Search Louisiana Arrest Records
Louisiana arrest records come from parish sheriff offices, local police departments, and the Louisiana State Police. The state keeps full criminal histories restricted, but booking records, jail rosters, and initial arrest reports remain accessible under state law. Most parish sheriffs post current inmate lists online, and the statewide Louisiana Automated Victim Notification System lets you check custody status for anyone held in a parish jail. This guide covers where to find Louisiana arrest records, what the law allows you to access, and which agencies keep these records across all 64 parishes.
Louisiana Arrest Records Quick Facts
Louisiana State Police and Arrest Records
The Louisiana State Police is the main state law enforcement agency and the official keeper of criminal records across Louisiana. Its Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information, known as BCII, was created in 1936 under what is now Louisiana Revised Statute 15:581.2. BCII runs the Louisiana Computerized Criminal History system, called LACCH, which holds arrest data, dispositions, probation bookings, and incarceration records for the entire state. Under LRS 15:587, LACCH data is restricted. It is not available for general public release. Criminal justice agencies access it through the Louisiana Law Enforcement Telecommunications System.
The state police headquarters is at 7919 Independence Blvd in Baton Rouge. The criminal records line is 225-925-6095. Staff are available Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. BCII also handles expungement processing, runs the Automated Fingerprint Identification System, and maintains the Sex Offender and Child Predator Registry for Louisiana.
The Louisiana State Police website is where most criminal record requests start for the state of Louisiana.
The state police main line is 225-925-6006 for general inquiries outside of the criminal records division.
The BCII section of the state police website explains how the bureau works. BCII gets arrest and disposition data from law enforcement agencies across all 64 parishes. Local sheriffs and police departments send this data after each booking. BCII links it to the statewide LACCH database. That keeps the central record current as cases move through the system.
The Right to Review line at BCII is 225-925-6325, used by individuals who want to check or dispute their own record on file.
What Louisiana Law Says About Arrest Records
Louisiana is a closed record state when it comes to full criminal histories. But state law does make certain arrest-related records available to the public. Under LRS 44:3, four types of documents are public even before a case reaches a verdict: the initial report of investigating officers, booking records, records of summons or citation, and records of a bill of information being filed. These are the records you can typically get from a local sheriff's office or police department without restriction.
An arrest alone does not make all related files open to public inspection. The initial booking record and initial report are public. Investigation files, supplemental reports, and the full criminal history are not. Arrest records that have not led to a final judgment of conviction or acceptance of a guilty plea are not public records in Louisiana, except for the specific items listed in LRS 44:3.
LRS 44:1, the Louisiana Public Records Act, gives citizens the right to inspect and copy public records. That right extends to any person who has reached the age of majority. If a government body holds a document that falls under the public records law, it must let you see it and give you a copy at cost. This right covers parish sheriff offices, police departments, and state agencies alike.
Louisiana VINE and LAVNS Inmate Search
The Louisiana Automated Victim Notification System, known as LAVNS or LA VINE, is the main public tool for searching current inmate custody status across the state. You can search by offender name, inmate ID number, or case number. The system runs every day, 24 hours a day. Data refreshes every 24 hours across all participating Louisiana parishes.
VINE shows custody status, current facility location, sentence expiration dates, parole eligibility, and scheduled release dates. Charges and bail amounts appear when available. You can register anonymously to get notified when an inmate's custody status changes. Call LAVNS at 1-866-528-6748 to search by phone.
Most Louisiana parish sheriff offices connect their jail management systems to LAVNS. When you visit a parish inmate roster page, the link often goes directly to the LAVNS portal for that parish's jail. Each parish page on this site includes the direct link to that parish's roster or LAVNS page so you can check current custody status right away.
Louisiana State Background Check System
The Internet Background Check portal is run by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety. This system is not open to the public. It is available only to agencies authorized under LRS 15:587. It provides name-based searches of the LACCH database and runs every day, all day. The fee is $31 per state background check. Payments are accepted by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. Members of the general public cannot search LACCH on their own through this portal.
Only authorized agencies may use this system. The process for getting authorized is explained on the state police website.
The background checks page on the state police website explains who qualifies for access and what the process involves. Several types of entities may be authorized under state law to pull criminal history data from LACCH. The page walks through each category and what steps to take for each type of request.
Authorized requestors can get the forms they need from the BCII forms page. Each form is specific to a request type. They must be completed in full with all required information before submission. Incomplete forms are returned without being processed.
Forms cover different types of requests depending on who is asking and what data they are authorized to access.
Louisiana Sex Offender Registry Search
The Sex Offender and Child Predator Registry is open to the public and free to search. BCII maintains this database under the authority of the Louisiana State Police. You can search by name, city, or zip code. Results show photos, home addresses, and offense information for people registered as sex offenders in Louisiana.
The registry hotline is 1-800-858-0551. If you believe someone should be listed but is not, you can report it through this number. The registry is updated regularly as new registrations come in and as existing registrations change.
Department of Public Safety and Corrections
The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, known as DPS&C, manages state prisons, probation, and parole. DPS&C holds records on people in state correctional facilities. These are separate from the parish jail records managed by local sheriffs. If someone is serving a state sentence rather than being held in a local jail, DPS&C is where you start your search.
Public records requests to DPS&C go to the Deputy Secretary's Office at P.O. Box 94304, Baton Rouge, LA 70804. You can also call 225-342-6744 or email docpublicrecords@la.gov.
The DPS&C Offender Information page lets you look up people currently held in state custody. This is a free public tool. It covers state-sentenced inmates and is separate from the LAVNS system used for local parish jails. If you are not sure whether someone is in a parish jail or a state prison, check both systems.
No login or account is needed to use the offender information tool on the DPS&C website.
Accessing Your Own Louisiana Arrest Record
Under LRS 15:588, any person has the right to get a certified copy of their own criminal history from the state. BCII processes these requests through the Right to Review procedure. You have two options: a physical copy mailed to you, or a secure digital link sent to your email address. The mailed copy is stamped "True Copy," signed by a BCII employee, and embossed with the raised state seal of Louisiana.
The total cost runs about $46. This breaks down as $31 for the state background check, $10 for fingerprinting, and $5 for a technology fee. Payment must be by money order, cashier's check, business check, or credit card at a digital fingerprinting site. Cash is not accepted. Personal checks are not accepted. The mailing address for Right to Review requests is Louisiana State Police, BCII-LCJIS, Post Office Box 66614, Box A-6, Baton Rouge, LA 70896.
The digital option sends a secure link to your email. That link expires after 30 days. It is one-time use only. Print it from a computer. Mobile devices will not display it correctly.
Note: The Right to Review process only gives you access to your own record. You cannot use it to get someone else's criminal history.
Browse Louisiana Arrest Records by Parish
Each Louisiana parish has a sheriff's office that keeps booking records, jail rosters, and initial arrest reports. Pick a parish below to find local contact details, inmate search links, and records request information.
View All 64 Louisiana Parishes
Louisiana City Arrest Records
Cities across Louisiana rely on their local police department and the parish sheriff for booking and arrest records. Pick a city below to find the agencies and online tools that cover arrest records for that area.