Access Concordia Parish Arrest Records
Concordia Parish arrest records are maintained by the Concordia Parish Sheriff's Office in Vidalia, Louisiana. All individuals arrested and booked in the parish are entered into the LAVNS system, which makes the jail roster available to the public at no cost. Louisiana law treats booking records and initial arrest reports as public documents, which means most people can search them without filing a formal request or giving a reason. This page explains how to access the online roster, contact the sheriff's office, and request records in writing if needed.
Concordia Parish Quick Facts
Concordia Parish Sheriff's Office Contact and Records
The Concordia Parish Sheriff's Office is located at 4001 Carter Street, Vidalia, LA 71373. The main phone number is (318) 336-5231. A fax line is available at (318) 336-5021 if you prefer to send a written request by fax. The office handles all arrest and booking records for the parish and serves as the main point of contact for public records requests related to law enforcement in Concordia Parish.
Under LRS 44:1, the Louisiana Public Records Act, any adult may inspect and copy public records. The sheriff's office must comply with valid requests. You can call, visit in person, or send a written request by mail or fax. For simple inquiries such as confirming whether someone is in custody, a phone call to (318) 336-5231 is usually the fastest option. For certified copies or formal documentation, a written request may be more appropriate.
LRS 44:3 defines what kinds of law enforcement records are public. Initial arrest reports, booking records, summons, citation records, and bills of information are all listed as public documents. They stay open even before a case goes to court. The law does let agencies hold back investigative files or records that could harm a pending prosecution, but basic booking information is not protected under those exceptions and must be shared upon request.
| Sheriff | Concordia Parish Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 4001 Carter Street, Vidalia, LA 71373 |
| Phone | (318) 336-5231 |
| Fax | (318) 336-5021 |
The Louisiana sex offender registry at lsp.org is a separate public tool that provides information on registered offenders across Louisiana, including those in Concordia Parish.
The registry is maintained by the Louisiana State Police and is a distinct resource from the LAVNS jail roster maintained by the sheriff's office.
Concordia Parish Inmate Roster and LAVNS Access
The Concordia Parish Sheriff's Office uses LAVNS to publish its jail roster publicly. You can access it at concordia.lavns.org. The system states that "This agency is providing this roster of incarcerated offenders to the public and law enforcement in the interest of public safety." The roster lists individuals currently in the Concordia Parish jail along with basic booking information. It is updated when people are booked in or released.
LAVNS includes a free notification tool. Anyone can register anonymously to receive alerts when a specific inmate's custody status changes. The site notes that users can "click to register anonymously to be notified upon any changes in this offender's custody status." You don't need to use your real name, and the service sends alerts by email or phone when the system records a change. This is useful if you need to track when someone has been released from the Concordia Parish jail.
The LAVNS roster reflects inmates held in the parish jail. If someone arrested in Concordia Parish was later transferred to a state prison after sentencing, they would no longer appear on the local LAVNS roster. To track state prisoners, use the Louisiana Department of Corrections offender locator at doc.la.gov. That system covers all individuals in state custody regardless of which parish they were originally arrested in.
The Concordia Parish jail roster at concordia.lavns.org shows current inmates and allows anonymous custody status notifications through the LAVNS network.
The roster is kept current by the sheriff's office and provides open access to basic booking data as required by state law.
Submitting a Public Records Request in Concordia Parish
To request arrest or booking records in writing, contact the Concordia Parish Sheriff's Office at 4001 Carter Street, Vidalia, LA 71373. You can also reach them by phone at (318) 336-5231 or by fax at (318) 336-5021. Include the full name of the person whose records you're requesting, the date of arrest if known, and any other details that could help staff locate the right file. A clear and specific request tends to get a faster response.
State law requires agencies to respond within a reasonable time. If you request inspection of a record rather than a copy, the agency cannot charge you for that. Copying fees may apply if you need printed documents. If a request is denied, the agency must state the reason in writing. Under LRS 44:3, basic booking records are public and should not be denied without a specific legal basis such as an active investigation or court order.
LRS 15:587 covers a different category of records: the compiled criminal history files maintained by the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information. These files are restricted and not available to the general public. Local arrest and booking records from the sheriff's office are not in that category and remain open under LRS 44:3. If you need a certified copy of your own state criminal history, LRS 15:588 provides that right for a fee of roughly $46.
Understanding Louisiana Arrest Records Laws in Concordia Parish
Louisiana has a clear and broad public records law. LRS 44:1 says that public records belong to all of the people and that any adult may inspect or copy them. The law is meant to keep government transparent. Arrest records fit within this framework because they document the actions of law enforcement agencies, which are public institutions funded by taxpayers. The burden is on the agency to justify withholding a record, not on you to justify your right to see it.
LRS 44:3 adds detail specific to law enforcement. The statute names initial arrest reports, booking records, summons, and bills of information as open documents. It also explains what can be withheld: records related to ongoing criminal investigations, information about confidential informants, and materials that could compromise a pending prosecution. For a standard booking record from Concordia Parish, none of those exemptions typically apply. The basic data, who was arrested, when, and on what charges, is public.
LRS 15:587 draws a firm line around state bureau criminal history files. Those are compiled records held at the state level and are separate from what the parish sheriff keeps. General members of the public can't access another person's compiled state criminal history. Individuals, however, can access their own history under LRS 15:588 for approximately $46. For everyone else, local booking records and jail rosters are the accessible public sources for arrest information in Concordia Parish.
Cities in Concordia Parish
There are no major qualifying cities in Concordia Parish with dedicated arrest records pages on this site. Vidalia is the parish seat and the largest community in the parish. For all arrest and booking record inquiries, contact the Concordia Parish Sheriff's Office at (318) 336-5231 or 4001 Carter Street, Vidalia, LA 71373.
Nearby Parishes
Concordia Parish is located in eastern Louisiana along the Mississippi River and borders several other parishes. Each maintains its own sheriff's office and LAVNS roster.