Louisiana Criminal Records

This guide explains how to find Louisiana criminal records, arrest records, court records, inmate information, and the public sex offender registry, and how Louisiana's background-check and record-clearing laws work. It was last reviewed in June 2026 using official Louisiana sources, and it points you to the state and parish agencies that hold each type of record. You can also start a name search using the tool on this page.

How do I look up a criminal record in Louisiana?

Louisiana is a closed-record state for criminal history: the statewide criminal history maintained by the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information (BCII) is not open to the public. There are three realistic ways to find criminal-record information:

• Your own record (Right to Review). Under Louisiana Revised Statute 15:588, you can obtain a certified copy of your own criminal history through the Louisiana Applicant Processing System (LAPS), which uses digital fingerprinting at IdentoGO locations statewide. You schedule an appointment online, submit fingerprints, pay the service fee, and receive a certified report by mail or secure email link. See the Louisiana State Police BCII fingerprints and background checks page.
• Parish court records. Individual case files are public and held by the clerk of court in the parish where the case was filed. Many parishes offer online case search portals (see the court records question below).
• An online people-search tool like the one on this page, which compiles public-record data from court filings and other sources into one report. These tools are for personal knowledge only and are not a substitute for an official record review or an FCRA-compliant background check.

A fingerprint-based search is the only way to confirm a record truly belongs to a specific person; a name-only search can return matches that belong to someone else.

Are criminal records public in Louisiana?

It depends on which record. The Louisiana State Police BCII statewide criminal history database is confidential under Louisiana law and is not released to the general public - you cannot pull a stranger's rap sheet the way you can in a few other states. Court case records, on the other hand, are presumptively public under the Louisiana Public Records Law (Louisiana Revised Statute 44:1 et seq.) and can be viewed at the courthouse or through parish online portals. So while you cannot access the statewide criminal history summary for someone else, you can generally look up their individual court cases parish by parish.

Where can I look up arrest records in Louisiana?

Arrest records are kept by the agency that made the arrest - a city police department or a parish sheriff. Many parish sheriffs publish an online jail roster showing recent bookings and people currently in custody. An arrest record is different from a criminal record: it documents that a person was taken into custody, not that they were convicted. The Louisiana Public Records Law generally makes booking and arrest records available to the public unless an investigation is ongoing or the records are otherwise protected by law.

How do I find court records in Louisiana?

Louisiana has no single statewide criminal case search. Each parish's clerk of court maintains the local case files, and many offer online access. A useful multi-parish starting point is Clerk Connect, a portal used by many Louisiana parish clerks that lets you search civil, family, probate, and criminal records from participating parishes. For Louisiana Supreme Court and appellate cases, the Louisiana Supreme Court case search is publicly available. To pull a specific file for a trial-level case, contact the clerk of court in the parish where the case was filed.

How do I look up warrants in Louisiana?

Warrants are issued by courts, but the easiest place to check is the sheriff or court clerk in the parish where charges would be filed. Some parish sheriffs post outstanding-warrant information online; for others, you contact the court clerk directly. Active warrants can also surface on third-party background reports, but the issuing court is the authoritative source.

Do arrests show up on background checks in Louisiana?

For employment, tenant, and credit screening run through a consumer reporting agency, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) controls what can be reported. An arrest that did not lead to a conviction generally cannot be reported once it is more than seven years old. Louisiana has no state law that adds stricter limits beyond the FCRA for most private employers, so convictions can generally be reported indefinitely. A name-based online search may surface arrest records regardless of disposition; only the official BCII Right to Review or a court search will show the full picture.

How far back does a background check go in Louisiana?

Under the federal FCRA, a consumer reporting agency may not report non-conviction information (arrests that did not lead to a conviction, dismissed charges) that is more than seven years old. Convictions can be reported for longer; federal law has no hard limit on reporting convictions, and Louisiana does not add a stricter statewide cap for most employment. Key points:

• Arrests more than seven years old that did not result in a conviction generally cannot be reported by a background-check company.
• Actual convictions can typically be reported regardless of age under federal law.
• The FCRA seven-year limit on non-conviction records applies regardless of salary in Louisiana (unlike some states, Louisiana has not codified a high-salary exception in its own statutes).
• Expunged records are removed from public access and should not appear on most background checks (see the expungement question below).

How do I find someone in jail or prison in Louisiana?

