Orleans Parish Criminal Records

Orleans Parish criminal records are filed and maintained at the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court in New Orleans, covering all felony and misdemeanor cases, charges, arrest history, warrant records, and court dispositions for defendants in the parish; this guide covers how to search, request, and obtain case records from the court clerk, the New Orleans Police Department, and related state agencies.

Orleans Parish Clerk of Criminal District Court

The Clerk of Orleans Parish Criminal District Court keeps all Orleans Parish criminal case records. This office is the main source for criminal court filings, Orleans Parish case history, criminal charges, warrants, and related court documents. Staff can help you find Orleans Parish criminal records, make copies, and process criminal record requests in person. The Orleans Parish Criminal District Court clerk's office serves both the public and legal professionals who need access to Orleans Parish criminal case files.

Orleans Parish has its own separate Criminal District Court, which makes it unique among Louisiana parishes. Most parishes use a general district court that handles both civil and criminal matters. Orleans Parish splits these into different courts. The Orleans Parish Criminal District Court only handles felony and some misdemeanor criminal cases. This setup means the clerk's office is focused entirely on Orleans Parish criminal records, which can make searches for criminal cases more straightforward than in parishes with combined civil-criminal systems.

The Orleans Parish Criminal District Court website has information on court dates, Orleans Parish criminal case lookups, and clerk services.

The Orleans Parish Criminal District Court site also provides links to ClerkConnect, the online criminal case search tool, and other self-help resources for those navigating the Orleans Parish criminal records system.

How to Search Orleans Parish Criminal Records

You can search Orleans Parish criminal records online or in person. The online system for cases here is called ClerkConnect. It is free to search case data, but you must register for an account first. Once you sign up, you can look up cases by defendant name or by case number. The system shows charges, court events, warrant status, and attorney of record. It does not cost anything just to view basic case info.

Document printing through ClerkConnect does require payment. If you need actual copies of filed documents, pleadings, or court minutes, you will pay per page. The fee range for Orleans Parish criminal record copies is $0.25 to $1.00 per page depending on the document type. For certified copies, you must either print through the paid ClerkConnect system or visit the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court clerk's office in person at 2700 Tulane Avenue.

The ClerkConnect online portal gives free access to Orleans Parish criminal case status, charge history, and court event schedules after you register an account.

ClerkConnect works on both desktop and mobile browsers, making it easy to search Orleans Parish criminal records from anywhere with an internet connection.

For in-person searches, go to the clerk office at 2700 Tulane Avenue. Staff can search by defendant name or case number. Bring a valid photo ID. You can view files at the counter and request copies. Allow extra time if you need older Orleans Parish criminal records, as some may require retrieval from storage. In-person visits are a good choice when you need certified documents right away.

Note: ClerkConnect registration is free, but you will need a valid email address to complete the sign-up process to access Orleans Parish criminal records online.

New Orleans Police Department Records

The New Orleans Police Department keeps Orleans Parish arrest records, incident reports, and other law enforcement records separate from Orleans Parish criminal court case files. These NOPD records come from the police side of an Orleans Parish criminal case, not the court side. If you need an Orleans Parish arrest record, an incident report, or police documentation of an event in Orleans Parish, you request those from NOPD directly, not from the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court clerk.

NOPD Records Division is located at 715 South Broad Street, First Floor, New Orleans, LA 70119. You can reach them by phone at (504) 658-5455. Walk-in requests for Orleans Parish arrest records are accepted during normal business hours. NOPD also has an online public records request portal where you can submit requests electronically and track their status. This is often faster than going in person, especially for simple document requests.

The NOPD online records portal at nola.nextrequest.com lets you submit public records requests for Orleans Parish arrest and incident records and check their status without visiting the department in person.

The portal accepts requests for Orleans Parish incident reports, arrest records, use-of-force reports, and other NOPD documents covered under Louisiana's public records law for Orleans Parish criminal matters.

