleans, LA 70112. The fee for a certified birth certificate is $15.00 for the first copy and $7.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.
- Death certificates cost $7.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy.
- Processing time is typically 2-3 weeks for mail requests and same-day for walk-in requests if the record is readily available.
- Online ordering is available through VitalChek at www.vitalchek.com with additional processing fees.
- Couples must apply in person, provide valid identification, social security numbers, and pay the license fee.
Applicants must provide valid government-issued photo identification and proof of relationship or legal interest to obtain certified copies, as Louisiana restricts access to immediate family members and legal representatives under Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:32 and 40:34. Marriage licenses are issued by the St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court at 1101 West St Bernard Highway, Chalmette, LA 70043 There is a 72-hour waiting period after issuance before the ceremony can be performed, and the license is valid for 30 days.
Marriage records and certified copies are maintained by the Clerk of Court and are public records. Divorce records are also filed with the Clerk of Court as part of civil court proceedings in the 34th Judicial District Court. For records older than 100 years, researchers may need to consult the Louisiana State Archives for historical vital records documentation.
Business & Licensing
Business licensing and registration in St. Bernard Parish involves multiple levels of government. Local business licenses and occupational permits are issued by St Bernard Parish Permit Department, located at 8201 West Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, LA 70043 Businesses operating in Chalmette must obtain a parish occupational license, with fees varying by business type and gross receipts. The Clerk of Court, at 1101 West Chalmette area Highway, handles the recording of trade names (doing business as or DBA filings) and other business related documents.
- For formal business entity registration including corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, and nonprofit organizations, businesses must register with the Louisiana Secretary of State Commercial Division.
The Secretary of State maintains a searchable online database of all registered Louisiana business entities at https://coraweb.sos.la.gov/commercialsearch/commercialsearch.aspx, providing free access to entity names, registration status, registered agents, filing dates, and officer information. Sales tax registration is handled by the Louisiana Department of Revenue, with businesses required to obtain a Louisiana Revenue Account Number and collect applicable state and parish sales taxes. Professional licenses for occupations such as contractors, electricians, plumbers, real estate agents, and healthcare providers are issued by their respective Louisiana state licensing boards.
Building permits, construction permits, zoning approvals, and code enforcement are administered by St Bernard Parish Department of Community Development and Planning, located at 8201 West Judge Perez Drive The St. Bernard Parish Chamber of Commerce, located at 8151 West Judge Perez Drive, Suite 100, Chalmette, LA 70043, website sbchamber.net, provides business resources, networking opportunities, and economic development information for the parish business community.