It depends on where the person is held:

• State prison or DOC custody. The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections provides a offender search linked from the DOC homepage. You can also call the DOC directly to locate an offender assigned to state custody. The DOC also runs LAVNS (Louisiana Automated Victim Notification System) for victims who want alerts about an offender's status.
• Parish jail. People awaiting trial or serving shorter sentences are typically held in a parish jail; check that parish sheriff's website for an online inmate roster.
• Federal custody. For federal cases, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator instead.

How do I find out if someone is on probation or parole in Louisiana?

State parole and pardon matters are handled by the Louisiana Board of Pardons and Committee on Parole, which operates under the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Parole hearings are generally scheduled within nine months of an offender's parole-eligibility date and are open to the public (conducted via Zoom with live-streaming). Probation is supervised locally at the parish level through the court that imposed the sentence; the sentencing court's records are the best source for an individual's probation status.

What is a felony in Louisiana?

Under Louisiana Revised Statute 14:2, a felony is any crime for which an offender may be sentenced to death or imprisonment at hard labor - a phrase from Louisiana's civil-law tradition that means the sentence is served in a state correctional facility rather than a parish jail. Unlike most states, Louisiana does not group felonies into lettered classes (Class A, B, C, etc.). Instead, each offense in the Louisiana Revised Statutes carries its own sentence. Common Louisiana felonies include murder, rape, armed robbery, aggravated assault, and distribution of controlled substances. A felony conviction can result in the loss of voting rights while incarcerated and supervised (though these are restored after completion of sentence in Louisiana), loss of firearm rights, and other collateral consequences.

What is a misdemeanor in Louisiana?

Under Louisiana Revised Statute 14:2, a misdemeanor is any crime other than a felony. Misdemeanor sentences are served in a parish jail rather than a state prison, and they are typically limited to fines and up to six months in jail, although some misdemeanors carry up to two years. Like felonies, Louisiana misdemeanors are not grouped into lettered classes - each offense sets its own penalty. Common misdemeanors include simple battery, public intoxication, criminal mischief, and a first-offense DWI (driving while intoxicated).

Are traffic violations crimes in Louisiana?

Most routine traffic tickets in Louisiana are civil infractions and are not classified as crimes, so they carry only fines and do not appear on a criminal background check. More serious driving offenses are criminal. A first-offense DWI under Louisiana Revised Statute 14:98 is a misdemeanor. A third offense DWI becomes a felony, punishable by a fine of $2,000 and imprisonment of one to five years, with at least one year to be served without benefit of parole or probation. A fourth or subsequent offense carries 10 to 30 years and a $5,000 fine.

Is the Louisiana sex offender registry public?

Yes. The Louisiana State Police maintains the State Sex Offender and Child Predator Registry, which is publicly searchable at no cost. You can search by name, address, city, or zip code at the Louisiana State Police sex offender registry. The registry shows the offender's photo, current address, offense information, and identifying details. Registration is required under Louisiana Revised Statute 15:542. The registry emphasizes that information is only as current as the agencies are required to submit it, so always verify with local law enforcement for the most up-to-date location information.

How long must a sex offender register in Louisiana?

Louisiana uses an offense-based system under Louisiana Revised Statute 15:544 rather than numbered tiers:

• 15 years from the date of initial registration for most standard sex offenses. This period may be reduced to 10 years if the offender maintains a clean record throughout the registration period and files a motion with the court.
• 25 years for offenders convicted of sexual offenses against minors.
• Lifetime registration for those convicted of aggravated offenses, sexually violent predators, and repeat sex-offense registrants. A lifetime registrant adjudicated as a juvenile may petition to reduce to 25 years after maintaining a clean record for 25 years.

Prior convictions more than 10 years before the current offense are not counted toward escalating the registration requirement in DWI cases, but for sex offenses the registration period is set by statute and the specific conviction, not by a lookback period.

Can someone be removed from the Louisiana sex offender registry?

In limited circumstances, yes. A 15-year registrant who maintains a clean record for the entire 10-year period of registration may file a motion in the court of conviction asking to be relieved of the registration requirement; if granted, the period is reduced to 10 years. Lifetime registrants who were adjudicated as juveniles may petition to reduce to 25 years. The most serious adult offenders - those required to register for life based on the nature of their conviction - generally cannot be removed. Eligibility is highly fact-specific, so an attorney familiar with Louisiana's sex-offender registration laws should review the particular conviction and registration history.

