What are Lafayette Public Records?
Under the Louisiana Public Records Act, Lafayette public records include all documents, duplicates, or copies created or used in the transaction or performance of a government agency's official business. The law states that public records also include microfilms, photographs, and other reproductions. While most of these records are considered public, the Louisiana Public Records Act allows for exemptions, including, but not limited to:
- Trade secrets or proprietary information
- Security procedures and investigative methods
- Accident reports or information it contains
- Investigative records related to any pending criminal investigation
- Details that identify minors when issuing police records to third parties
- Some medical records
Lafayette Crime Statistics
The Lafayette Police Department (LPD) provides statistics on crimes committed in the city. The LPD also publishes annual arrest statistics for minors and adult arrests. According to the LPD, Lafayette recorded 681 violent crimes, including 21 rape cases, 158 robberies, and 9 murders. The LPD also reported 493 cases of assault, the year's most committed crime. Published figures also show 5,882 property crimes. These include 378 auto thefts, 1,019 burglaries, and 4,485 thefts. In total, there were 6,563 crimes committed in 2019, a 0.3% reduction from figures published for 2018. Furthermore, the figures show that the LPD arrested 9,975 persons in 2019, including 618 minors and 9357 adults. Compared to 2018, the city's arrest rate fell by 7.4%.
Are Lafayette Criminal Records Public?
Under Louisiana law, criminal records are not available to the public. According to RS 15:587, access to a Lafayette criminal record is restricted to the person named on the record and agencies authorized to request these records. Authorized entities may obtain criminal records when considering an individual for employment or before the person receives a license. The Lafayette Police Department also entertains third-party requests if the requestor presents a release form signed by the person named on the record. Interested and eligible persons may obtain criminal records from the Records Section of the Lafayette Police Department. Lafayette criminal records are also obtainable from the Louisiana State Police (LSP).
How to Obtain Lafayette Police Reports and Arrest Records?
The Lafayette Police Department issues copies of police reports to city residents. Any interested party may visit the LPD to request an initial incident report in person or send a written request by mail. The written report should contain enough information to find the desired records. Details should include the name and identity of involved persons, a narrative description of the incident, the alleged offense(s), property or vehicles involved, and the investigating officers' names. The LPD charges $7 for an initial incident report and $7.50 for a crash report. Visit the LPD or send the request using the details below:
Lafayette Police Department
Attention: Records Section
900 East University Avenue
P.O. Box 4308
Lafayette, LA 70502
Phone: (337) 291-8621 (Incident report)
Phone: (337) 291-8620 (Crash Report)
Fax: (337) 291-8611
Some information may be redacted from an initial incident report on a case-by-case basis. For example, a victim's name will not appear on an initial incident report if the victim is not the requestor. Furthermore, the report will not carry the name or address of a victim if the person is under 18 years, or the incident report is for a sex crime. Anyone interested in an unredacted report must obtain a subpoena.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Lafayette
The Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office (LPSO) maintains a searchable online registry where residents may find information on sex offenders in the city. Interested persons may search the registry by name, city, or address. Persons may also specify zip codes and locate non-compliant sex offenders. Available information includes each person's name, physical description, offense details, address, current status, registration number, and photograph. The registry also displays each offender's classification, from Tier 1 to Tier 3. Furthermore, the registry allows interested persons to subscribe for email notifications when a sex offender registers with an address within one mile of the subscriber's home.
The Louisiana State Police also provides a state sex offender registry for statewide information on sex offenders. The registry requires each searcher to select one of the parish sheriff's offices displayed. Regardless of the selected sheriff's office, each offender search allows interested persons to search by name, address, city, and zip code. Users may also search by the offender's internet, name, email address, and phone number.
How to Find Lafayette Inmate Records
The Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office provides information on all inmates in the parish through a searchable live jail database. City residents may find Lafayette inmate records using the inmate's full name, year of birth, and number. Displayed information includes the inmate's race, physical description, arrest and booking date, court date, and projected release date. The result further shows the inmate's location, information on charges and bonds, as well as a booking photograph.
Users can filter the list of inmates to show only recent bookings, persons with warrants, and those awaiting trial. Furthermore, the live jail database also allows interested persons to register with the Louisiana Automated Victims Notification System (LAVNS). After registration, residents receive notifications when there are changes in the selected offender's custody status.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center
Inmates at the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center may receive visitors from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm on Mondays through Thursdays. On Fridays, visitations start at 8:00 am and end at 12:00 pm. The facility allows weekend visitations from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm only on the first Saturday of each month. Visitation times vary depending on the inmate's classification and housing unit. Note that there are no visitations on Sundays. A first-time visitor must go through a visitor verification process.
During each visit, the facility allows a maximum of one adult and two juvenile visitors. Each inmate may schedule and receive two free visits each week. However, visitors may request visits after completing the verification process. Any additional visit costs 25 cents per 30-minute visit block.
All visitors must comply with the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center's visitation dress code. Furthermore, the facility has rules visibly posted at the center. A visitor that violates any rule will be removed from the facility and may be banned for six months.
The facility also allows onsite and remote video visitations. Inmates in the facility's Secure Housing environments are not allowed to receive contact visits and are therefore restricted to video visitations. Remote visitations are provided by the facility's third-party provider and cost 50 cents per minute, available in 30-minute blocks. Onsite video visitations take place at:
Community Corrections Campus
100 Poydras Street
Lafayette, LA 70501
Phone: (337) 231-6365
Court Records
Lafayette has a District Court, City Court, and two Justice of the Peace Courts, all operating as part of the Louisiana Judicial Branch. The Lafayette Parish District Court is the court of general jurisdiction in the parish, which hears all criminal and civil cases. The District Court has exclusive jurisdiction over felonies and some property offenses. However, it shares jurisdiction with the Lafayette City Court for crimes such as driving while intoxicated. The court grants general access to public case records.
