Louisiana Criminal History Records
Louisiana criminal history records are held by multiple state and local agencies across all 64 parishes. The Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information manages the central repository for statewide criminal history data. Whether you need to review your own record, search the sex offender registry, locate an inmate, or look up a court case filed in a parish district court, this guide explains where to go and how to access Louisiana criminal history information through the right channels.
Louisiana Criminal History Quick Facts
Louisiana Criminal History Records Overview
Louisiana is a closed record state. Under LA R.S. 15:587, criminal history information from the Louisiana Computerized Criminal History (LACCH) system is not released to the general public. The LACCH holds arrest data, case dispositions, probation and parole bookings, and incarceration records for people with cases in Louisiana courts. The system is managed by the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information, known as the BCII. Access is limited by law to criminal justice agencies and entities authorized by state statute.
Individuals do have a right to review their own criminal history under LA R.S. 15:588. This process, called Right to Review, requires a valid government-issued ID and a fingerprint submission. Results are returned by mail or secure email. The process is separate from public access requests, and the rules that apply to agencies do not apply to individuals seeking their own records. Every person who wants their own criminal history from the LACCH must go through the BCII.
Court records are a different category. Records filed in Louisiana district courts are public under the Louisiana Public Records Law, La. R.S. 44:1 et seq. Each parish Clerk of Court holds these case files. You can inspect them in person at the courthouse, and many parishes offer online search tools. The type of criminal history information you need will determine which office handles your request.
Louisiana State Police Criminal Background Checks
The Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information is the central authority for criminal history records in Louisiana. Their office is at 7919 Independence Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806. The criminal records line is (225) 925-6096, and the BCII records line is (225) 925-6325. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM. All official state criminal history requests go through this office, including Right to Review requests from individuals and authorized agency searches.
The LSP background check service page outlines the full process and current fee schedule. As of December 1, 2024, a $5.00 technology fee was added to all requests per LA R.S. 15:587 D(1). The state background check fee is $31.00, bringing the total for most authorized requests to $36.00. In-person visits also require a $10.00 fingerprinting fee, for a total of $46.00. Mail-based Right to Review requests cost $26.00. All payments must be by money order, cashier's check, or business check. Cash and personal checks are not accepted at any time.
The Louisiana State Police background check portal provides forms, instructions, and fee details for all criminal history request types in Louisiana.
This is the starting point for all authorized criminal history requests at the state level.
The Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information offers three ways to complete a Right to Review request. The recommended method is the Louisiana Applicant Processing System (LAPS), which uses digital fingerprinting at sites across the state. Schedule your appointment at uenroll.identogo.com. The cost is $26.00 at the appointment site. Reports come by mail or secure email. The second option is walking into the LSP headquarters in Baton Rouge. Arrive before 3:00 PM and bring a valid ID. The third option is mailing your fingerprints, the completed Authorization Form, the Rap Disclosure Form, and a $26.00 payment 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 from the date your payment is entered. Required forms are available at the BCII page listed above.
The BCII office page lists all required forms, mailing addresses, and contact information for criminal history requests in Louisiana.
The BCII page is where you find Right to Review forms, fingerprint submission instructions, and the mailing address for Louisiana criminal history requests.
Note: The BCII is located in Baton Rouge and serves the entire state. Walk-in fingerprinting is available on weekdays, but arriving after 3:00 PM may result in same-day service being unavailable.
Internet Criminal History Check System
The Internet Background Check (IBC) system is a name-based criminal history lookup tool for authorized agencies in Louisiana. It is not available to the public. The system runs seven days a week, 24 hours a day, with a maintenance window on Sundays from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Authorized agencies submit a name query and receive one of four possible responses: no disqualifying information found, fingerprints needed for verification, a processing delay, or a positive criminal history record found.
The IBC portal is the secure online access point for agencies authorized under LA R.S. 15:587 to query Louisiana criminal history data.
Authorized agencies use this portal to run name-based criminal history queries against the Louisiana Computerized Criminal History system.
The IBC system delivers instant results when no criminal history record exists. When a record is found, the agency must follow up based on the response type received. Authorized users can review the IBC FAQ page for full guidance on each response type and what steps to take. The IBC system may not be used for immigration matters, litigation, or personal use of any kind. Only entities specifically authorized by Louisiana statute may submit queries to this system.
The IBC FAQ page answers common questions about how the Internet Background Check system works for authorized Louisiana agencies.
This page explains each response type an authorized agency may receive after submitting a name-based criminal history query in Louisiana.
What Louisiana Criminal History Records Contain
The LACCH system holds a wide range of criminal history data for individuals with cases in Louisiana. This includes arrest records from law enforcement agencies in all 64 parishes. It also holds case dispositions, which show the final outcome of each charge. A disposition might show a guilty plea, a verdict, a dismissal, or another result. Probation and parole booking data is also part of the LACCH record. Incarceration information, including facility location and release dates, may appear as well. Not every arrest results in a complete record, and data completeness can vary by parish and year.
