Alexandria Arrest Records
Alexandria arrest records are kept by the Alexandria Police Department and the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office. Both agencies make booking data and jail records available to the public under Louisiana law. The city's police department handles calls within city limits, while the parish sheriff operates the main jail and inmate database. This page walks you through how to find arrest records in Alexandria, what tools are available online, and what rights you have when requesting records from local agencies.
Alexandria Quick Facts
Alexandria Police Department Records
The Alexandria Police Department is led by Chief Ronney Howard, who has served in that role since November 2020. The department is the main law enforcement agency within city limits. All arrests made by city officers are logged and stored through the department's Records Division. If you need a report from an incident involving Alexandria PD, that division is your first stop.
The Records Division handles requests for initial arrest reports, incident reports, and related documents. You can reach them at alexandrialapolice.org or by email at apd-records@cityofalex.com. Their hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. They are closed on weekends and holidays. Walk-in visits and written requests are both accepted.
The department also has a Warrants Division and a Crime Prevention unit. If you have questions about an active warrant in Alexandria, the Warrants Division can help confirm whether one exists. Crime prevention staff work with the community on safety programs and outreach.
The Alexandria Police Department website at alexandrialapolice.org provides contact information, public resources, and the Records Division portal.
The APD site links to the Records Division, where you can submit requests and get information on available public documents.
APD Records Division Access
The Records Division at alexandrialapolice.org/public-resources/records is where you go to start a public records request with the city police. Requests can be submitted by email or in person. The email address for records requests is apd-records@cityofalex.com. Staff are available Monday through Friday during the posted hours to help with document requests and questions about what is available.
The Records Division page on the APD website outlines how to request records and what types of documents are available to the public.
The Records Division page explains the process for requesting initial arrest reports and other public safety documents from the city police.
For city-level public records requests that go beyond police records, the City of Alexandria also accepts requests through its public records portal. You can reach the City Attorney's office by mail at P.O. Box 71, Alexandria, LA 71309, or by email at prr@cityofalex.com. The city's public records page is at cityofalexandriala.com.
Rapides Parish Sheriff and Jail Records
The Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office, known as RPSO, is the agency that runs the parish jail. Arrests that result in booking and detention go through the sheriff's office. The RPSO website is at rpso.net. If you are looking for someone who was arrested in Alexandria and held in the parish jail, RPSO records are the place to search.
The RPSO handles arrests throughout Rapides Parish, including cases originating from Alexandria PD that lead to parish jail bookings. The sheriff's office processes all inmate intake and maintains the official booking log. Booking data includes the person's name, charge, date of arrest, and bond information where applicable. These records are open to the public under the Louisiana Public Records Act at LRS 44:1.
Note: Initial arrest and booking records in Louisiana are specifically listed as public records under LRS 44:3, which means they are available even if the case is still pending or charges were later dropped.
Search Alexandria Inmate Records Online
The Louisiana Victim Notification System, known as LAVNS, provides public access to inmate information across the state. Alexandria and Rapides Parish records are accessible through the LAVNS portal at rapides.lavns.org. You can look up current inmates by name, view their booking details, and sign up for free custody alerts through the VINE program.
VINE, which stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday, sends automatic alerts when an inmate's status changes. Notifications can go out by phone, email, or text. Registration is free and anonymous. This service is run through LAVNS statewide, and you can also access it through the national VINE portal at vinelink.vineapps.com. For phone-based VINE access, call 866-LAVNS-4-U, which is 866-528-6748.
The LAVNS system is updated directly by the parish sheriff's office and reflects current custody status in near real time. It is a reliable tool for checking whether a person is still in custody at the Rapides Parish jail.
Alexandria and Rapides Court Records
Once a person is arrested and charged, their case moves through the court system. In Alexandria, that means either Alexandria City Court or the 9th Judicial District Court, depending on the nature of the charge. City court handles minor criminal matters and traffic offenses. The 9th Judicial District Court handles felony cases and serious misdemeanors for Rapides Parish.
Court records, including docket entries, charging documents, and case filings, are separate from arrest records maintained by the police or sheriff. To access court records in Rapides Parish, you would contact the district court clerk's office directly. Court filings that have reached a judge are generally public under the same LRS 44:1 framework, unless sealed by court order.
Louisiana Public Records Law and Your Rights
Any adult in Louisiana has the right to inspect and copy public records held by government agencies. This right comes from the Louisiana Public Records Act at LRS 44:1. It covers city police departments, parish sheriffs, and other public bodies. You do not need to give a reason for your request. The agency must respond within three business days. If they need more time, they have to say so in writing.
Arrest records and booking sheets are explicitly listed as public under LRS 44:3. This statute covers initial arrest reports, booking records, summons, citations, and bills of information. These are open even while a case is active. Agencies can charge reasonable copy fees but cannot charge you just to look at a record.
If you want your own criminal history from the state, you can request it through the Louisiana State Police under LRS 15:588. The state maintains the Louisiana Criminal History database, known as LACCH. Access to the full LACCH database by the general public is restricted under LRS 15:587, but you do have the right to your own record. The fee for a personal criminal history request is around $46.
If you believe a record is being wrongly withheld, you can pursue a mandamus action in district court to force disclosure. Legal aid organizations operating in central Louisiana can help residents who run into access problems.
The Louisiana State Police website at lsp.org hosts information on the Louisiana Criminal History database and how to request arrest record information at the state level.
The LSP site explains the statewide criminal history system and how residents can access their own records through official channels.
Rapides Parish Records
All arrest and booking records for Alexandria are managed within Rapides Parish. For deeper information on the parish sheriff's office, the parish jail, and parish-wide arrest record access, visit the Rapides Parish page on this site.
Nearby Cities
Other qualifying cities in Louisiana with dedicated arrest records pages are listed below.