What are Calcasieu Parish Public Records?
By the provisions of Louisiana public records law (LPRL), Calcasieu public records consist of books, writings, and other documentary material possessed or retained for use in the performance of any business conducted by or under the authority of the laws of the state of Louisiana. However, Louisiana laws exempt certain information from public access. Examples of such records include tax information, medical records, and any record that undermines a person's privacy rights.
Calcasieu Parish Crime Statistics
According to the 2017 Crime in Louisiana report prepared by the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice, Calcasieu Parish recorded a net total of 4,852 violent and property crime offenses in 2017. A further breakdown revealed larceny-theft to be the most frequently occurring crime with 2892 reported incidents, followed closely by burglary with 1254 reported cases. Motor vehicle theft appeared to be the least popular property crime, with only 241 reported incidents. In contrast, violent crimes in total accounted for only 9.58% of crimes committed, with eight reports of murder/manslaughter, 45 incidents of rape, 43 robberies, and 369 reported incidents of aggravated assault.
Are Calcasieu Parish Criminal Records Public?
Calcasieu Parish criminal records are open to people and agencies authorized to receive such information by Louisiana’s Laws. Upon prospective employees signing a consent form authorizing their future employers to obtain their records, employers may obtain the Calcasieu Parish criminal records of prospective employees. The Louisiana State Police does not conduct a background request for immigration, litigations, residential/apartments, out of state housing authority, work visa, or for personal use.
How to Obtain Calcasieu Parish Police Reports and Arrest Records?
The Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information maintains state-wide criminal history records of all Louisiana state residents. It also responds to requests for background checks and issues Calcasieu police reports and Calcasieu arrest records to requesters.
Interested parties can obtain full criminal records, background checks, and arrest reports via the Louisiana State Police Internet background check website. They can also contact the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information in person. The record seeker will need to complete and submit a Background Check Authorization form together with the required fees, as described on the form to:
Louisiana State Police
Bureau of Criminal Identification & Information
P.O. Box 66614
Baton Rouge, LA 70896
At the Parish level, the Calcasieu Clerk of Court office processes these requests and manages parish-based criminal history records. The Criminal Records Department of the Calcasieu Clerk of Courts maintains a repository of criminal history records for the parish. It also performs background certification searches for records dating back to 1987. People can obtain Calcasieu police reports and Calcasieu arrest records by querying the office in person at:
Criminal Records Department
Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court
Ryan Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Phone: (337) 437-3550
Fax: (337) 437-3350
The Records Department of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury provides arrest records and police reports to public members. Interested parties can contact the office by email, phone, fax, or visit the office at:
Post Office Drawer 3287
Lake Charles, LA 70602
Phone: (337) 721-3517
Fax: (337) 437-3399
Alternatively, requesters can contact the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office by mail, email, or phone. The Sheriff's mailing address is:
5400 E. Broad St.
Lake Charles, LA 70615
Phone: (337) 491-3715
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Calcasieu Parish
The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office maintains a public registry of sex offenders resident within the parish. People can search the register by the name or location of the offender. Parish residents may subscribe to the Email Alerts. The email alerts update subscribers on sex offenders within a specific mile radius. The Louisiana State Police also keeps an online registry of Sex Offenders and Child Predators where registration information on convicted Sex Offenders or Child Predators in Louisiana is available.
How to Find Calcasieu Parish Inmate Records
The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office Jail Roster features relevant information about currently incarcerated people in the Calcasieu Parish jail in alphabetical order. People can search the roster by name or by the arrest date of the inmate of interest. Information on inmates’ names, birth date, sex, race, and arrest date is available on the database. Inmate information on the database is in alphabetical order. People can register anonymously to receive notifications of any changes in the custody status of a selected inmate.
The record seeker may also contact the Correctional Facility through phone or by visiting any of these locations:
Calcasieu Correctional Center
5410 East Broad Street,
Lake Charles, LA 70615
Phone: (337) 491-3801
Calcasieu Sheriff's Prison
5400 East Broad Street,
Lake Charles, LA 70615
Phone: (337) 491-3715
Some inmate information may not be available to the public under state laws.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Calcasieu Parish Jail?
