Louisiana Criminal Records

Are Louisiana Criminal Records Public?

Louisiana is a closed records state, so the general public cannot obtain criminal records directly from the record custodian. However, the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information distributes Louisiana criminal records to agencies and businesses authorized to perform background checks in the state. Thus, persons who wish to obtain criminal records may contact such authorized background check businesses.

Meanwhile, due to the restrictions to getting criminal records and other police records in Louisiana, public requesters have increasingly used independent aggregate websites to obtain Louisiana criminal records. Many of these aggregate websites are businesses that obtain criminal records from official sources. Other service providers, however, source criminal records from the public domain per the Federal Freedom of Information Act.

Criminal records, considered public in the United States, are made available through some third-party aggregate sites. Searching with third-party websites is often easier as the information is not limited to geographic record availability. Information found on third-party websites can serve as a jumping off point for parties searching for a specific record or multiple records. Typically, requesters must provide the following information to gain access to these records:

• The record subject’s name, unless the subject is a juvenile.
• The record subjects’ last known location, including cities, counties, and states.

Third-party websites offer these search services, but they are not government sponsored. Availability of records may vary.

What is Considered a Criminal Record in Louisiana?

Louisiana criminal records contain an official summary of a subject’s alleged and convicted criminal activities in Louisiana. Also known as a rap sheet, Louisiana criminal records show a chronological history of a person’s previous and active criminal convictions recorded in parishes or state jurisdictions.

Generally, the information contained in a criminal record is assembled from city courts and district courts as well as correctional facilities within the state. While the standard for criminal record collection and storage varies across parishes, a large percentage of Louisiana criminal records are organized in online record databases that are available to the public in the form of a criminal background report.

What is in a Louisiana Criminal Record?

Most criminal records provide details of the subject as well as specific information related to the criminal charge. Some of these include:

• The Subject’s full name and any known aliases
• Date of birth
• Physical descriptions (race, sex, tattoos, etc.)
• Details of any past arrests
• Pending charges
• Past or current warrants
• Photograph
• Conviction status
• Post-conviction status

A criminal record is usually comprehensive enough to provide the necessary information on a person’s conviction history. Nevertheless, other police records supplement the information obtained in rap sheets. These include arrest records, arrest warrants, incident reports, and police logs. These police records are subject to varying levels of public availability.

How to Obtain Criminal Records in Louisiana?

There are three ways to obtain an official Louisiana criminal record from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification. First, authorized entities may conduct an internet background check for criminal records in Louisiana. Each name-based criminal record search costs $26.00. However, note that this online service requires account registration. Furthermore, new users must get prior authorization from the Louisiana Department of Public Safety.

Meanwhile, in-state employers and agencies that wish to access criminal records in Louisiana must use the authorization form to request criminal records. Requesters must also attach a disclosure form and payment for the request. Enclose the criminal record application packet in a self-addressed envelope and mail it to:

Louisiana State Police
Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information
P.O. Box 66614 (Mail Slip A-6)
Baton Rouge, LA 70896

Likewise, individuals who wish to obtain or review criminal records on themselves may visit the Bureau in person at:

7919 Independence Boulevard
Baton Rouge, LA.

The same requirements apply. Generally, the requester must prepare payment in the form of a money order, cashier’s check, or business check. The Bureau of Criminal Identification charges $26.00 for processing and $10 for fingerprinting. Furthermore, self-requesters must present a valid state-issued photo ID or driver’s license to process the request.

Self-requesters who cannot visit in person must prepare a set of fingerprints, an authorization form, and a rap disclosure form. These self-requesters must also prepare payment in the form of a money order, cashier’s check, or business check. Then, the requester must enclose the application packet in a self-addressed stamped envelope and mail it to:

Bureau of Criminal Identification
P.O. Box 66614 Mail Slip A-6
Baton Rouge, LA 70896

Generally, mail-in requests take 15 to 21 days to process. Furthermore, all three request methods require the requester to pay a small fee to obtain the criminal record of interest. Still, a requester can get free criminal records if the record custodian grants a fee waiver. Alternatively, the requester may turn to third-party databases for free public criminal record checks. However, the downside with this alternative is that the accuracy of these free criminal records is not guaranteed.

