Lake Charles Criminal History
Lake Charles criminal history records are managed through the Lake Charles Police Department, Lake Charles City Court, and the Calcasieu Parish system. The city handles local misdemeanors and traffic violations through city court, while the Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court and the 14th Judicial District Court manage felony filings and broader criminal case records for the area.
Lake Charles Quick Facts
Lake Charles Police Department Records
The Lake Charles Police Department is at 830 Enterprise Blvd, Lake Charles, LA 70601. The main line is (337) 491-1456. The Records Division extension is 5927. Traffic Records can be reached at extension 5913. The records office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Chief Shawn Caldwell heads the department.
One thing to know right away: the Lake Charles Police Department does not provide criminal history records or background checks. If you need a criminal history for licensing or personal review, contact the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information at (225) 925-6095. LCPD handles crash reports and incident reports, but the statewide background check goes through BCII.
For crash reports from LCPD, the cost is $7.50 in person (money order or business check only, no cash or credit). Online crash reports through LexisNexis cost $7.50 plus a $0.50 processing fee. Initial incident reports are free to people directly involved in the incident. Other records requests may have different fees depending on what is requested.
The Lake Charles Police Department website at cityoflakecharles.com/police/ has department contact information, news releases, and service descriptions. The Community Policing Division can be reached at (337) 491-1311 for non-emergency matters.
The department page shows current programs, staff contacts, and how to reach specific units. Start here if you need a crash report or incident report tied to a Lake Charles case.
Lake Charles City Court Criminal Records
Lake Charles City Court is at 118 West Mill Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601. Mailing address is P.O. Box 1664, Lake Charles, LA 70602. For civil matters call (337) 491-1564. For criminal and traffic matters call (337) 491-1565. The judge's chambers are at (337) 491-1305 and the prosecutor's office is at (337) 491-1300. The court website is at lccitycourt.org.
The court holds session on Mondays and Fridays at 9:00 AM and Wednesdays at 10:00 AM. Its jurisdiction covers Ward 3 of Calcasieu Parish, which includes Lake Charles. The court handles juvenile, traffic, and criminal matters within that area, as well as civil disputes up to $50,000.
Records fees at Lake Charles City Court include a minimum of $5.00 for certified copies of traffic or criminal records. Non-certified copies are $2.00 per page. Audio recordings come on a CD for $25.00. These fees are specific to city court records. Parish court records have different rates.
The Lake Charles City Court website at lccitycourt.org provides court schedules, contact information, and guidance for people appearing before the court.
City Court handles the local end of Lake Charles criminal history. Misdemeanors, traffic cases, and local ordinance violations all go here. Felony cases move up to the 14th JDC at the parish level.
Calcasieu Parish Criminal History for Lake Charles
Lake Charles is the parish seat of Calcasieu Parish. The 14th Judicial District Court handles felony cases for the entire parish, including Lake Charles. The Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court maintains criminal case filings, judgments, and related documents. Their online search tool is at calcasieuclerk.gov.
The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office (CPSO) handles arrests outside city limits and books people on felony charges across the parish. Their inmate roster is at cpso.com/inmateRoster. If someone was arrested in the Lake Charles area, the CPSO roster is a good place to check for current booking status. The CPSO website at cpso.com also provides general public information about the office.
For felony case research, the Calcasieu Clerk of Court's eSearch system at calcasieuclerk.gov/online-search-services allows public searches of court records. You can look up cases by name or case number to find criminal filings, case status, and disposition details.
Note: The clerk of court's online system covers parish-level court records. City court records are separate and held by Lake Charles City Court directly.
State Background Checks for Lake Charles Residents
Because the Lake Charles Police Department does not provide criminal history or background checks, residents needing that information go directly to Louisiana State Police BCII. BCII is at 7919 Independence Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806. Phone is (225) 925-6096. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM. The background check page at lsp.org/services/background-checks/ has all the forms and instructions.
The fee for a right-to-review of your own record under La. R.S. 15:588 is $26 by mail or $41 in person. A $5 technology fee was added in December 2024 per La. R.S. 15:587 D(1). The LSP Internet Background Check (IBC) system at ibc.dps.louisiana.gov allows certain authorized parties to run checks online. Private individuals requesting their own record use the mail or in-person process.
The statewide background check covers all Louisiana arrests and convictions regardless of which parish or city the event happened in. It is the most complete source for Louisiana criminal history and the one that most licensing and official processes require.
Sex Offender Registry in Lake Charles
The Louisiana State Police sex offender registry at lsp.org/community-outreach/sex-offender-registry/ is searchable by name, zip code, and address. To find registered sex offenders in Lake Charles, enter the city name or a zip code from the Lake Charles area. The registry hotline is 1-800-872-8111.
Sex offenders in Lake Charles register through the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office as required by La. R.S. 15:540 et seq. The registry is maintained at the state level but updated through local sheriff offices. If an offender moves into Lake Charles, they must register within three days of establishing residence.
LAVNS, the Louisiana Victim Notification System at lavns.org, lets people sign up for notifications when a specific offender's status changes. The hotline is 866-528-6748. This free service helps victims, families, and community members track offender movements and releases.
Finding Incarcerated Individuals from Lake Charles
The Louisiana Department of Corrections offender locator at doc.la.gov covers people held in state prisons and work release programs. Search by name or DOC number. This does not cover people held locally at the Calcasieu Correctional Center or in city jail.
For local holds, use the CPSO inmate roster at cpso.com/inmateRoster. People booked on state charges in Lake Charles or Calcasieu Parish are generally held at the Calcasieu Correctional Center. The roster is updated regularly and is the fastest way to check on recent arrests in the area.
Lake Charles Criminal Records and Public Access
Louisiana's Public Records Law under La. R.S. 44:1 et seq. and La. R.S. 44:32 applies to records held by the Lake Charles Police Department, Lake Charles City Court, and Calcasieu Parish agencies. Any person can make a public records request. The agency must respond within three business days, either by providing records or giving a written reason for denial.
For LCPD records requests, contact the Records Division at (337) 491-1456 ext. 5927 during office hours. For city court records, contact Lake Charles City Court at (337) 491-1565. For parish-level records, the Calcasieu Clerk of Court handles requests through their office and online search system.
Exemptions under state law include active investigations, juvenile records, confidential informant information, and certain law enforcement operational records. If a request is denied, the denial must include the specific statutory basis for withholding the record.
Calcasieu Parish Criminal History Records
Lake Charles is the seat of Calcasieu Parish. Felony cases and 14th JDC records are managed at the parish level. The Calcasieu Parish criminal history page covers the clerk of court, sheriff, courthouse locations, and search tools for the full range of parish criminal records.