The Corrections Division of the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office is composed of two facilities: The Calcasieu Correctional Center and Calcasieu Sheriff's Prison. People who wish to visit inmates may have to go to any of the following locations:
Calcasieu Correctional Center
5410 East Broad Street,
Lake Charles, LA 70615
Phone: (337) 491-3801
Calcasieu Sheriff's Prison
5400 East Broad Street,
Lake Charles, LA 70615
Phone: (337) 491-3715
The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office grants visiting privileges to detained inmates. The Sheriff Prison’s visitation period is Saturday and Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for trustees. Regular visitation time at the Calcasieu Correctional Center and the Calcasieu Sheriff Prison varies. Visitors are required to dress and conduct themselves appropriately. Adults may have to accompany visitors 16 years old or younger, and adult visitors may have to furnish a valid state-issued ID. Visitors may be subject to a search upon arrival at the facility. Any visitor in possession of contraband will not gain entry into any of the jail facilities.
Court Records
The Louisiana trial court system consists of District Courts, Family Court of East Baton Rouge, Juvenile Courts, Parish Courts, City Courts, New Orleans Municipal Court, New Orleans Traffic Court, Justice of the Peace Courts, and Mayor's Courts. District Courts have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters. They determine cases that are beyond the jurisdiction of other courts.
Other courts as follows have limited jurisdiction over specific cases: the East Baton Rouge Parish Family Court; Juvenile Courts in Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, and Orleans Parishes; Parish Courts in Ascension and Jefferson Parishes; City Courts; New Orleans Municipal Court; New Orleans Traffic Court; Justice of the Peace Courts; and Mayor’s Courts.
Listed below are the locations and contact information of the courthouses in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana:
Calcasieu 14th Judicial District Court
PO Box 3210, 1001 Lakeshore Drive,
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Phone: (337) 437-3100
Fax: (337) 437-3350
Calcasieu 14th Judicial District Court - West Annex
North Huntington Street
Sulphur, LA 70663
Phone: (337) 313-1140
Fax: (337) 527-4417
Lake Charles City Court
118 West Mill Street
Lake Charles, LA 70602
Phone: (337) 491-1564 Fax: (337) 491-1303 (Civil)
Phone: (337) 491-1565 Fax: (337) 491-8745 (Traffic/Criminal)
Sulphur City Court
1551 E. Napoleon St.
Sulphur, LA 70663
Phone: (337) 527-7006
Fax: (337) 527-4528
Justice of the Peace Ward 1
1207 Cheyenne Drive,
Lake Charles, LA 70611
Phone: (337) 855-4065
Justice of the Peace Ward 2
P.O. Box 176
Hayes, LA 70646
Phone: (337) 526-9766
Justice of the Peace Ward 5
4954 B Alligator Park Road,
Starks, LA 70661
Phone: (337) 743-5318
Justice of the Peace Ward 6
312 Live Oak St,
DeQuincy, LA 70633
Phone: (337) 802-3384
Justice of the Peace Ward 7
2845 Delta Downs Dr,
Vinton, LA 70668
Phone: (337) 764-0897
Justice of the Peace Ward 8
105 N Welty Ave,
Iowa, LA 70647
Phone: (337) 309-8683
DeQuincy Magistrate Court
North Holly Street
P.O. Box 968
DeQuincy, LA 70633
Phone: (337) 786-8241
Fax: (337) 786-3076
Iowa Mayor's Court
North Thomson
P.O. Box 1707
Iowa, LA 70647
Phone: (337) 582-3535
Fax: (337) 582-7776
Vinton Mayor's Court
Horridge Street
Vinton, LA 70668
Phone: (337) 589-7453
Fax: (337) 589-6127
Westlake Mayor's Court
1001 Mulberry Street
P.O. Box 700
Westlake, LA 70669
Phone: (337) 433-0691
Fax: (337) 437-9350
Are Calcasieu Parish Court Records Public?