How do I expunge my criminal record in Louisiana?

Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Articles 971 through 993 govern expungement. Under Louisiana law, "expungement" means removal of a record from public access - it does not destroy the record, and law enforcement, courts, and certain agencies retain access. The two main paths are:

• Misdemeanor expungement (Article 977). You may file a motion to expunge a misdemeanor conviction after five years have elapsed since you completed your sentence, provided you have no intervening felony conviction. Some misdemeanors - such as domestic abuse battery - are excluded.
• Felony expungement (Article 978). You may file a motion to expunge a felony conviction after ten years have elapsed since you completed your sentence, deferred adjudication, or period of probation or parole, and you have no intervening criminal conviction. Crimes of violence, sex offenses, crimes against minors, and most controlled-substance convictions are not eligible.

Beginning January 1, 2025, an automated expungement process is available through the Louisiana BCII for certain eligible records. Total costs for obtaining a court expungement order generally cannot exceed $550 under current fee provisions. The expungement statutes are at Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 978 (felony) and Article 977 (misdemeanor).

Do I need a lawyer to expunge my record in Louisiana?

You are not required to hire a lawyer to file a motion for expungement in Louisiana. The Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure sets out the forms and procedures, and some relief may now be handled through the automated BCII process without a court filing. That said, expungement petitions are technical, eligibility rules are detailed and exclude many offense categories, and a mistake can delay or bar relief. Many people benefit from consulting an attorney or a free legal-aid clinic - particularly for felony cases or if any complicating factors exist in the record.

How long does a felony stay on your record in Louisiana?

A Louisiana felony conviction stays on your record permanently unless you obtain expungement under Code of Criminal Procedure Article 978 (available only after a 10-year waiting period and only for eligible, non-violent, non-sex offenses). There is no automatic deletion. The FCRA seven-year limit discussed above restricts what a background-check company may report about non-conviction arrests; it does not erase the underlying court record, and convictions can generally be reported indefinitely. If you are not eligible for expungement, the record remains accessible through the courts.

Are juvenile criminal records private in Louisiana?

Juvenile records in Louisiana are generally confidential and are not available to the public. The Louisiana Children's Code governs juvenile proceedings. A juvenile who was not adjudicated delinquent may immediately petition for expungement of the arrest record. If adjudicated delinquent, the record may be petitioned for expungement after five years have elapsed since the end of the juvenile sentence, with no intervening convictions. Law enforcement and certain agencies can still access sealed or expunged juvenile records in defined circumstances.

East Baton Rouge Parish criminal records

East Baton Rouge Parish is the most populous parish in Louisiana, home to roughly 453,000 residents and the state capital, Baton Rouge. Criminal cases at the trial level are handled by the 19th Judicial District Court. The EBR Clerk of Court maintains criminal records and offers online access through the Clerk Connect criminal inquiry portal for East Baton Rouge Parish. The Criminal Records Department is located at room 2501 of the 19th Judicial District Courthouse, 300 North Boulevard, Baton Rouge; you can reach them at (225) 389-3964. Records are generally free to inspect in person, with fees charged for copies.

Official Louisiana criminal record sources

• Louisiana State Police BCII: fingerprints and background checks - how to request your own criminal history (Right to Review) through the LAPS fingerprint system.
• Louisiana State Police sex offender registry - free public search of the State Sex Offender and Child Predator Registry by name, address, or location.
• Louisiana DOC: locate a person incarcerated - the Department of Public Safety and Corrections homepage with access to the offender search for state custody.
• Louisiana Board of Pardons and Committee on Parole - parole hearing schedules, types of hearings, and parole information.
• Louisiana Supreme Court case search - search appellate and Supreme Court cases statewide.
• Clerk Connect multi-parish portal - online access to civil and criminal records from participating Louisiana parish clerks of court.
• East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court: criminal records - court records for the state's most populous parish.
• Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 978 - the felony expungement statute.

Disclosure: criminal.com may earn a commission when you use the people-search tool on this page, which is powered by a third-party background-check service. Results from such tools are for your personal knowledge only and may not be used to make decisions about employment, housing, credit, tenant screening, or any other purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). A mugshot or arrest record is not proof of guilt. This page is general information about Louisiana public records, not legal advice; for advice about your situation, consult an attorney. Information was last reviewed in June 2026 and laws may change.