.svg)
A misdemeanor conviction can remain on a person’s criminal record and may affect employment, housing, professional licensing, or immigration matters depending on the circumstances. Louisiana treats every misdemeanor by its own statute, not a shared penalty scale, so the details of the charge matter as much as the label.
A misdemeanor lawyer in Louisiana represents people charged with crimes below the felony threshold, from a first citation through court, negotiation, or trial. Rozas Law Firm has defended Louisiana misdemeanor cases since 2004, with offices in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Lake Charles.
Below is what a misdemeanor charge can mean in Louisiana, where cases actually get heard, and what changes once a case ends in a conviction.
Schedule a virtual consultation with an Attorney
Do I Need a Lawyer After I Am Charged with a Misdemeanor?
Yes. A misdemeanor charge can still carry legal consequences, including possible jail time, fines, probation, and a criminal record. Speaking with a misdemeanor defense attorney can help you understand the charge and available legal options. A misdemeanor arrest lawyer in Louisiana reviews the police report, the arrest, and the specific statute before recommending a plea, a negotiation, or a trial.
Louisiana does not divide misdemeanors into numbered degrees, so two charges that sound similar can carry very different penalties depending on the statute. Speaking with an attorney early can give you more time to understand the charge, prepare for court, evaluate the evidence, and consider available options before making decisions about the case.
Common Misdemeanor Charges Our Louisiana Attorneys Defend
Rozas Law Firm defends the full range of misdemeanor charges filed across Louisiana, each governed by its own statute rather than a shared penalty scale. Common charges include:
- Simple assault and simple battery, including domestic abuse battery cases, through our Louisiana assault and battery team
- Misdemeanor theft, generally property valued under $1,000, handled by our Louisiana theft lawyer team
- Disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace, which under Louisiana law (R.S. 14:103) can carry up to 90 days in jail
- Criminal trespassing and criminal mischief
- Misdemeanor drug possession, through our Louisiana drug crimes team
- First and second-offense DUI or DWI, through our Louisiana DUI attorneys
- Resisting arrest and probation violations tied to an earlier misdemeanor case
- Misdemeanor warrants, including cases where a court date was missed
Under Louisiana law, a misdemeanor is generally any crime that isn’t classified as a felony, typically punishable by a fine, jail time in the parish rather than state prison, or both, with the specific statute setting the actual ceiling. Simple battery, for example, carries up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 under R.S. 14:35, while other misdemeanors carry different limits entirely.
Where Louisiana Misdemeanor Cases Are Heard
Where a Louisiana misdemeanor case is heard depends on the parish and, in some cities, whether the arrest happened inside city limits. Rozas Law Firm’s attorneys appear regularly in the courts covering our three primary office markets:
- In Baton Rouge, qualifying misdemeanor offenses committed within the City Court’s territorial jurisdiction may be handled in Baton Rouge City Court, while criminal matters outside that jurisdiction may proceed through the 19th Judicial District Court. Certain charges can also be transferred based on the offense and circumstances.” Our Baton Rouge office also maintains a dedicated Baton Rouge misdemeanor page with more detail specific to that parish.
- In Lafayette, qualifying misdemeanor criminal matters within Lafayette City Court’s jurisdiction may be handled at Lafayette City Court, located at 105 East Convent Street. Other criminal matters in Lafayette Parish fall within the jurisdiction of the 15th Judicial District Court. Visit our Lafayette office page for local details.
- In Lake Charles, qualifying misdemeanor offenses within the city’s territorial jurisdiction may be handled through Lake Charles City Court, located at 118 West Mill Street. Other criminal matters in Calcasieu Parish may fall within the jurisdiction of the 14th Judicial District Court.Visit our Lake Charles office page for local details.
Knowing which court has a case, before the first hearing, shapes how a Louisiana misdemeanor defense lawyer prepares.
What Penalties Can a Louisiana Misdemeanor Carry?
A misdemeanor conviction in Louisiana may lead to penalties that affect your daily life right away. You may need to appear in court, pay fines, complete probation terms, attend classes, perform community service, or serve time in jail.
Some charges also bring added concerns. A DWI may affect your driver’s license. A theft charge may hurt job prospects. A domestic violence-related charge may affect housing, family matters, firearm rights, or immigration status.
This is why we focus on the full picture, not just the charge name. We want to understand what is at stake for you, then help you make informed decisions.
How a Misdemeanor Conviction Can Affect Your Future
A misdemeanor conviction can follow you long after the court date. It may appear on background checks, raise questions from employers, or affect professional licensing.
For students, it may create school discipline or financial aid concerns. For parents, it may affect family stress, custody discussions, or household stability. For immigrants, it may create serious legal concerns that need careful review.
The goal is not only to respond to the charge. The goal is to protect your future wherever the law allows.
Our Results
Nationwide Immigration Services
What to Do After I Am Convicted for a Misdemeanor in Louisiana?
A misdemeanor conviction can remain on a criminal record unless the person qualifies for expungement under Louisiana law. Eligibility depends on factors such as the offense, how the case was resolved, and the person’s subsequent criminal history. For many eligible misdemeanors, more than five years must have passed since the person completed the sentence, deferred adjudication, probation, or parole. Other eligibility requirements and exclusions can apply, so the specific offense and criminal history matter. Certain charges, including some domestic abuse and violent offenses, generally aren’t eligible.
For cases still open, our Louisiana felony lawyer team also handles the reverse situation: negotiating a felony charge down to a misdemeanor before conviction, which can make later expungement possible where a felony record would not have qualified. Reviewing a case, whether it’s still pending or already resolved, usually preserves more options than waiting.
Why Choose Rozas Law Firm to Help with Your Louisiana Misdemeanor
Rozas Law Firm has represented Louisiana clients in criminal matters since 2004, led by founding attorney David Joseph Rozas and supervising criminal law attorney Shea R. Smith. The firm has helped more than 11,000 clients statewide, with an in-house investigator and full-time paralegals working alongside every attorney.
Clients working with our Louisiana misdemeanor defense law firm get:
- 20+ years handling Louisiana misdemeanor, felony, and immigration-related criminal matters
- Attorneys who appear regularly in the courts covering Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Lake Charles
- An in-house investigator and paralegal team, so cases get dedicated resources rather than being passed between staff
- Representation available in English and Spanish, with 22+ bilingual staff members firmwide
Our Louisiana criminal defense team reviews the facts of every misdemeanor case individually before recommending a strategy. No attorney can guarantee how a misdemeanor case will end, but a full, individualized review of the charge and the evidence is something every client gets before any decision is made.
Talk to a Louisiana Misdemeanor Defense Attorney Today
A misdemeanor case moves fast, and the sooner an attorney reviews the charge, the more options typically remain. Rozas Law Firm has represented clients across Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, and communities statewide since 2004, with bilingual staff in English and Spanish.
Schedule a consultation with our criminal defense team, or visit our Louisiana criminal defense page to learn more about how we approach misdemeanor cases from arrest through resolution.
This webpage is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Viewing this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case. For guidance on your specific situation, contact Rozas Law Firm directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Blog Posts
