The transition from the intense, clinical environment of New Orleans’ Orleans Justice Center (OJC) on 2800 Perdido Street back into the heavy mid-day heat of South Broad is a surreal moment. Whether you just posted bond, got released on your own recognizance, or are picking up a loved one, the immediate aftermath of release is often a mix of profound relief and total disorientation.
At GoCrestLaw, we know that the first hours after stepping onto the pavement at 2800 Perdido are critical. What you do right now can directly impact your case, your safety, and your peace of mind.
Here is your immediate, step-by-step game plan the second you walk out of the OJC.
1. Secure the Core Essentials (Phone, ID, and Paperwork)
When someone is released, they are usually handed a plastic property bag containing whatever they had on them when they were booked.
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Check Your Release Paperwork: Do not throw away or lose a single slip of paper given to you by the deputies. Look for your subpoena notice or release criteria. This document tells you exactly when you need to be back in court. Missing this date means an automatic alias capias (arrest warrant).
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Power Up Your Phone: If your phone battery is dead, do not panic. Walk down South Broad toward Tulane Avenue. There are local businesses, gas stations, and spots where you can ask to use a charger or a payphone if necessary.
2. Arrange Safe, Immediate Transportation
The area immediately surrounding 2800 Perdido and the intersection of Broad and Tulane can be chaotic, especially late at night or during shift changes. Your immediate goal is to get to a safe, familiar environment.
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Ride-Sharing & Cabs: If you have your phone and a linked card, order an Uber or Lyft immediately. Set the pickup location slightly away from the main intake gates if it’s congested—walking a block toward a well-lit storefront on Tulane Ave can make it easier for your driver to spot you.
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Public Transit: The RTA bus lines run regularly along both South Broad and Tulane Avenue, providing a direct route toward downtown or mid-city if you have spare cash or an RTA pass in your property.
3. Understand and Comply with Bond Conditions
Release from the OJC is rarely “unconditional.” Before you even leave Mid-City, you need to review the rules of your freedom.
Critical Warning: Violating a bond condition can land you right back inside the OJC within hours, completely forfeiting any money put up for your release.
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Stay Away Orders / Protective Orders: If your arrest involved allegations of domestic violence, assault, or specific property disputes, the judge likely issued a stay-away order. Do not go home if the complaining witness is there. Do not call, text, or send a message through a third party. Go to a friend’s house, a relative’s house, or a hotel until this is legally clarified.
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Pre-Trial Services: If you were released on the condition of checking in with Orleans Parish Pre-Trial Services, make sure you know exactly when your first check-in is. Often, it is within 24 to 48 hours of release.
4. Reconstruct the Timeline While It’s Fresh
Human memory degrades rapidly, especially after a high-stress event like an arrest and a stay at 2800 Perdido. As soon as you are in a safe space and have had something to eat and drink, grab a notebook or open the notes app on your phone.
Write down every single thing you remember about the incident:
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What time did it happen?
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Who was there? (Names, nicknames, physical descriptions of witnesses)
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What did the arresting officers say or do?
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Did they read you your rights? Did they search your car or home without permission?
Do not post any of this on social media. Keep this document strictly for your defense attorney.
5. Build Your Defense: Call a Local Defense Attorney
Being released is a victory, but it is only the end of chapter one. The Orleans Parish District Attorney’s office will now review the police report to determine formal charges.
Do not wait for a formal bill of information to arrive in the mail. Securing experienced local counsel immediately allows an attorney to:
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Contact the DA’s office before formal charges are filed to present mitigating evidence.
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Preserve local surveillance footage (from nearby businesses or traffic cameras) before it loops and overwrites.
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Locate and interview key witnesses while their memories are still accurate.
Facing Charges in Orleans Parish?
If you or a loved one just made the walk out of 2800 Perdido, the clock is already ticking on your defense. Contact GoCrestLaw today for a confidential consultation, and let’s start working to keep you out of the OJC for good.