The Louisiana State laws allow people to observe all public bodies’ deliberations and examine all public documents, except those restricted by law. Thus, except where there are prohibitions and exemptions by law, all records, court records inclusive, maintained by the government and other public agencies, are open to the public. For example, records of juvenile courts and pending court proceedings are not available for public access.
How to Obtain Calcasieu Parish Civil Court Case Records
The office of the Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court is the primary custodian of court records of the Parish. The Clerk of Courts Office provides public access to non-confidential records to persons with reasonable intent. People can obtain Calcasieu Parish civil court records by making in-person requests to the office or using the Clerks online Civil Case Search Tool. The requesting party can also request copies of a civil court record for $1 per page and $10 per certified copy. A 10-year civil search will cost $15 per name. Record seekers should contact the Clerk on (337) 437-3350 if they wish to request copies of a court record via fax. The Clerk will provide details about the applicable fees for a fax request.
Requesters interested in accessing records using the online case search tool may have to sign up and subscribe to a service fee. Interested parties can only purchase subscriptions via credit cards and from the Clerk's website. Upon successful subscription, the requester can search for records using the defendant, victim, or witness name, or the case number of the record of interest. Alternatively, people may make in-person requests at:
Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court
1000 Ryan Street,
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Phone: (337) 437-3550
How to Obtain Calcasieu Parish Criminal Court Records
The Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court’s office is the primary custodian of the Parish’s court records. The Clerk of Courts Office provides public access to non-confidential records to eligible people. A requester can obtain Calcasieu Parish criminal records by making in-person requests to the office or using the Clerks online Criminal Case Search Tool.
Requestors interested in accessing records using the online case search tool may have to sign up and subscribe to the service fee. Subsequently, people can conduct searches using the defendant, victim or witness name, or the case number of the record of interest. Alternatively, people can obtain records in person at:
Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court
1000 Ryan Street,
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Phone: (337) 437-3550
Fax: (337) 437-3350
What are Calcasieu Parish Vital Records?
Vital records consist of information about life events kept by the government and public authorities. They include birth certificates, marriage licenses, death certificates, and divorce records. The Louisiana Bureau of Vital Records and Statistics is chiefly responsible for maintaining and issuing statewide vital records in Louisiana. However, Calcasieu Parish vital records are also kept and disseminated by the Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Courts' office. Louisiana is a closed records state. Therefore, access to Calcasieu Parish vital records is restricted to eligible persons as required by Louisiana State Law. Applicants may have to present a valid government-issued ID to access the documents.
Where and How to Obtain Calcasieu Parish Divorce Records
The Clerk of Courts’ Office manages records of divorces granted by the Calcasieu Parish courts. People may access Calcasieu Parish divorce records using the Clerks online Case Search Tool or make in-person requests to the office.
To facilitate a record search, requesters may have to provide information about the divorce, including divorcees’ names and the filing/judgment date. This information is useful to conduct searches online or in-person at the Clerk's office at:
Ryan Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Phone: (337) 437-3550
Fax: (337) 437-3350
Requesters may also have to pay prescribed fees and present a valid government-issued ID
Where and How to Get Public Calcasieu Parish Marriage Records
The Parish clerk’s office maintains records of marriages licensed in Calcasieu Parish. People who want to obtain copies of these Calcasieu Parish marriage records can make in-person queries to the clerk's office at:
1000 Ryan Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Phone: (337) 437-3550
Fax: (337) 437-3350
The requesting party will be required to provide the spouses’ name, the marriage license numbers, and the date/place of the marriage to access the requested record. Certified copies of Calcasieu Parish marriage licenses cost $10 and $1 per copy.
Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Calcasieu Parish
All marriage records in Calcasieu Parish are considered public. The Parish clerk’s office maintains records of marriages licensed in Calcasieu Parish. Applicants may have to make in-person queries to the clerk's office at:
Ryan Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Phone: (337) 437-3550
Fax: (337) 437-3350
The requesting party will be required to provide the spouses’ name, the marriage license numbers, and the date/place of the marriage to access the requested record. Certified copies of Calcasieu Parish marriage licenses cost $10 and $1 per copy.
Where and How to Find Calcasieu Parish Birth Records
The Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court is the parish office in charge of maintaining birth records. Birth records are not available to the public. The Clerk of court issues Calcasieu birth records to eligible requesters like:
- The registrant
- Their parents, next of kin, or an immediate family member of registrants
- Persons with legal authorization to access the record
Birth Certificates are obtainable from the West Calcasieu Office of the Parish’s Clerk Office at:
West Calcasieu / Sulphur Annex office
North Huntington Street
Sulphur, LA
The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. To request Calcasieu Parish birth records, applicants must present a valid government-issued ID. Calcasieu birth records cost $34 for a Birth Certificate and $48 for a Birth Certificate and Birth Card. Interested parties can begin to request copies of a birth record from the Clerk's Office at least thirty days after the birth occurred. If the birth occurred before July 9, 2012, the applicant might submit requests by mail only. The state's vital records department has more information.
The Louisiana Bureau of Vital Records and Statistics also processes requests for birth records. A copy of a birth certificate costs $15, while certificates obtained with birth cards will cost $24 per pair. As with the Clerk of Courts’ office, birth records are only available to eligible parties. Applicants will need to provide a valid ID, the required fees, and complete an Application for Certified Birth/Death Certificate Form. The office can receive these documents and payments by mail or in person.
LA Vital Records Registry
P.O. Box 60630
Poydras Street
Suite 400
New Orleans, LA 70160
Phone: (504) 593-5100
Interested parties may also visit the OPH-Vital Records Kiosk location in Lake Charles.
Calcasieu Parish Health Unit
3236 Kirkman Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Phone: (337) 478-6020
Birth certificates become public after 100 years of filing. To obtain these documents, the interested party can send written requests to:
The Secretary of State
Louisiana State Archives
P.O. Box 94125
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125
Where and How to Find Calcasieu Parish Death Records
The Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court is the primary custodian of the death records of the parish. Death records are not public records in Louisiana. Therefore, the Clerk of Court issues Calcasieu death records to eligible requesters like:
- The parents, next of kin, or an immediate family member of the deceased person
- An individual named as a beneficiary on a deceased person's insurance policy
- Persons with legal authorization to access the record
Death Certificates are available at the West Calcasieu Office of the Parish’s Clerk of Courts Office at:
West Calcasieu / Sulphur Annex office
North Huntington Street
Sulphur, LA
The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. To request Calcasieu Parish birth records, the requester will have to present a valid government-issued ID. Calcasieu death records cost $26. The Clerk's office only accepts cash payments. Certified copies of Calcasieu Parish death certificates registered from July 9, 2012, to present may be obtained from the Parish's Clerk of Court's office. A death record becomes available for request at the office 30 days after the event occured. Requesters would have to submit requests by mail if the event occurred before July 9, 2012. The requester can contact the Vital Records Office for more information. Death records are also obtainable from the Louisiana Bureau of Vital Records and Statistics. The requesting party can contact the office by mail or in-person:
LA Vital Records Registry
P.O. Box 60630
Poydras Street
Suite 400
New Orleans, LA 70160
Phone: (504) 593-5100
The Department will require a valid means of identification, a completed Death Records Application Form, and a $7 fee per copy requested. Mail orders attract an additional 50 cents state charge for each transaction.
Alternatively, eligible individuals may visit the OPH-Vital Records Kiosk in Calcasieu Parish.
Calcasieu Parish Health Unit
3236 Kirkman Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Phone: (337) 478-6020
Death records become public after 50 years of filing. To obtain these records, applicants can send written requests to:
The Secretary of State
Louisiana State Archives
P.O. Box 94125
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125