Are Arrest Records Public in Louisiana?

It depends. Public requesters may obtain arrest records from the arresting agency if the arrest information does not compromise any active investigation. Otherwise, the arresting agency shall not release the arrest record. Note that the city, parish, or state law enforcement agency responsible for the arrest is the custodian of arrest records in Louisiana.

Note that interested requesters who submit a request to obtain arrest records must pay a fee that covers the cost of reproducing the record. Requesters who request a fee waiver may obtain free arrest records from the arresting agency. Otherwise, a requester may check free databases that post public arrest records online. However, remember that records from such free databases are often erroneous or display partial information at best.

What is Considered an Arrest Record in Louisiana?

An arrest record in Louisiana provides summarized information about individuals who have been taken into custody or placed in detention by city, parish, or state law enforcement officers. Some of the information contained in an arrest record includes:

• Name of the person held for investigation
• Photograph(s)
• Fingerprints
• Details of the charge

Louisiana is a closed record state, and police records are not usually open to the public.While arrest records are included in police records, police records are not included in arrest records.

Louisiana Arrest Warrants

A Louisiana arrest warrant is an official document that gives a police officer the authority to arrest or detain the person or people named in the warrant. Warrants are signed by a judge or magistrate. To obtain a warrant, police officers will need to make a valid persuasive argument backed by objective evidence justifying the need for a warrant (show probable cause). Publicly available arrest warrants are available on the arresting agency’s website. Interested persons need only provide the subject’s name to perform an active warrant search on these websites.

In the state of Louisiana, warrantless arrests can be made in specific instances, such as when a police officer witnesses a crime or if a police officer has credible reason to believe an individual committed a crime.

How to Look Up Louisiana Jail and Inmate Records

Louisiana inmate records are official documents of information about a person’s current and sometimes past inmate status. A person who is in jail or considered an inmate is someone deprived of his/her civil liberties while on trial for a crime or a person serving a sentence after being convicted.

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections maintains a 24-hour inmate search system that is accessible to the public. Interested persons may call the offender locator phone system on (225) 383-4580.

How Do I Find Sex Offenders in Louisiana?

The Louisiana sex offender registry is a database of persons convicted of sex crimes in Louisiana. The Louisiana State Police maintains this state registry and makes it accessible to interested members of the public. Concerned persons can look up the registered sex offender information based on the offender’s name, alias, location, phone number, and internet address. A typical search will display the offender’s full name, photograph, physical description, and compliance status. If the offender is not in jail, the registry will list the offender’s known address and vehicle information.

Louisiana state laws require every sex offender to register with the local law enforcement after release from custody. Furthermore, the offender must notify law enforcement of every intention to change physical address within or outside Louisiana. Depending on the sex offender’s tier, the local law enforcement may send a mass broadcast to the community residents. In the same way, the offender must notify prospective employers and neighbors of their offender status throughout the period of registration. Generally, the period of registration depends on the sex offender tier. The following types of individuals must register as sex offenders:

• Any adult residing in the state who has pled guilty to or has been convicted of a sex offense.
• Any adult whose adjudication has been deferred or withheld for the perpetration or attempted perpetration, or any conspiracy to commit a sex offense.
• Any juvenile, who has attained the age of fourteen years at the time of committing the sex offense.
• Any juvenile who has been adjudicated delinquent based upon the act, attempt, or conspiracy to commit any sex offense.

These offenders must also present for compliance check and information update, depending on their offender tier. The law requires low-tier sex offenders to present at least once a year. Higher tier sex offenders must present for registration at least two times a year - and in some cases, every three months.

Understanding OWI Laws in Louisiana?

An OWI in Louisiana is a serious traffic violation where an individual drives or operates a vehicle after consuming alcohol or using a substance that alters physical or mental state. Generally, law enforcement will charge a driver with OWI after a chemical test shows blood alcohol content (BAC) above the legal limit. Per RS 14:98, Louisiana sets the BAC level at 0.08. Drivers charged with OWI lose driving privileges on the spot pending a court hearing.

