Lafayette Parish Criminal Records Search
Lafayette Parish criminal records are maintained by the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court and the 15th Judicial District Court, covering criminal charges, arrest history, case dockets, and final dispositions for felony and misdemeanor cases filed in Lafayette Parish, one of Louisiana's most populous parishes with roughly 245,000 residents.
Lafayette Parish Quick Facts
Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court
The Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court is the primary custodian of criminal records in Lafayette Parish. The clerk's office stores criminal case files, minute entries, charge records, booking information, and final dispositions for every criminal case filed through the 15th Judicial District Court. Lafayette Parish criminal records are organized by defendant name and case number, and staff at the Lafayette Parish clerk's office can help you locate any public criminal record. If you need a certified copy of a court document from a Lafayette Parish criminal case, this office is where you start.
Lafayette Parish residents and attorneys can access criminal case records by walking in during business hours. The criminal department within the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court office handles criminal, traffic, and family nonsupport case files. The Lafayette Parish clerk maintains two separate phone lines: one for the main office and one directly for the criminal department. Use the criminal department line for questions about a specific criminal case filed in Lafayette Parish.
The Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court website shows all available services for accessing Lafayette Parish criminal records, including contact information and links to the online court portal. Visit the clerk's site at lpclerk.com to learn more about Lafayette Parish criminal record access.
The site guides users to the ClerkConnect portal for online access to Lafayette Parish criminal case data.
| Main Office |
800 S. Buchanan St. Lafayette, LA 70501 Mailing: P.O. Box 2009, Lafayette, LA 70502 |
|---|---|
| Main Phone | (337) 291-6400 |
| Criminal Department | (337) 291-6329 |
| Website | lpclerk.com |
ClerkConnect: Lafayette Parish Criminal Records Online
Lafayette Parish moved to a new online criminal records system in 2025. The old portal at clerkconnect.lpclerk.com is no longer active for Lafayette Parish criminal record searches. Old usernames and passwords tied to the previous Lafayette Parish portal do not work in the new system. Anyone who searched Lafayette Parish criminal cases through the old system needs to create a new account and purchase a subscription through the updated platform. This change affects all users searching Lafayette Parish court records, including those who had active subscriptions before the switch.
The new system for Lafayette Parish criminal records is ClerkConnect, available at clerkconnect.com. You set up your Lafayette Parish account directly on that site and pay by credit card. There is no separate signup through the Lafayette Parish Clerk's office. Once you have access, you can search Lafayette Parish criminal and traffic records including offense dates, charges filed, criminal case history, service records, court minutes, and dispositions. Civil suit index records from Lafayette Parish go back to January 1, 1986, and civil images are available from May 24, 2006. Lafayette Parish criminal case records are available based on the same system parameters.
The ClerkConnect portal is the main online access point for Lafayette Parish court records, including Lafayette Parish criminal case data. Go to clerkconnect.com to sign up and start searching Lafayette Parish criminal records.
The portal runs on a subscription basis, with plan options to match different needs for accessing Lafayette Parish criminal records.
Subscription plans for individual users searching Lafayette Parish criminal records are listed below. Business plans are also available for those who need frequent access to Lafayette Parish court data.
- 1-Day access: $10.00
- 30-Day access: $25.00
- 365-Day access: $300.00
- Printed page fee: $1.00 per page
- Minute entry fee: $10.00 per entry
- Monthly subscription (full): $65.00 per month per User ID, plus a one-time $100 setup fee
Note: The old ClerkConnect site tied to the Lafayette Parish clerk office is no longer active. Use clerkconnect.com only to search Lafayette Parish criminal records online.
Lafayette City Court Criminal Records
Lafayette City Court handles lower-level criminal and traffic matters within the city of Lafayette. This court is separate from the 15th Judicial District Court. Lafayette City Court covers misdemeanor offenses, traffic violations, and other local criminal matters. If you are searching for a Lafayette Parish criminal case that did not go to district court, it may be at city court instead. Many misdemeanor criminal cases in Lafayette Parish go through city court rather than the 15th JDC.
Lafayette City Court keeps its own criminal records. You need to contact Lafayette City Court directly if you want records from criminal cases heard there. The court has a main line for general criminal record questions and separate fax numbers for criminal, traffic, and juvenile matters. Lafayette City Court criminal records are not part of the district court system, so they will not show up in a ClerkConnect search for Lafayette Parish district court cases. Walk-in access to Lafayette City Court criminal records may be available during business hours.
| Address | 105 East Convent Street, Lafayette, LA 70501 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (337) 291-8720 |
| Criminal/Traffic Fax | (337) 291-8774 |
| Juvenile Fax | (337) 291-8181 |
Note: Lafayette City Court criminal records are not part of the 15th JDC system and will not appear in a ClerkConnect search for Lafayette Parish district court cases.
Lafayette Police Department Records
The Lafayette Police Department keeps arrest records, incident reports, and other law enforcement documents for the city of Lafayette. Lafayette Parish arrest records held by the police are separate from criminal court records at the clerk's office. If you need a police report or want to know whether someone was arrested in Lafayette Parish, the Lafayette Police records division is where you go. An arrest record from the Lafayette Police Department shows the arrest itself. A Lafayette Parish criminal record at the clerk's office shows what happened in court after the arrest. Both types of records may be needed for a complete picture of a Lafayette Parish criminal case.
