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Louisiana Public Records

Louisiana public records refer to “all books, records, writings, accounts, letters and letter books, maps, drawings, photographs, cards, tapes, recordings, memoranda, and papers, and all copies, duplicates, photographs, including microfilm, or other reproductions thereof, or any other documentary materials” of any government entity in the state of Louisiana.

How to Find Louisiana Public Records

Under the Louisiana law of public records and recorders, any person of legal age has a right to access, inspect, copy, or have a copy of any public records in the state. However, private sources can also provide access when the records are available.

Are Louisiana Public Records Available Online?

Public records in Louisiana are available online using official government sites or authorized third-party websites in the state. However, records that are considered confidential may not be available for public inspection and can only be obtained by special request. 

What Records are Not Available in Louisiana?

Louisiana does not allow the public to access the following records:

  • Records that pertain to lawyer-client communication
  • Juvenile relevant records
  • Health records
  • Common interest and deliberative process privileges records
  • Financial records
  • Proprietary information

Types of Public Records Available in Louisiana

Louisiana has the following records available for public inspection

Louisiana Public Criminal Records

Unfortunately, Louisiana does not allow the general public to access criminal record information. 

To request criminal records, you need to submit an authorization or fill out a request form containing a lot of personal information. The information includes your name, date and place of birth, race and sex, weight, hair color, eye color, and social security number to the Lousiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information.  

You can also perform an internet background check as long as you are registered to use the site.

Police Departments and Sheriffe Office in Louisiana :

Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office2800 B Perdido St., New Orleans, LA
Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office501 Texas Street, Room 101, Shreveport, LA
Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office316 West Main Street, Lafayette, LA
Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office5400 E. Broad St., Lake Charles, LA
Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office400 Saint John Street, Monroe, LA
Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office701 Murray Street, Alexandria, LA
Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office20300 Government Blvd., Livingston, LA
Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office15475 Club Deluxe Road, Hammond, LA
Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office204 Burt Boulevard, Benton, LA
Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office3441 West Park Ave., Gray, LA

Arrest Records and Warrants

Like criminal records, arrest records and warrants in Louisiana are only available by request from the Lousiana State Police.

Inmate and Jail Records

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Correction allows you to access inmate and jail records using the Louisiana Automated Victim Notification System (LAVNS), which you can use to locate inmates using the following information:

  • Name
  • Location
  • ID
  • Case number

Jails and Prisons in Louisiana :

Orleans Justice Center (OJC)2800 Perdido St., New Orleans, LA
Caddo Parish Work Release1125 Forum Drive, Shreveport, LA
Caddo LA Juvenile Detention Home1835 Spring Street, Shreveport, LA
Caddo Parish Correctional Center1101 Forum Drive, PO Box 70110, Shreveport, LA
Calcasieu Parish Juvenile Detention Center3615 East Prien Lake Road, PO Box 2073, Lake Charles, LA
Calcasieu Sheriff's Prison and Women's Annex5300 E. Broad Street, Lake Charles, LA
Calcasieu Parish Correctional Center5410 East Broad Street, Lake Charles, LA
Bossier Parish Maximum Security Facility2985 Old Plain Dealing Road, Plain Dealing, LA
Bossier Parish Medium Security Facility2984 Old Plain Dealing Road, Plain Dealing, LA
Bossier Parish Minimum Security Facility2960 Old Plain Dealing Road, Plain Dealing, LA

Louisiana Background Checks

Background checks in the state of Louisiana are considered confidential information; hence you need to provide a signed authorization from the person that is the subject of the check. To perform a background check in Louisiana, you can use their Internet Background Check facility for a quick check or provide a set of fingerprints for a full background check. 

How to Find Sex Offenders in Louisiana

The Louisiana State Police has a sex offender registry that contains information on sex offenders and child predators in the state. To search for offenders, you need to read and accept the terms and conditions and start your search by first selecting your parish. 

Once done, you will be redirected to look up information using the sex offender's name, address, city, county, and ZIP code. 

Louisiana Public Vital Records 

The Louisiana Department of Health State Registrar and Vital Records is the primary custodian of vital public records in the state like birth, death, and marriage licenses. 

Requestors must provide their full name and mailing address, including a phone number, and can request vital requests via phone, mail, or VitalChek. An additional fee of $0.50 state charge will apply for all VitalChek orders. 

