New Orleans Criminal History Records
New Orleans criminal history records are spread across several agencies: the New Orleans Police Department, the New Orleans Municipal and Traffic Court, the Orleans Parish Criminal Court, and the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office. New Orleans and Orleans Parish share the same geographic boundaries, so city and parish records overlap heavily. What you need depends on the type of offense and which court handled the case.
New Orleans Quick Facts
New Orleans Police Department Criminal Records
The New Orleans Police Department is at 715 South Broad Street, New Orleans, LA 70119. The main number is (504) 658-5000 or (504) 658-5858. The Records and Identification Division can be reached at (504) 658-5455. Records hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The fax number is (504) 658-7665.
NOPD keeps records of all incidents and arrests handled by city officers. Incident reports cost $25 each. Payment is by cash, check, or money order only. No credit or debit cards are accepted at the records window. If you can't come in person, you can submit a public records request online through the city's NextRequest portal at nola.nextrequest.com. Public Information contacts the department at (504) 658-5858.
NOPD has specialized divisions for different types of crimes. The Homicide Division is at (504) 658-5300. Victim Witness Assistance is at (504) 658-6795. Crime Prevention is at (504) 658-5588. If you need records related to a specific type of case, calling the relevant division may be faster than going through the main records office.
For statewide background checks that include New Orleans arrests, go to Louisiana State Police BCII rather than NOPD. NOPD records only cover cases handled by city officers. The BCII check captures all Louisiana criminal activity, including NOPD cases submitted to the state system.
New Orleans Municipal Court Criminal History
The New Orleans Municipal and Traffic Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and city ordinance matters. The court is currently at 1601 Perdido Street, New Orleans, LA 70112. The main number is (504) 658-8500. Fax is (504) 658-9725. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The court website is at nola.gov/municipal-traffic-court/.
For records requests from this court, email MTCNOClerk@nola.gov. When requesting records, you need the defendant's name, date of birth, the dates of any violations, and a description of the violation. This information helps the clerk locate the right case file. Without it, finding a specific record can take longer.
The Municipal and Traffic Court does not handle camera safety tickets or parking tickets. Camera tickets go to violationinfo.com. Parking tickets are handled through the city's parking ticket portal at nola.gov/pay-parking-ticket/. Only standard moving violations and misdemeanor criminal matters go through the Municipal Court.
The New Orleans Municipal and Traffic Court page at nola.gov has current court contact information, hours, and guidance for appearing or requesting records.
The court page shows the full scope of what the Municipal Court handles and who to contact for specific types of cases. It is the primary city-level court for New Orleans criminal history tied to lower-level offenses.
Online Ticket Payment and New Orleans Criminal Records
The city of New Orleans provides an online traffic ticket payment portal at traffic.nola.gov. This system lets you look up and pay eligible traffic tickets without visiting the courthouse. It can also confirm whether a ticket has been resolved or is still outstanding. Not all matters can be handled online. Criminal cases and many misdemeanor traffic matters require a court appearance.
The online ticket portal at traffic.nola.gov is a starting point for checking on open traffic violations associated with a New Orleans Municipal Court case.
The ticket payment system gives basic case status information for eligible violations. If a case shows unresolved, it likely needs a court date or additional action. Contact the Municipal Court clerk at (504) 658-8500 for more information on specific cases.
Note: The ticket portal covers Municipal Court traffic matters only. Orleans Parish Criminal Court records and cases handled by the criminal district court are maintained separately by the Orleans Parish Criminal Court Clerk.
Orleans Parish Sheriff and Criminal History
The Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office at 2800 Perdido Street, New Orleans, LA 70119 manages the parish jail and handles bookings for people arrested in New Orleans. The main number is (504) 822-8000. Records can be reached at (504) 202-9339. The website is at opso.gov. The OPSO Detainee Search at opso.gov/246/Detainee-Search lets you search for people currently held in parish custody.
Felony cases in New Orleans go through the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court. The clerk for that court is at orleanscriminalcourtclerk.com. Civil cases including civil matters related to criminal proceedings are handled through the Civil District Court, whose clerk is at orleanscivilclerk.com. These are two separate offices with separate records systems.
If you need to find a criminal court case filed in Orleans Parish, the Criminal Court Clerk's website is the right starting point. You can search cases by name or case number. For questions about someone in custody, use the OPSO detainee search or call OPSO records directly.
Louisiana State Background Checks for New Orleans
Louisiana State Police BCII at 7919 Independence Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806 handles statewide background checks. The number is (225) 925-6096. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM. The full instructions are at lsp.org/services/background-checks/. This is the only source for a complete Louisiana criminal history report, covering all parishes and cities including New Orleans.
Under La. R.S. 15:588, individuals have the right to review their own criminal history record. The cost is $26 by mail or $41 in person. A $5 technology fee was added in December 2024 under La. R.S. 15:587 D(1). The BCII check includes records submitted by NOPD, the Orleans Parish Sheriff, and the Orleans Parish courts, along with criminal activity from any other Louisiana jurisdiction.
The LSP background check page at lsp.org/services/background-checks/ explains how to submit a request for a Louisiana criminal history report.
The BCII page shows forms, fees, and turnaround information. Results cover statewide criminal activity, not just New Orleans cases. This is what most licensing boards, employers, and courts require for an official criminal history check.
Sex Offender Registry in New Orleans
The Louisiana State Police sex offender registry at lsp.org/community-outreach/sex-offender-registry/ is searchable by name, address, and zip code. To find registered sex offenders in New Orleans, search by a New Orleans zip code or address. The hotline is 1-800-872-8111. Offenders must register with the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office under La. R.S. 15:540 et seq.
LAVNS at lavns.org is the Louisiana Victim Notification System. It sends free alerts to subscribers when a registered offender is released, moves, or changes their registration. Call 866-528-6748 to reach the LAVNS hotline. This service is open to anyone, not just crime victims.
New Orleans Criminal Records and Public Access
Louisiana's Public Records Law under La. R.S. 44:1 et seq. and La. R.S. 44:32 gives the public the right to access government records. This applies to NOPD, the Municipal Court, the Orleans Parish Sheriff, and the criminal district court clerk. Any person can request records. Agencies must respond within three business days, either by providing records or giving a written reason for denial.
To request NOPD records, visit the records office at 715 South Broad Street during hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM) or submit online at nola.nextrequest.com. For Municipal Court records, email MTCNOClerk@nola.gov. For criminal district court records, contact the Orleans Parish Criminal Court Clerk at orleanscriminalcourtclerk.com.
Common exemptions include open investigations, juvenile records, and confidential informant information. If a request is denied, the denial must cite a specific statutory basis. You have the right to challenge improper denials. Getting the records right often means knowing which office holds the records you need, since each agency maintains its own separate files.
Orleans Parish Criminal History Records
New Orleans and Orleans Parish share the same boundaries. Felony cases, the Criminal District Court, and parish-level records are all managed through Orleans Parish agencies. For full coverage of the courts, clerk offices, and search tools, visit the Orleans Parish criminal history page.