The consequences of drunk driving in Louisiana depend on the circumstances surrounding the offense. Besides license suspension, offenders also face jail time, fines, probation, community service, ignition interlock installation, increased insurance premiums, and mandatory substance abuse rehabilitation. The driver must also complete an administrative review with the Office of Motor Vehicles before lost driving privileges are reinstated.

Louisiana Misdemeanors Laws: Offenses and Penalties

Misdemeanors are a category of non-indictable offenses that are generally less severe than felonies. Under Louisiana’s laws, misdemeanors are crimes that are punishable with fines or incarceration or incarceration in the parish or local jail for up to 1 year. Unlike felonies, they are not punishable with hard labor. In Louisiana, lawmakers designate crimes as misdemeanors and fix sentences on a crime-by-crime basis.

Some examples of misdemeanors in the state of Louisiana include:

• Simple assault
• Prostitution
• Conspiracy
• DUI (depending on the number of offenses)
• Shoplifting
• Vandalism
• Theft (value less than $500)
• Possession of a controlled substance

Louisiana Laws: Offenses and Penalties

Felony offenses are the most severe type of crimes with a maximum sentence of more than 1 year. In some cases, a felony conviction can even be punished by death. Lawmakers designate each crime by class (such as “Class A felonies” or “level 1 felony”). Each class has its own sentence or range of sentences. Louisiana does things differently and fixes sentences on a crime-by-crime basis. Examples of crimes that qualify as felony offenses in the state of Louisiana include:

• Kidnapping
• Murder
• Aggravated assault
• Arson
• Three DWI convictions
• Rape
• Sexual Assault
• Theft of item or property more than $500
• Armed Robbery

Louisiana Parole Information

Parole records are an official document that includes information regarding the release of a prisoner who agreed to certain conditions prior to the completion of their maximum sentence. While the prisoner is on supervised parole, the board shall require as a condition of parole that they pay a monthly supervision fee of not less than $30, unless the board agrees to accept a lower fee after determining the inability of the prisoner to pay. The board may also impose any conditions of parole it deems appropriate in order to ensure the best interests of the prisoner and the citizens of Louisiana are served.

Are Probation Records Public in Louisiana?

Probation records are official documents that show when a person receives probation as an alternative to prison. Probation allows people convicted of a crime in Louisiana to serve their sentences out of custody as long as they comply with probation conditions imposed by the judge and probation officer. Probation is issued in proportion to the crime, so the length and nature of probation differ (sometimes drastically) from case to case.

Are Juvenile Criminal Records Public in Louisiana?

A juvenile criminal record is an official record of information regarding criminal activity committed by children or adolescents who are not yet of legal adult age. Juveniles are not considered to be convicted of a crime like an adult but instead, are found to be “adjudicated delinquent”. These criminal records are often mistakenly thought to be erased or expunged once a person becomes of legal adult age, but in fact, the record remains unless the person petitions to have it expunged. Suppose a person was found adjudicated delinquent to a criminal offense. In that case, they do not have to respond “yes” if asked whether they have ever been convicted of a crime, unless the question specifically asks if they were ever adjudicated delinquent as well.

Louisiana Conviction Record?

A conviction record is an official document providing information that a person was found guilty, pleaded guilty, or pleaded nolo contendere against criminal charges in a civilian or military court. The criminal charges can be classified as a felony, misdemeanor, or other offense. Conviction records may also include when a person has been judged delinquent, has been less than honorably discharged, or has been placed on probation, fined, imprisoned, or paroled. A criminal conviction is rendered by either a jury of peers or a judge in a court of law. A conviction does not include a final judgment that was deleted by a pardon, set aside, reversed, or otherwise rendered inoperative.

Louisiana History and Accuracy of Criminal Records

The accuracy of criminal records data largely depends on the recordkeeping and technological capabilities of the jurisdiction where the record was assembled and later digitized. Louisiana criminal records archives usually tend to go back as far as the early 1970s - which is when different institutions began to compile criminal and arrest data into an organized, centralized database, much like we use today. Accuracy was more commonly affected by human error in the past. However, since the 1990s, the quality and accuracy of recordkeeping have improved exponentially due to technology.