Court records held by parish Clerks of Court may go much further back in time. The East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk, for example, keeps criminal and civil court records indexed back to 1782. These records are public under La. R.S. 44:32, which requires the custodian to present any public record to any person of the age of majority who requests it. Inspection is free during regular business hours. Copy fees may apply, and rates vary by parish. Contact the clerk in the parish where the case was filed to ask about their current access options.
City courts maintain their own records separate from district court files. These cover misdemeanors, traffic violations, and municipal ordinance cases within city limits. City court clerks keep those files and manage access to them separately from the parish Clerk of Court.
Louisiana Sex Offender and Criminal Registry
The Louisiana Sex Offender and Child Predator Registry (SOCPR) is maintained by the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information. It is the official public source for sex offender registration data in Louisiana. You can search by name, address, city, or zip code. The registry shows offender photos, home addresses, and conviction information. You can also sign up for email alerts when a registered sex offender moves into your area. The 24-hour automated information line is 1-800-872-8111.
The Louisiana Sex Offender and Child Predator Registry is the official state database for public sex offender information, searchable online and updated regularly.
The registry lets you search by name or location and shows photos, addresses, and conviction details for registered sex offenders in Louisiana.
Louisiana uses a three-tier registration system. Tier 1 offenders register for 15 years and typically committed non-aggravated offenses. Tier 2 applies to offenses against minors and requires registration for 25 years. Tier 3 covers aggravated offenses and violent predators, who must register for life. All offenders must register with the sheriff in the parish where they live. Those who work or attend school in a different parish must also register there. Failing to register is a crime carrying a fine of up to $1,000 and a prison sentence of two to ten years at hard labor.
Note: The SOCPR is a public tool for community safety information. It is maintained by the LSP BCII and updated when offenders report changes to their registration.
Louisiana Department of Corrections Records
The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C) manages state prisons and offender supervision programs. The department does not conduct criminal background checks, and its records should not be used for that purpose. Under LSA-R.S. 15:574.12, offender records held by DPS&C are not public except in limited cases. The allowed exceptions include an offender's age, the offense they were convicted of, the date of conviction, the length of their sentence, and any misconduct while incarcerated. For general public records requests, contact the department at docpublicrecords@la.gov or write to P.O. Box 94304, Baton Rouge, LA 70804.
The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections website provides access to the offender locator tool and information about Louisiana's state prison system.
The DPS&C website is the main portal for the Louisiana offender locator and state corrections information.
The DPS&C Offender Locator lets you search for people currently in state custody. Search by name, DPS&C number, or ID and case number. The system updates every 24 hours. Results include custody status, current facility location, sentence details, and projected release dates. To reach the offender locator line directly, call (225) 383-4580. The locator covers people in Louisiana state prisons and other DPS&C facilities statewide.
The Offender Locator page lets you search for individuals in Louisiana state custody by name, DPS&C number, or case number.
The locator displays custody status, facility, sentence length, and expected release dates for people in state custody in Louisiana.
LAVNS Inmate and Offender Notification
The Louisiana Automated Victim Notification System (LAVNS), also known as LA VINE, is a free statewide tool for searching inmate and offender custody status. The system covers all 64 parish jails and state prisons in Louisiana. You can search by name, location, or ID and case number. LAVNS also lets you sign up to receive alerts when an offender's custody status changes, such as when they are released, transferred, or re-arrested. Service is available in English, Spanish, French, and Vietnamese. Call 866-LAVNS-4-U (866-528-6748) at any hour. The national VINELink portal at vinelink.com provides access to Louisiana inmate data as well.
Note: LAVNS search results are updated in real time as custody changes occur across Louisiana jails and prisons.
Criminal Records at Louisiana Parish Courts
Every felony and misdemeanor case in Louisiana goes through the district court system. Each parish has a Clerk of Court who stores case records. Files can include charging documents, bail hearing transcripts, arraignment records, trial notes, sentencing orders, and probation records. These files are public under La. R.S. 44:32. The clerk must show them to any adult who asks. Inspection does not cost anything during regular business hours, though copying and certification fees may apply. Contact the clerk in the parish where the case was filed to ask about their search tools and fee schedule.
Several parishes have online records search tools. Fees and access methods vary widely. Calcasieu Parish charges $1.00 per page for online criminal records. Terrebonne Parish charges $20.00 for a criminal records search. Jefferson Parish charges $20.00 per name through their JeffNet portal. The Caddo Parish Clerk offers web access subscriptions starting at $20.00 per day or $50.00 per month. Some parishes use shared platforms like ClerkConnect or eClerksLA to provide access to multiple parishes through one system. For courts without online tools, you must visit the courthouse or call ahead to ask about mail requests.
City courts in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, Monroe, Houma, and other major cities handle criminal cases within their city limits. These records are held at the city court clerk's office, not the parish district court. Call or visit the city court directly to search those records.
Browse Louisiana Criminal History by Parish
Each of Louisiana's 64 parishes has a Sheriff's Office and a Clerk of Court that handle local criminal records. Select a parish below to find contact information, online search tools, inmate roster links, and resources for that area.
Criminal History in Major Louisiana Cities
City police departments and city courts handle cases within city limits. Select a city below to find local police, city court, and criminal record resources for that area.