Take note as well of the following fees:

  • Birth certificate - $15.00 per certified copy
  • Death certificate - $7.00 per certified copy
  • Marriage license - $27.50 per certified copy

For divorce records in Louisiana, you need to contact the clerk of the parish court which issued the divorce. 

Louisiana Court Records 

Louisiana has an online court records lookup tool that you can use to find court records using a first name, last name, and city. You can also search the Louisiana Supreme Court to find specific court records. 

State Court System in Louisiana

Louisiana's state court system comprises the Supreme Court at the appellate level and five intermediate courts of appeals. The rest are composed of district courts, family and juvenile courts, city courts, and parish courts.

Courts in Louisiana :

Orleans Parish County Civil District Court 421 Loyola Ave., New Orleans, LA
Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit410 Royal St., New Orleans, LA
Louisiana Supreme Court400 Royal St., New Orleans, LA
Second City Court of New Orleans225 Morgan St., New Orleans, LA
Orleans Parish County Criminal District Court2700 Tulane Ave., New Orleans, LA
First City Court of New Orleans421 Loyola Ave., New Orleans, LA
Caddo Parish County District Court501 Texas St., Shreveport, LA
Shreveport City Court1244 Texas Ave., Shreveport, LA
Louisiana Court of Appeal, Second Circuit430 Fannin St., Shreveport, LA
Lafayette City Court105 E. Convent St., Lafayette, LA

Driving Records

The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles issues official driving records in the state. To get your driving records, you need to provide your personal information, including the following:

  • Name
  • Address
  • Date of birth
  • Driver’s license number
  • Class of license

Once you provide your personal information, you should pay a service fee of $16.00 plus an additional $2.00 fee for electronic commerce and have a printer ready once you get a copy of your driving records. Driving records in Louisiana include personal status information, commercial driver's license information, road offenses, and accident statements. 

Take note that your driving records are only available for viewing and printing 30 days after you purchase your official driving record online. The service is also unavailable from 11:30 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.

Civil Driving Infractions

The Lousiana Highway Safety Commission imposes the following sanctions for civil driving infractions:

  • New drivers using cell phones - a secondary offense and a moving violation with fines from $175 to $500.
  • Minors using cell phones - a primary offense and a moving violation with a maximum fine of $100 up to $200. The fines become double when the violation also causes a crash. 
  • Texting while driving - a primary offense and moving violation with fines from $175 to $500. 

Some other civil driving infractions include

  • Ignition interlock
  • Refusal of chemical test and consequences
  • Not wearing a seatbelt
  • Not wearing a helmet
  • Driving with headsets on

Louisiana License Plate Lookup

The state of Louisiana has no available website to lookup a license plate online, although there are third-party sites that allow you to perform a VIN check in the state. 

Louisiana Property and Asset Records Online 

Property records in Louisiana are managed by the registry of deed offices, which are also organized on a county level. The Lousiana Division of Administration also provides information on tax records, state lands, buildings, and historical record searches. 

Louisiana Unclaimed Property and Assets

The Louisiana State Treasurer handles all unclaimed properties in the state and has specific instructions for claiming life insurance policies and benefit payments. You can also claim and check the status of your unclaimed properties.

Important Government Agencies in Louisiana

The following government agencies in Louisiana can help you find the public records you need.

  1. Secretary of State
  2. Governor’s website
  3. Legislature office
  4. Office of the Attorney General
  5. Louisiana Clerks of Court
  6. Lousiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information
  7. Louisiana Department of Health
  8. Louisiana Supreme Court
  9. Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles
  10. Lousiana Highway Safety Commission
  11. Lousiana Division of Administration
  12. Louisiana State Treasurer

Counties in Louisiana

Other Records in Louisiana

List of Content

  1. How to Find Louisiana Public Records
    1. Are Louisiana Public Records Available Online?
  2. What Records are Not Available in Louisiana?
    1. Types of Public Records Available in Louisiana
      1. Louisiana Public Criminal Records
      2. Arrest Records and Warrants
      3. Inmate and Jail Records
      4. Louisiana Background Checks
      5. Louisiana Public Vital Records 
      6. State Court System in Louisiana
      7. Driving Records
      8. Civil Driving Infractions
      9. Louisiana License Plate Lookup
    2. Important Government Agencies in Louisiana
      1. Other Records