Washington Parish Arrest Records
Washington Parish arrest records are kept by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff Jason Smith. The office operates out of Franklinton with a second location in Bogalusa and runs a live online inmate roster that anyone can check for free. Booking records, initial arrest reports, and related documents are open to the public under Louisiana law. This page explains how to search Washington Parish arrest records, where to find the online roster, how to get copies of documents, and what state rules govern access.
Washington Parish Quick Facts
Washington Parish Sheriff's Office
The Washington Parish Sheriff's Office has two locations. The main office is at 1002 Main Street, Franklinton, LA 70438, phone (985) 839-3434. There is also a Bogalusa office at 302 Mississippi Ave, Bogalusa, LA 70427, phone (985) 661-2021. The Bogalusa location serves the northern part of the parish. The sheriff's website is at wpso.la.gov and includes office information, news, and a link to the criminal records division.
| Sheriff | Jason Smith |
|---|---|
| Franklinton Office | 1002 Main Street, Franklinton, LA 70438 |
| Franklinton Phone | (985) 839-3434 |
| Bogalusa Office | 302 Mississippi Ave, Bogalusa, LA 70427 |
| Bogalusa Phone | (985) 661-2021 |
| Website | wpso.la.gov |
The Louisiana Public Records Act at LRS 44:1 gives any adult the right to inspect and copy public records held by a government agency. The Washington Parish Sheriff's Office is covered by this law. Initial arrest reports, booking records, and other documents listed under LRS 44:3 are public regardless of the outcome of the case. A written request to the office at 1002 Main Street in Franklinton is the standard way to ask for records not available online.
The WPSO website at wpso.la.gov is the main hub for the sheriff's office, listing both office locations, the criminal records division, and a link to the live inmate roster.
The WPSO site includes links to the jail roster, criminal records services, and contact information for both the Franklinton and Bogalusa offices.
Washington Parish Online Inmate Roster
The Washington Parish Sheriff's Office runs a live inmate roster at wpso.live/roster. The roster page notes: "Showing 0 out of 0 inmates. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty." The number of inmates shown reflects the current jail population. Each record includes a booking number, the person's full name, release date if applicable, and a detailed list of charges.
The charge detail on the Washington Parish roster can be quite specific. Sample entries show charges such as "PROHIBITED ACTS-SCHEDULE II" and "DOMESTIC ABUSE BATTERY," giving a clear picture of why a person was booked. This level of detail makes the roster useful for confirming an arrest and understanding the general nature of the charges. The site is free and open to anyone.
The live roster at wpso.live/roster shows current inmates at the Washington Parish Jail in Franklinton, with booking numbers, names, and charges listed for each person in custody.
The WPSO live roster is updated as bookings and releases occur and is one of the more detailed online jail rosters available from a Louisiana parish.
The Washington Parish Jail is located at 1002 Main Street, Franklinton, the same address as the main sheriff's office. The jail has capacity for over 200 beds. Anyone arrested in Washington Parish is booked through this facility and will appear on the live roster once processed.
Washington Parish Criminal Records Division
The Washington Parish Sheriff's Office operates a criminal records division that handles fingerprinting and background check services. This division can be reached through the main Franklinton office. The records division page is at wpso.la.gov/criminal-records.
Fingerprinting is available on a set schedule: Monday and Wednesday from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM, and Friday from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM. Walk-ins are welcome during those hours. The fee schedule for the criminal records division is as follows:
- Accident or Incident Reports: $10
- Background Checks: $10
- Fingerprinting (per card): $10
- Livescan: $41
- Livescan FBI: $54.25
The criminal records division page at wpso.la.gov/criminal-records lists the full schedule, fees, and what to bring when you come in for fingerprinting or a background check.
The records division handles public requests for reports, background checks, and fingerprint services, and is one of the more accessible records offices in a Louisiana parish of this size.
Note: The fee schedule shown above reflects what WPSO charges locally and is separate from any Louisiana State Police fees for certified criminal history records.
How to Request Washington Parish Arrest Records
Call (985) 839-3434 or go to 1002 Main Street in Franklinton during business hours. You can also try the Bogalusa office at (985) 661-2021 if you are closer to that location. For most arrest records requests, submit a written request with the person's name, the approximate date of arrest, and what you need. The office will tell you the copy fee when they process your request.
Under LRS 44:1, the sheriff's office must respond to a written records request within three business days. Booking records and initial arrest reports are public under LRS 44:3. These are available even if charges were later dismissed or the case never went to trial. You don't need to give a reason for wanting these records.
For your own state criminal history record, you submit a request to the Louisiana State Police under LRS 15:588. The fee is about $46. The full LACCH database is restricted under LRS 15:587 and is not open for general public searching, but you have the right to access and get a certified copy of your own record.
Arrest Record Laws in Washington Parish
LRS 44:3 is the main public records rule for arrest documents in Louisiana. Initial arrest reports, booking records, summons, citations, and bills of information are all public. These records are open before a case goes to trial and do not require a conviction for access. This is why the online roster is freely available and why any adult can walk into the sheriff's office and ask for a booking record.
There are areas that are not public. Compiled criminal history data under LRS 15:587 is restricted. You can view public booking records and ask for individual arrest documents, but you cannot use state police systems to run full background checks on others without a lawful reason under that statute. The line is between a public booking record and a compiled criminal history.
If you are denied a record you believe is public, LRS 44:35 gives you the right to go to district court and seek a mandamus order compelling the agency to release it. That step is rarely needed for standard arrest records from the sheriff's office, but the right is there. Local legal aid organizations in the Franklinton and Bogalusa areas can help if you encounter a denial.
Cities in Washington Parish
There are no major cities in Washington Parish with dedicated arrest records pages on this site. Records for all communities in the parish, including Franklinton, Bogalusa, Varnado, and Angie, are handled through the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Use the Franklinton office at (985) 839-3434 or the Bogalusa office at (985) 661-2021 depending on where you are in the parish.
Nearby Parishes
Washington Parish is in the southeast corner of Louisiana near the Mississippi border. These parishes are close by and each has its own sheriff's office.