Lafayette Criminal Records Lookup
Lafayette criminal records are maintained by the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court, Lafayette City Court, and the Lafayette Police Department, each covering different types of cases. Felony matters go through the 15th Judicial District Court and are filed with the parish clerk. Misdemeanor cases and traffic offenses in Lafayette often land at Lafayette City Court. This guide covers where to look, how to search online, and what each agency provides.
Lafayette Quick Facts
Lafayette Police Department Records
The Lafayette Police Department maintains Lafayette criminal arrest records and incident reports for crimes that occur within Lafayette city limits. The LPD headquarters is at 900 East University Avenue, Lafayette, LA 70503. For Lafayette criminal records requests and general inquiries, contact the Records Division at (337) 291-8500.
LPD records cover incidents handled by city police officers. Arrest reports, incident reports, and related documents are available through public records requests under Louisiana's Public Records Law. These records document what officers found at the scene, who was arrested, and what charges were booked. They are separate from court case files, which are maintained by the clerk of court and only exist if charges were formally filed after an arrest.
To get an LPD record, contact the Records Division at (337) 291-8500 to ask about the current request process. Some requests can be submitted in person at 900 East University Avenue during business hours. The records staff can tell you what identification or information you need to bring and how long requests typically take to process.
Note: LPD records cover city limits only. If a Lafayette criminal incident occurred in unincorporated Lafayette Parish, the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office would have the record, not LPD.
Lafayette City Court Criminal Records
Lafayette City Court handles low-level criminal matters within Lafayette. The court is at 105 East Convent Street, Lafayette, LA 70501. For court matters and records, call (337) 291-8720. City Court has limited jurisdiction. It handles misdemeanor cases, traffic cases, and city ordinance violations, not felonies.
City Court jurisdiction covers cases where the maximum possible penalty falls below certain thresholds set by state law. Common matters here include traffic citations, minor drug possession, simple battery, city code violations, and other low-level misdemeanor charges. If a defendant is charged with both a misdemeanor and a felony from the same incident, the entire case typically goes to the 15th JDC rather than staying at City Court.
Records for Lafayette City Court cases are maintained by Lafayette Court clerk at 105 East Convent Street. These are separate from the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court system. If you are searching for a traffic citation or misdemeanor case handled in Lafayette, contact City Court directly at (337) 291-8720. Not all City Court records are available online.
Note: A Lafayette City Court misdemeanor conviction is a public record. Searches by name can reveal these records, though the court's own search tools may be limited compared to the parish-level clerk system.
Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court and ClerkConnect
The Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court is the official keeper of Lafayette criminal case records for cases heard in the 15th Judicial District Court. The clerk office is at 800 South Buchanan Street, Lafayette, LA 70501. The main number is (337) 291-6400. For Lafayette criminal records specifically, call (337) 291-6329. The clerk website is at lpclerk.com.
Lafayette Parish completed a migration to ClerkConnect in 2025. ClerkConnect is the multi-parish online case search platform used across Louisiana. The new pricing is $10 for one day of access, $25 for 30 days, and $300 for a full year. Registration is required at clerkconnect.com. Once logged in, you can search cases by defendant name or case number and view basic information including charges, court dates, and dispositions.
The image below shows the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court website, which directs users to ClerkConnect for online case searches following the 2025 migration.
ClerkConnect covers the 15th JDC case records. Files at the clerk include charging documents (bill of information or indictment), all motions and rulings, minute entries from each court date, plea information, sentencing orders, and post-conviction filings. For certified copies of Lafayette criminal records, contact the clerk at (337) 291-6329 directly. ClerkConnect shows case data but does not issue certified documents.
In-person searches at 800 South Buchanan Street are free during business hours. Staff can look up cases by name or case number. You pay only when you need printed copies or certified documents. The Criminal Records desk at (337) 291-6329 is the right line to call for specific guidance.