Find Louisiana Criminal History Record for Free

A criminal record, sometimes known as a rap sheet, is evidence of a person's interactions or involvement with the criminal justice system of any state, beginning with the police. It covers any offenses for which they have been charged, as well as any arrests and convictions.

Louisiana law gives authority to the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information to determine the eligibility of agencies to access criminal history records and to make available upon request, criminal history records to those agencies that apply for them under RS 15:587 of the Louisiana legislature. According to state law, the bureau must collect a processing fee of $26 for each Louisiana criminal record, plus an additional $10 in some circumstances for the processing of fingerprint cards. However, there is no provision for waivers for this fee as it is stated as mandatory by Louisiana law for any person, private or public agency that requests a person's criminal record must pay the requested fees to the agency.

Are Police Records Public in Louisiana?

Yes, specific information contained in police Records is considered public in Louisiana, however, Louisiana public records law provides exemptions to sensitive police record information by making sure that they cannot be disclosed to the public. Any record created, acquired, or kept by law enforcement authorities for the detection, prevention, investigation, reporting, or prosecution of crime is referred to as a "police record". This contains grievances, accident reports, crime/incident reports, arrest logs, audio, and video recordings, warrants, investigation reports, reports on officer-involved shootings, personnel and training records, training statistics, and various departmental publications, among other things.

As per title 44 chapter 1 of the Louisiana state legislature, the Louisiana public records act excludes the following categories of police records from being made public:

• Records relating to criminal cases that are now unresolved or that might fairly be expected to do so, up until the case has been definitively decided or resolved.
• Records that could potentially reveal the identity of a confidential source of information or records that contain that source's identity
• Records of an individual's arrest, aside from the report of the officer or officers looking into a complaint.
• The public disclosure of information that would identify a victim of a sexual offense is prohibited.
• Records that might tend to disclose the identity of an undercover police officer or records that contain that officer's identification
• Data pertaining to status offenders as specified by the Code of Juvenile Procedure
• Any information that would reveal undercover or intelligence operations

According to the state's public records law, the initial record of the police officer or officers looking into a complaint is nonetheless considered public.

How to Obtain Police Records in Louisiana

Louisiana police records are processed by the Louisiana state police and sent to the various record divisions within each department in the state. So long as the desired information is not excluded from disclosure under state law, law enforcement agencies typically allow various ways to get police records besides a phone call, such as in person, online, by mail, or through fax. If no standard form is available, requesters will typically be required to submit pertinent information that staff can use to locate a record, a copy of their valid photo ID, and payment if necessary.

Traffic citations and violation records can be obtained in the Louisiana state police traffic records unit. The process of processing the reports involves scanning the print into an "image" file and indexing it for electronic retrieval. Members of the public, insurance providers, and lawyers can request Copies of the reports. These copies are available at each Louisiana State Police Trooper and online. persons may also purchase Louisiana State Police Crash Reports online by visiting the Louisiana state police trooper site online or in person at any police officer in the state. requesters can search for police crash reports by the case number, license plate number, driver's license number, or last name of the parties involved. Depending on when they are accepted, reports will be made available 10 to 15 business days following the incident. Fatal crash police reports can only be requested in person at the police station

Are Police Reports Public Record?

When a crime or accident is reported to law enforcement, a written record known as a police report is created. Typically, reports identify the victim of a crime, witnesses who might have information useful for the investigation, the offense's classification, and other relevant details. An incident that was regarded to be illegal or potentially illegal is physically documented in a police report. It is collected by a representative of a police department and filed in accordance with the policies of that department. It is also referred to as an "incident report".

Police reports in Louisiana are governed by the state's public records legislation as well as the departmental standards of law enforcement organizations. So, upon request, the general public may see such reports.

Aspects of a police report that are regarded as exempt from being made public unless otherwise determined by the courts are detailed in RS.44.2 of the Louisiana state legislature. According to this law, records of an individual's arrest, aside from the report of the officer or officers looking into a complaint, up until a conviction is handed down or a guilty plea is accepted by a court with authority are exempt from the public request. However, the initial report of the officer or officers investigating a complaint is part of public records. The Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 228 gives a strict description of an initial police report that can be made public. The initial police report should contain the following information:

• A narrative description of the alleged offense, including appropriate details thereof as determined by the law enforcement agency.
• The name and identification of each person charged with or arrested for the alleged offense.
• The time and date of the alleged offense.
• The location of the alleged offense.
• The property involved.
• The vehicles involved.
• The names of investigating officers.

