16th Judicial District Attorney's Office

The 16th Judicial District Attorney's Misdemeanor Probation Department was created in 1992 when the Louisiana Department of Corrections served notice on the local officials they would no longer supervise misdemeanor probationers due to a shortage of funds and personnel. This meant that all persons convicted of misdemeanor crimes would be on the honor system with no specific person designated to make sure that compliance was being done satisfactorily.

The 16th Judicial District Probation Department currently has seven probation officers, five drug court probation/intake officers and three juvenile probation officers. Additionally there are three support staff including a receptionist and two worthless check intake persons and a data entry clerk.

The District Attorney Probation Department supervises and assists persons placed on probation. Probation is an option that the court can use in determining the penalty a defendant must pay for a criminal conviction. It is not a right guaranteed a defendant. By the granting of probation, the court imposes a sentence. The court has determined that the defendant is not likely to engage in further criminal activity and that the defendant is not a threat to the public. The maximum length of a sentence of probation in the district attorney's program may not be greater than two years.

In addition to the general conditions of probation, the court may require the defendant to carry out other special conditions, such as:

Attending certain programs including, substance abuse program, victim's impact panel program, domestic abuse intervention program, and driver improvements program.
Refraining from certain activities
Performing community service
Serving time in jail

At the end of the probation period, and when the probationer (the person placed on probation) has met all of the conditions of probation, the probation officer will submit a Petition to Discharge to the judge.

What happens if Probationer does not do what the Court has ordered?
He/she will be in violation of his/her probation and may be returned to court for a Show Cause hearing, in which it is determined whether or not the probationer should be held in contempt of court for not following the conditions of probation.
What if Probationer does not appear for a show cause hearing?
The court will issue a bench warrant for his/her arrest.

What types of cases does the DA Probation Department supervises?
The most common type of misdemeanor probation cases are:

DWI's
Battery
Simple possession drug cases
speeding
wildlife and fisheries violations
protective order violations
cases where restitution is ordered

On occasion a person is placed on supervised probation as a condition for a bond release. This allows the person to remain out of jail until the time of their court date. This type of probation also has specific conditions to be followed as outlined by the judge who grants the supervised probation bond release.

During the year 2000 the District Attorney Probation Department collected $620,110 in fines, restitution, investigative fees and other penalties ordered by the court.