Locations of Courts in Lafayette
15th Judicial District Court
Lafayette Parish Courthouse
800 South Buchanan Street
Lafayette, LA 70501
Phone: (337) 291-6400
Fax: (337) 291-6392
Lafayette City Court
105 East Convent Street
Lafayette, LA 70501
Phone: (337) 291-8720
Fax: (337) 291-8023
Lafayette Justice of the Peace Ward 7
2877 Verot School Road
Lafayette, LA 70508
Phone: (337) 856-4303
Lafayette Justice of the Peace Ward 8
500 Touchet Road
Lafayette, LA 70506
Phone: (337) 981-4639
Are Lafayette Court Records Public?
Most Lafayette court records are public records, available to all city residents. However, Louisiana law does not allow the general public to access certain records. Generally, records of adoptions and juvenile court hearings are considered private.
Can You Look Up a Lafayette Court Case Online?
The Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court provides online access to court records via a Court and Land Records subscription. The platform charges a one-time $100 fee for new subscribers and a subsequent $65 monthly fee for each user ID. Lafayette city residents may view documents for free on the platform. However, printing fees are applicable, depending on the type of record. There is a $10 fee for each printed minute entry in criminal, traffic, and family cases. Other criminal entries, as well as all civil cases, may be printed free of charge. Accepted means of payment include check, money order, credit card, debit card, and cash. Note that each card payment will incur an additional 3% convenience fee.
How to Obtain Lafayette Court Case Records
The Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court's Office provides copies of court records to interested persons. For access to a Lafayette court case record, send a written request to the Clerk of Court's Office. The request should contain the names of parties to the case, court dates, filing dates, attorneys, charge information, the judge's name, the court's final judgment, and other available information. Send the written request or visit using the following details:
Mailing address:
Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court
P.O. Box 2009
Lafayette, LA 70502
Physical Address:
Lafayette Parish Courthouse
800 South Buchanan Street
Lafayette, LA 70501
Phone: (337) 291-6400
Fax: (337) 291-6392
What are Lafayette Vital Records?
Lafayette vital records contain recorded details of live events that take place within the city. Vital records are created by the government and include information on marriages, divorces, births, and deaths.
Where and How to Obtain Lafayette Divorce Records
The Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court's Office maintains records of divorces finalized in Lafayette city. Interested persons may obtain records, including separation and divorce judgments dating back to 1936, through the Clerk of Court's Research Department. To obtain a Lafayette divorce record, send a written request by mail or by fax. Ensure that the request includes the names of the divorced parties, divorce dates, and details of court judgments. The request should also contain the requestor's contact details to receive information such as applicable costs. Send the request to the Records Department or visit the:
Records Department
Lafayette Parish Courthouse
800 South Buchanan Street
Lafayette, LA 70501
Phone: (337) 291-6300
Fax: (337) 291-6472
Where and How to Get Marriage Records in Lafayette
The Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court maintains records of marriage licenses and issues copies to members of the public. An interested party may request a Lafayette marriage license by sending a mail request to the Clerk of Court's Office. In the written request, include the names of both parried parties, the date of marriage, and a marriage license number if known. Ensure to include the requestor's contact details, such as a full name, address, phone number, and zip code. Each request for a copy of a marriage license costs $5, and certified copies cost an additional $5. All fees are non-refundable and payable by money order or check made out to "Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court". Send the documents with a self-addressed and stamped envelope to:
Marriage License Department
Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court
P.O. Box 2009
Lafayette, LA 70502
Alternatively, visit the Clerk of Court's Office in person at:
Marriage License Department
Lafayette Parish Courthouse
800 South Buchanan Street
Lafayette, LA 70501
Phone: (337) 291-6400
Fax: (337) 291-6392
Where and How to Find Lafayette Birth Records
Lafayette birth records are obtainable from the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court's Office. Requestors may only obtain Lafayette birth certificates in person. Under Louisiana law, access to birth certificates is restricted to the person named on the record and others related in any of the following ways:
- Current spouse
- Parent or grandparent
- Adult child
- Sibling
- Attorney representing the person on the record or any of the above individuals
An eligible person may send a written request to the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court's Office with details of the record, including the name of the registrant, parents' names, and date of birth. Records are available for births from 1930 to date. Each birth certificate costs $34. A certified birth certificate coss $48. Acceptable payment means include cash, credit card, or debit card. Note that all transactions under $33 cost an additional $1 convenience fee. All card transactions cost an extra 3% convenience fee. To order, visit:
Birth Certificate Department
Lafayette Parish Courthouse
800 South Buchanan Street
Lafayette, LA 70501
Phone: (337) 291-6400
Fax: (337) 291-6392
Where and How to Find Lafayette Death Records
The Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court's Office only issues copies of death records in person. Access to Lafayette death records is restricted to the following persons:
- Surviving spouse listed on the document
- Parent or grandparent of the decedent
- Adult child or grandchild
- Sibling
- Anyone named as a member of the decedent's immediate or surviving family
- The beneficiary of a related insurance plan or trust
- A succession representative with a certified Letter of Testamentary or a certified Letter of Administration from the Clerk of Court
Each death certificate costs $26, payable by credit card, debit card, or cash. All payments less than $33 will attract an additional $1 convenience fee. All card payments cost an extra 3%. Records are obtainable only in person. To order, visit the Clerk of Court's Office at:
Death Certificate Department
Lafayette Parish Courthouse
800 South Buchanan Street
Lafayette, LA 70501
Phone: (337) 291-6400
Fax: (337) 291-6392
