Search Louisiana Criminal Records
Louisiana criminal records are held by multiple agencies across the state. The Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information keeps the main statewide repository of criminal history. Parish Clerk of Court offices hold court case records for all 64 parishes. You can search criminal records online, by mail, or in person, depending on which agency holds what you need. This guide covers the main ways to find Louisiana criminal records and the offices that manage them.
Louisiana Criminal Records Quick Facts
Where to Find Louisiana Criminal Records
Louisiana is a closed record state for criminal history. Under RS 15:587, statewide criminal history records are accessible only to criminal justice agencies and certain authorized entities. This sets Louisiana apart from states where raw criminal history is open to all. That said, court records held by parish clerks fall under the Louisiana Public Records Law (RS 44:1), which gives any person the right to inspect public records. You do not have to be a party in a case to view court files.
Under RS 15:588, individuals can get a certified copy of their own criminal history from the Louisiana State Police. This is called the Right to Review process. It lets you see what agencies can see when they run a check on you. Several offices hold different types of records, so knowing which office to contact depends on what you are looking for. The Louisiana State Police handles statewide history. Parish clerks keep court records. Parish sheriffs hold arrest records. City police departments hold incident reports.
The Louisiana State Portal connects to many of these agencies and can help you find the right office.
The Louisiana State Police website at lsp.org is the starting point for statewide criminal history and background check requests in Louisiana.
Louisiana State Police Criminal Records Bureau
The Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information, known as BCII, is the statewide repository for Louisiana criminal history. It sits within the Louisiana Department of Public Safety at 7919 Independence Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806. The criminal records office phone is (225) 925-6096. Hours run Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, and the office is closed on all state holidays.
To review your own criminal history in person, go to the Baton Rouge office and bring a $31 money order or cashier's check for the processing fee and a separate $10 for fingerprinting. Total cost in person is $41. Bring a valid state ID. Staff will take your fingerprints, then process your record. The office can verify your identity and give you a copy of what is on file. By mail, you submit a set of fingerprints, an authorization form, and a rap disclosure form. You send a $31 money order payable to the Department of Public Safety to: Bureau of Criminal Identification, P.O. Box 66614 Mail Slip A-6, Baton Rouge, LA 70896. Mail requests take 15 to 21 business days to process.
The LSP background checks page at lsp.org/services/background-checks explains the Right to Review process and lists what you need to submit by mail or in person.
A $5 technology fee was added effective December 1, 2024, for online check submissions. The forms you need for any BCII request are listed at the BCII forms page.
Internet Background Check Portal
The Internet Background Check system, or IBC, is available at ibc.dps.louisiana.gov. This portal is used by authorized agencies and individuals who have the right to submit checks online. When a check is run through IBC, the system returns one of four responses: no disqualifying information was found, fingerprints are needed for further review, there is a delay in processing, or a positive criminal history was found. The type of response tells you what the next step should be. If fingerprints are flagged as needed, the request must continue through BCII.
The IBC portal provides authorized users with a fast way to submit criminal history inquiries online rather than mailing paper forms to the BCII office in Baton Rouge.
Parish Court Criminal Records in Louisiana
Each of Louisiana's 64 parishes has a Clerk of Court who keeps criminal court records. These include charging documents, case history, minutes, dispositions, and in some parishes, document images going back decades. Court records are open to the public under RS 44:31. You can walk into any parish clerk's office and inspect records at no charge. You pay only for copies you request.
Many parishes now offer online access to criminal court records through ClerkConnect, a multi-parish portal that covers Orleans, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, Caddo, Bossier, Tangipahoa, Lafayette, Lafourche, Ouachita, Rapides, Richland, and others. You can search by defendant name or case number. A subscription or day pass is required for online access. The 24-hour pass costs $20 in most parishes. Document printing carries an added per-page fee. Other parishes run their own systems. Jefferson Parish uses JeffNet through jpclerkofcourt.us. Rapides Parish uses RAPID E-Search at rapidesclerk.org. Beauregard Parish has its own portal at beauregardclerk.org. Each parish sets its own fees and access rules.