NOPD arrest records and Criminal District Court case files are not the same. A person may have an Orleans Parish arrest record from NOPD but no court case if charges were never filed. Conversely, the court may have a criminal case on file that began with an NOPD arrest. For a full picture of someone's history in the parish, you may need both. Start with the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court clerk for case status. Go to NOPD for arrest reports and police documentation.

What Orleans Criminal Records Contain

An Orleans Parish criminal case file at the Criminal District Court holds all the documents generated during the life of a case. The file starts when the state files charges or a grand jury returns an indictment. It grows as the case moves through hearings, motions, plea proceedings, or trial. Each filing and court event gets recorded and becomes part of the permanent Orleans Parish criminal record.

Common documents in a case file include the bill of information or indictment, arrest information, arraignment minutes, bail and bond records, motions filed by both sides, hearing transcripts or minutes, plea agreements if any, jury selection records, trial transcripts, the verdict, and the final judgment or sentence. Court minutes show what happened at each court date. These are often the quickest way to track the progress of an Orleans Parish criminal case.

Through ClerkConnect, you can see charge descriptions, case numbers, next court dates, warrant history, and who the attorneys of record are. To see the actual filed documents such as motions or transcripts, you need to either pay for copies through ClerkConnect or visit the clerk in person. Some older case files may only be available in paper form at the Tulane Avenue courthouse.

Expunging Criminal Records in Orleans Parish

Louisiana law allows some Orleans Parish criminal records to be expunged, which removes them from public access. The process follows state statute La. R.S. 44:9, which sets out who qualifies and what steps to take. Not every conviction can be expunged. Arrests that did not result in a conviction, certain misdemeanor convictions, and some first-offense felonies may be eligible. Violent crimes and sex offenses generally cannot be expunged.

To file for an Orleans Parish criminal record expungement, you must pay a filing fee of $550 to the Criminal District Court clerk. This fee is non-refundable, even if the petition is denied. The petition must be filed at the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court. You will also need a certified copy of your arrest record, a copy of the case disposition, and a completed petition form. The district attorney's office and law enforcement agencies each have a set number of days to object. If no one objects, the judge may grant the expungement without a hearing.

After an expungement is granted, the record is sealed from public view. Law enforcement agencies may still see sealed records in some circumstances. Expungement does not destroy the record; it restricts who can access it. Legal advice from a licensed attorney can help you decide whether to file and what outcome to expect given your specific history.

Note: The $550 filing fee at Orleans Parish is set by the court and does not cover attorney fees or additional costs such as obtaining certified copies of court documents needed for the petition.

State Resources for Louisiana Criminal Records

Beyond the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court clerk's office, two state agencies hold information that covers the parish and all others in Louisiana. These are the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information and the Louisiana Department of Corrections. Both serve different purposes and hold different types of records.

The Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information, known as LSP BCII, maintains the statewide criminal history database that includes Orleans Parish arrests and convictions. This database compiles arrest and disposition records from courts and law enforcement across Louisiana. You can request a history check that covers Orleans Parish through the LSP website at lsp.org. State-level background checks cover the full scope of Louisiana criminal history, not just Orleans Parish criminal records.

The Louisiana Department of Corrections at doc.la.gov keeps records on individuals incarcerated in state facilities after Orleans Parish convictions or convictions from other parishes. Their offender search tool lets you look up current and former inmates by name or offender number. This tool shows sentence length, facility location, and release date information. It does not show case details, but it can confirm incarceration history for those sentenced to state prison after conviction in Orleans Parish or elsewhere in Louisiana.

Cities in Orleans Parish

Orleans Parish and the city of New Orleans are coterminous, meaning the parish and city share the same boundaries. All Orleans Parish criminal cases filed within the parish go through Orleans Parish Criminal District Court. Residents of New Orleans can search Orleans Parish criminal records and request criminal case documents at the clerk office on Tulane Avenue.

Nearby Parishes

These parishes border Orleans Parish. Each has its own clerk of court and criminal court system. If you are not sure which parish to search for criminal records, check the address where the criminal case originated.