How to File a Police Report with Louisiana Law Enforcement

Louisiana law allows its citizens to file a police report at any city police department office or county sheriff's office. citizens can also File a Report of Suspicious or Criminal Activity online. Complaints can be filed via the Louisiana state police website, are processed and may be referred to law enforcement/regulatory agencies for investigation. Every jurisdiction in Louisiana uses a similar online form to collect data used to file an online police report. The main criteria for filing an online police report in a particular city in Louisiana is to ensure that the reported crime occurred within the city limits of that jurisdiction. The online form is processed during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.

Submitting an online police report or filing a police report at the Louisiana police station will require the applicant to submit details relating to the criminal incident such as:

• Date Reported
• Incident Date
• Select A Date
• Incident Time
• Incident Location
• Incident Parish
• Incident City
• Incident Type
• Description of Incident
• Suspicious Person(s) Description
• Suspicious Person(s) Vehicle Information

Different state and federal legislation may have an impact on how confidential the information provided during a police report is, Louisiana legislature RS 14:126.1 gives the punishment for individuals who give false information during police report filings, giving false testimony in a police report is punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000, or by both a term of imprisonment and a fine of not less than one year or more than five years, with or without hard labor.

Where to Find Free Public Police Records in Louisiana

Under Louisiana's Public Records Law, Public documents can be viewed by citizens without charge under the Act; however, copies of records must be reproduced for free if requested in person and the inquirer is the subject of the requested police records. Therefore, a person can pay a visit to the records area of a Louisiana police station during regular business hours to view a public police record without charge. However, to request a police record in Louisiana involves paying a small fee usually determined by the police department or sheriff's office where the request is made plain whether there are online options for finding these records.

Another option to find free public police records in Louisiana is to search online public records databases provided by local police departments and sheriff's offices. For instance, the Bossier parish in Louisiana offers an online database where anyone can search for police records in the state using a case number or the location where an incident was reported.

How to Find Mugshots in Louisiana

Mugshots are face-based images taken for official use, particularly for police records. A mug shot, also known as a mugshot, is a photograph of a person taken from the shoulders up, usually following an arrest.

The Louisiana state police department uses the automated fingerprint integrated system (AFIS) database to capture, store and access mugshots in Louisiana.

This system houses computerized criminal history (CCH) data and mugshots. Over 100 livescan sites (booking facilities) make up the AFIS system, along with several Full Function Remote (FFR) sites that assist the booking facilities. Additionally, these FFR websites give law enforcement agencies access to mugshot lineups, individual mugshots, and the opportunity to do searches against the State's ten-print fingerprint database. Hence, interested members of the public can frequent any Louisiana police station that has access to AFIS.

Louisiana legislature act no 494 restricts the use and dissemination of mugshots, often known as booking photos. There are, however, some exceptions for specific violent offenses.

The law prohibits the publishing and dissemination of booking photographs (mugshots) to the public, private entities, or institutions, except in the following cases.

• The person is a fugitive, and a law enforcement official or organization decides that publicizing or circulating the booking photo will help locate the person.
• A law enforcement officer or organization decides that the person poses an immediate threat to the safety of a person or the general public and that disclosing or disseminating the booking photo will help to lessen or eliminate the threat.
• Based on a determination that the release or dissemination furthers a legitimate interest, a judge of a court with competent jurisdiction orders the release or dissemination of the booking photograph.

Additionally, if the suspect is accused of a violent crime or any of the following infractions, a photo may be made public:

• Sexual crimes
• Violations of human trafficking
• Crimes that harm children's health and morals
• Crimes that endanger the health and safety of people with disabilities
• Abuse of animals
• Dogfighting

The law also mandates a disclaimer on any mugshots published, publicized, or distributed by a law enforcement official or organization if done so before the defendant has been adjudicated guilty or found guilty.