ClerkConnect serves multiple Louisiana parishes through a single login, letting users search criminal, civil, and land records without visiting each clerk's office in person.
Note: Juvenile court records are closed by law and are not available through public search portals.
Department of Corrections Offender Records
The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections keeps records on people in state custody or under supervision. You can locate a state offender by calling the offender locator line at (225) 383-4580. Have the person's DPS&C number or their name and date of birth ready before you call. The line can give you the housing assignment, facility address, facility contact phone, and the projected release date for that offender. The department's mailing address is P.O. Box 94304, Baton Rouge, LA 70804. You can also send public records requests by email to docpublicrecords@la.gov.
The DOC website at doc.la.gov links to the offender locator and information about public records requests related to corrections and state supervision.
What Louisiana Criminal Records Contain
Criminal court records vary by case and parish, but most files include the charging document, case number, court dates, attorney information, bond amounts, and the final disposition. A disposition record shows what happened to the case: guilty plea, not guilty finding, dismissal, acquittal, or sentencing. Some files include warrant details or minutes from each court appearance. The depth of what you can find depends on the parish and how far back records were digitized.
The BCII criminal history report covers arrests, charges, and dispositions from courts and law enforcement agencies across Louisiana. It draws from data submitted by agencies statewide. Not every arrest appears in every report, since data submission depends on individual agencies. Charges without a final disposition may still appear on file. If you believe your record has an error, you can request a review through BCII under RS 15:588. Submit your request with the forms found at the BCII forms page.
The Louisiana state portal at louisiana.gov links to major state agencies including those that handle criminal records, public safety, and corrections.
Expungement of Criminal Records in Louisiana
Louisiana allows certain criminal records to be expunged under RS 44:9. Expungement removes the record from public view. The total cost for most felony and misdemeanor expungements is around $550. That amount is split between the Clerk of Court, the Louisiana State Police, and other required agencies. DWI expungements cost more and require an additional payment to the Office of Motor Vehicles. Fees are not refundable, even if the court denies the request. Credit cards are typically not accepted for expungement fees at most parish clerks.
The process starts at the parish clerk's office where the case was filed. You must get a review of your record from the sheriff's office within 60 days before filing. After filing, the clerk sends notice to all required agencies. The court then sets a hearing date. If no objections are filed and the judge grants the expungement, the record is sealed from public access. An expunged record is not the same as a deleted record. Law enforcement agencies may still have access under certain conditions.
The BCII forms page lists all documents needed for record review, Right to Review requests, and other official submissions related to Louisiana criminal history records.
Louisiana Supreme Court and Appeals Records
The Louisiana Supreme Court sits at 400 Royal Street in New Orleans and can be reached at (504) 310-2300. Cases that reach the Supreme Court level are part of the public record and can be reviewed through the court's website. For circuit court of appeal records, check the court of appeal covering the region where the original case was tried. Louisiana has five circuit courts of appeal. Each covers a set of parishes.
Most criminal court records you would search for start at the district court level in the parish where the case was filed. The Supreme Court and courts of appeal deal with cases that have been appealed from below. You would typically look at parish-level records first unless you are tracking a case through the appeals process.
The Louisiana Supreme Court website at lasc.org provides access to opinions, dockets, and resources for cases that have reached the state's highest court.
Note: Effective January 1, 2026, fax filings are no longer accepted for civil or criminal matters under Act 352 of the 2025 Regular Session. Attorneys must file electronically or in person.
Browse Louisiana Criminal Records by Parish
Every parish in Louisiana has a Clerk of Court who maintains criminal court records. Select a parish below to find contact details, online search tools, and local resources for that area.
View All 64 Louisiana Parishes
Criminal Records in Major Louisiana Cities
Residents of major Louisiana cities file cases at the parish court that covers their area. Select a city below to find criminal records resources for that location.