Louisiana criminal records come from two main sources: the state criminal history repository (maintained by the state police or equivalent agency) and individual parish court systems. These are separate databases that may show different information.
What this page covers: Louisiana state-level criminal history searches, parish court criminal case lookups, and sex offender registry searches. What it does not cover: Federal criminal cases (those require PACER) or arrest records that did not result in charges.
Where to start: For a broad criminal history check, start with the state repository. For specific case details (charges, dispositions, documents), go to the Clerk of Court in the parish where the case was filed. For sex offenders, use the state sex offender registry.
Common mistake: A state criminal history search and a parish court search are not the same thing. The state repository compiles conviction data from across the state. Parish courts have the actual case files with full detail. You may need both.
Louisiana Criminal Records — Key Numbers (2026)
State-only check (State Identification Bureau): Returns arrests, dispositions and convictions reported to that one state's repository. It does not include arrests from other states or most federal cases. See the FBI's directory of state agencies: State Identification Bureau Listing.
Multi-state / federal check (FBI Identity History Summary): Returns records contributed by federal, state, local, and tribal agencies through the FBI's Interstate Identification Index (III). See FBI Identity History Summary FAQs and Interstate Identification Index (III).
What state repositories miss: The FBI's national survey of state criminal-history information systems documents known reporting gaps (missing dispositions, delayed updates, sealed/expunged handling). See BJS: Survey of State Criminal History Information Systems.
What Changed in 2026 — Louisiana Criminal Records
The 4-Step Louisiana Criminal Records Pathway
Five Things People Get Wrong About Louisiana Criminal Records
Primary Sources and Official Record Portals
- lsp.org — Louisiana State Police - BCII — Official Louisiana criminal history portal
- fbi.gov — Identity History Summary — FBI fingerprint-based federal check ($18)
- fbi.gov — State ID Bureau listing — FBI listing of every state's repository
- ftc.gov — FCRA basics — Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act rules
- ftc.gov — Background Checks employer guide — FTC + EEOC employer guidance
- bjs.ojp.gov — Bureau of Justice Statistics — Federal stats on state criminal record systems
Related Criminal Records Resources
- Louisiana Court Records →
- Louisiana Property Records →
- Louisiana Vital Records →
- Louisiana Voter Records →
- Louisiana Wants & Warrants →
- Louisiana Licenses →
- Louisiana Recorded Documents →
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Not sure who may legally check whom? The Louisiana background check guide explains the official routes, the court-record option, and your FCRA rights.
Looking for someone in custody right now? The Louisiana inmate search page collects the state, county, and federal locators in one place.
Criminal Records Databases
23 official Louisiana criminal records sources.
Criminal Records
Louisiana Counties
All 64 Louisiana counties. Click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Which Louisiana parishes publish jail rosters and sheriff records online
13 of Louisiana's 64 parishes run their own online source for jail rosters and sheriff records, based on what this directory indexes. Every other parish is covered by the statewide systems listed above — click a parish for its full records page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I run an official Louisiana background check?▼
Louisiana's official statewide criminal-history check is administered by the Louisiana State Police - BCII. Begin the request at lsp.org. Most state-level checks require submitting fingerprints (live-scan or ink) plus a processing fee, and the response covers convictions and certain non-conviction data permitted by Louisiana statute.
Are Louisiana criminal records public?▼
Most adult criminal-history information in Louisiana is considered public record, but access is restricted depending on the requester (self, employer, government agency) and the data type (arrest, conviction, sealed, juvenile). The Louisiana State Police - BCII explains who can request what at lsp.org. County-court records are also public and searchable through the trial-court system.
What's the difference between a state and an FBI background check in Louisiana?▼
Can I get someone else's Louisiana criminal record?▼
Generally, no — only the record subject (with their own ID and signature) or a specifically authorized requester (such as a credentialed employer under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a licensing board, or law enforcement) can pull a third-party criminal history from the Louisiana State Police - BCII. The Louisiana State Police - BCII documentation at lsp.org lists each authorized requester category.
How do I challenge or correct a Louisiana criminal record?▼
If you find an error on your Louisiana criminal history, the Louisiana State Police - BCII offers a record-review and challenge process. Begin at lsp.org — typical steps include fingerprint verification, a written dispute, and supporting court documents (such as a dismissal or expungement order) for each contested entry.