Note: ClerkConnect covers 15th JDC cases only. Lafayette City Court records are not in ClerkConnect. Contact City Court at (337) 291-8720 for those records.
15th Judicial District Court and Lafayette
The 15th Judicial District Court (15th JDC) covers three parishes: Lafayette, Vermilion, and Acadia. This is a multi-parish district, which means one judicial district serves a fairly large area of south-central Louisiana. For Lafayette specifically, the 15th JDC is the court that handles all Lafayette felony criminal cases filed within Lafayette Parish.
Cases from all three covered parishes are assigned to judges within the 15th JDC. When a Lafayette felony case is filed, it is assigned to a section and heard at the courthouse in Lafayette. The case file goes to the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court at 800 South Buchanan. Cases from Vermilion or Acadia parishes are handled at courthouses and clerk offices in those parishes, even though they share the same judicial district.
The multi-parish structure means that if you are searching Lafayette criminal records specifically, you always go to the Lafayette Clerk regardless of which section judge handled the case. The section designation appears in the case number and on all court documents but does not change where records are held.
Note: If a case involved a change of venue or transfer to another district, records may not be at the Lafayette Clerk. Contact the clerk for help if a case appears to be missing from their system.
Criminal Record Searches in Lafayette
Searching Lafayette criminal records means matching your request to the right agency. Once you know what type of case you need, the search is straightforward.
For Lafayette felony cases and serious criminal matters: go to the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court at 800 South Buchanan Street or search online through ClerkConnect at clerkconnect.com. The one-day subscription at $10 is the least expensive option for a quick online search. In-person searches are free but require a trip to the clerk office. Call (337) 291-6329 to reach the criminal records desk before visiting so you know what to expect.
For Lafayette misdemeanor cases and traffic violations within the city: contact Lafayette City Court at 105 East Convent Street or call (337) 291-8720. City Court records are not in ClerkConnect, so an in-person inquiry or phone call is the best approach. Have the defendant's name and an approximate date to help staff locate the record.
For police arrest records without a court case: contact the LPD Records Division at (337) 291-8500. If charges were declined by the DA or never filed, there may be only a police record with no corresponding court file. Both types of records matter for a complete picture of a criminal history.
Note: Louisiana's Public Records Law does not require you to give a reason for requesting records. Simply identify what case you need and ask the clerk or police records staff to help you locate it.
State Resources for Louisiana Criminal Records
Two state agencies maintain Louisiana-wide criminal records that extend beyond Lafayette criminal records held in Lafayette Parish and cover the full state.
The Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information (BCII) is the state's central repository for fingerprint-based criminal history data. The BCII collects records from law enforcement agencies across Louisiana, including LPD and the Lafayette Parish Sheriff. For a statewide check that goes beyond what the parish clerk holds, visit the LSP website at lsp.org/services/background-checks for forms and current fees. Individuals can request their own record for self-review through this process.
The image below shows the Louisiana State Police background checks page where you can find information on requesting a criminal history record through the BCII.
The ClerkConnect multi-parish portal covers Lafayette Parish along with other Louisiana parishes that use the system. If you need to search records across multiple parishes, ClerkConnect at clerkconnect.com allows you to access all connected parish courts with a single account. One login works across all ClerkConnect parishes, which makes it efficient for multi-parish searches.
The image below shows the ClerkConnect portal, which Lafayette Parish joined in 2025 for online criminal and civil case record access.
Note: The LSP BCII provides the most comprehensive and official statewide criminal history. Parish-level clerk records cover only what was filed in that specific court system and may not include records from other states.
Nearby Cities with Criminal Records Pages
Other qualifying cities near Lafayette with criminal records pages include New Iberia and Houma, both in south-central Louisiana.
Lafayette Parish Criminal Records
Lafayette serves as the parish seat of Lafayette Parish. All felony cases filed in the city go through the 15th Judicial District Court and are recorded by the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court. For the full parish-level overview including additional court contacts, fee details, and parish-wide resources, visit the Lafayette Parish criminal records page.