You can contact the Lafayette Police records division by phone. Some Lafayette Parish arrest records may be requested in person or by mail. Response times vary depending on the type of record and whether the Lafayette Parish criminal case is still active. The police records division follows Louisiana's Public Records Law when processing Lafayette Parish criminal record requests.
| Address | 900 E. University Ave., Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|
| Records Phone | (337) 291-8500 |
15th Judicial District Criminal Courts
The 15th Judicial District Court covers three parishes: Lafayette, Vermilion, and Acadia. Each parish has its own clerk of court, but all three fall under the same 15th JDC system. Felony cases and serious misdemeanors in Lafayette Parish go through this court. Judges assigned to the 15th District handle all criminal trials, criminal hearings, and arraignments for Lafayette Parish cases. The 15th JDC is the court where Lafayette Parish felony charges are prosecuted, where defendants enter pleas, and where criminal sentences are imposed.
If a criminal case was filed in Lafayette Parish, the district court records are at the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court. Cases from Vermilion or Acadia parishes are at those parish clerk offices. The 15th District also handles civil, family, and juvenile matters, but Lafayette Parish criminal cases are the focus here. Lafayette Parish criminal appeals from 15th District decisions go to the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal in Lake Charles. Knowing the correct parish where the criminal case was filed is important, since Lafayette Parish records will not include cases filed in Acadia or Vermilion even though they share a judicial district.
Note: Do not expect to find an Acadia Parish criminal case in Lafayette Parish's records system, even though they share the 15th Judicial District.
How to Search Lafayette Parish Criminal Records
There are two main ways to search Lafayette Parish criminal records. Online access through ClerkConnect is the fastest option for those with a subscription. In-person access at the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court is free for basic public inspection of criminal case files. Both methods let you look up the same Lafayette Parish criminal case data, but they differ in cost and convenience.
For an online search of Lafayette Parish criminal records, go to clerkconnect.com, create an account, and pick a subscription plan. Once you are in, you can search by name or case number to find Lafayette Parish criminal cases. You can see offense dates, charges, case history, minute entries, and dispositions for Lafayette Parish criminal cases. Copies of minute entries from Lafayette Parish criminal cases cost extra per entry. Keep in mind that this system covers 15th JDC district court records for Lafayette Parish, not Lafayette City Court criminal records.
For an in-person search of Lafayette Parish criminal records, go to the Clerk of Court at 800 S. Buchanan St. during business hours. You can inspect Lafayette Parish criminal case files at no charge under Louisiana's Public Records Law. If you want printed copies of Lafayette Parish criminal records, there is a per-page fee. Bring the full legal name of the defendant you are searching and, if possible, the year the case was filed in Lafayette Parish. A Lafayette Parish case number speeds the search up considerably. Staff can look up the criminal case index and pull the file for you.
To search Lafayette Parish criminal records, you generally need the full legal name of the defendant. A date of birth helps narrow results if the name is common. The Lafayette Parish case number speeds things up if you have it. For older Lafayette Parish criminal records, the year the case was filed is helpful. Cases from before the current Lafayette Parish digital system may take longer to locate.
Expungements in Lafayette Parish
An expungement removes or seals a Lafayette Parish criminal record so it no longer shows up in most public searches. Louisiana law governing expungements is found at RS 44:9. Not every charge in a Lafayette Parish criminal record qualifies. First-time, non-violent offenses in Lafayette Parish that were dismissed or resulted in an acquittal are often eligible. Some Lafayette Parish convictions can also be expunged after a set waiting period. Talk to an attorney familiar with Lafayette Parish criminal courts to find out if a specific criminal record qualifies for expungement.
The expungement process in Lafayette Parish involves filing a motion to expunge with the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court, paying the required fees, and serving notice on the district attorney and other agencies that hold the Lafayette Parish criminal record. The total cost for an expungement in Louisiana, including Lafayette Parish cases, typically runs around $550, covering clerk fees, sheriff service fees, and court costs. After the court grants the motion, the Lafayette Parish criminal record is sealed and the clerk updates their files. State Police and other agencies are also notified to seal their copies of the Lafayette Parish criminal record.
Note: An expunged Lafayette Parish criminal record is not destroyed. Law enforcement can still see it in certain circumstances, but it will not appear in standard public record searches.
State Criminal Records Resources for Lafayette Parish
The Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information (BCII) handles statewide background checks that cover Lafayette Parish and all other Louisiana parishes. If you need a criminal record that spans multiple parishes or want a certified statewide criminal history that includes Lafayette Parish arrests and convictions, the State Police is where you go. A statewide BCII report covers Lafayette Parish criminal activity and activity in any other Louisiana parish where the subject has a record. This is a different process from searching at the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court, which only shows Lafayette Parish criminal cases.
Louisiana State Police maintains the statewide criminal database and manages official background check requests that include Lafayette Parish criminal history. Visit lsp.org to learn about background check options that cover Lafayette Parish and other parishes.
The site explains what criminal records are available, who can request them, and what fees apply for Lafayette Parish and statewide searches.
The Louisiana Department of Corrections also keeps records on people who have been incarcerated after convictions in Lafayette Parish or other parishes. If you need info on someone who served time in a state facility after a Lafayette Parish criminal conviction, the DOC offender search tool at doc.la.gov may help. The DOC database is separate from Lafayette Parish court records and covers incarceration history, not criminal charges or court dispositions alone.
Cities in Lafayette Parish
Lafayette is the largest city in Lafayette Parish and the parish seat. All criminal cases filed in Lafayette Parish go through the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court in Lafayette, regardless of which city or community the criminal case originated in. The city of Lafayette has its own city court for lower-level criminal matters, but Lafayette Parish district court cases all go through the same clerk office at the Lafayette Parish courthouse.
Nearby Parishes
Lafayette Parish borders several other parishes in south-central Louisiana. If a criminal case was filed in one of these areas, you need to contact that parish's clerk directly. Each parish keeps its own criminal records separate from Lafayette Parish.