Lafayette Parish Arrest Records 

Thank you for checking this page. We aim to give you helpful facts. We will do our best to help you with your search for Lafayette Parish Arrest Records. This guide provides details on how to find these public records. We list the main offices involved.

If you want to start your search now for Lafayette Parish Arrest Records, you can visit https://louisianaofficialrecords.com/lafayette-parish-arrest-records/. This resource may help you find the information you need quickly. It is designed to assist users looking for arrest details within the parish. Please review their terms before using any service to ensure it meets your needs for accessing Lafayette Parish Arrest Records.

Understanding Lafayette Parish Arrest Records

What Constitutes an Arrest Record?

An arrest record is made when a person is taken into custody. It is often the first official paper in a case. These records show who was held and why. In Louisiana, most arrest records are public. This right comes from the Louisiana Public Records Law (La. R.S. 44:1 et seq.). This law says people can see and get copies of many public papers. An arrest record is not the same as a full criminal record. Criminal records show if a person was found guilty in court. Arrest records just show that an arrest was made. The case might still be open. Or charges could be dropped later. These records are kept by the law agency that made the arrest.

Information Contained in Arrest Records

Public arrest records in Lafayette Parish can show many details. You can often find the person's full name. Their date of birth may be listed. The record shows physical traits. This includes race, sex, height, and weight. Hair and eye color might be noted too. The date and time of the arrest are key parts. The name of the police or sheriff's office is there. The record lists the specific charges. If a judge set bail, the bond amount is shown. A booking number or incident number helps track the case. Sometimes, a projected release date is given. Not all details are on every record. The exact facts depend on the agency and the case.

Legal Limitations and Confidential Information

While many arrest details are public, some parts are not. Louisiana law protects certain facts. These facts cannot be shared with just anyone. Records about young people (juveniles) are kept private. Details that name victims of sex crimes are secret. The names of secret police officers stay hidden. Who gave secret tips is also kept safe. How the police solve crimes using special ways is not public. La. R.S. 44.3 lists some things that stay private. This includes some police notes and ongoing case files. Only people with a legal right can see these parts. A court order might be needed.

Primary Sources for Lafayette Parish Arrest Records

Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office (LPSO)

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office holds recent arrest data. They also manage the parish jail inmate list. LPSO is a main place to ask for these records.

• Contact and Location:

  • Main Office: 316 West Main Street, Lafayette, LA 70501

  • General Phone: (337) 232-9211

  • Corrections Email: corrections@lafayettesheriff.com

  • General Email: info@lafayettesheriff.com

  • Main Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  • Records Department:

    • Address: 303 West Vermillion St, Lafayette, La. 70501

    • Phone: (337) 236-5845

    • Email: recordsrequest@lafayettesheriff.com

    • Hours: Monday-Thursday 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM & 1:00 PM – 4:45 PM; Friday 8:00 AM – 11:45 AM

• Online Search Tools:

  • LPSO provides an online way to search for inmates. This is the Community Portal. You can look up current inmates. You can see recent bookings from the last 72 hours. It may also list active warrants. You might need to make an account to log in. Some local police sites mention JADES. This seems to be the system behind the portal. It gives charge data, bond info, and cell location.

• Requesting Records Directly from LPSO Records Dept:

  • You can ask for records in person at the Vermillion St address. You can send an email to recordsrequest@lafayettesheriff.com. You can mail a request. Mail should go to: Captain John Mowell, Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office, P.O. Box 3508, Lafayette, LA 70502. Tell them what record you need. Give names and dates if you know them. They need time to process requests. Allow 7 to 10 work days. There are fees for copies. An initial incident report costs $10.00. A daily booking report costs $10.00. A letter proving someone was in jail costs $5.00. Check with the Records Department for all fees.

Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Court keeps records for court cases. This includes both criminal and civil court files. If an arrest led to court charges, the Clerk has records. These show what happened after the arrest.

• Contact and Location:

  • Main Office: 800 South Buchanan St., Lafayette, LA 70501

  • Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2009, Lafayette, LA 70502

  • General Phone: (337) 291-6400

  • Criminal Dept Phone: (337) 291-6329

  • Criminal Records Request Email: CriminalRecordsRequest@lpclerk.com

• Online Records Portal (ClerkConnect):

  • The Clerk offers online access to court records. Find it here: https://www.lpclerk.com/online-records. You need a subscription to see full details. It shows case history. You can see charges filed. It lists court minutes and final decisions. This site is mainly for court case data, not just arrests.

• Formal Criminal Record Requests:

  • You can ask the Criminal Department for copies. Use their Criminal Records Request form or send an email. Include your name and phone number. State the case number (docket number) if known. List the names in the case (caption). Say what papers you need. Ask for plain or certified copies. Tell them where to send the copies (fax, email, mail). Say how you will pay. Payment is needed before they process the request. Call (337) 291-6329 if you need help.

Other Relevant Agencies

Lafayette Police Department (LPD)

The Lafayette Police Department handles calls inside the city limits. If the arrest happened in the city of Lafayette, LPD might have the first report.

• Records Section Contact & Hours:

  • Address: 900 East University Avenue, Lafayette, LA 70502

  • Phone: (337) 291-8621 or (337) 291-8911

  • Fax: (337) 291-8611

  • Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM. They close from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Friday hours are 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM.

• Obtaining LPD Incident Reports:

  • You can get a copy of the first report. The fee is $7.00. This report gives a short summary. It names the person arrested or charged. It lists the time and date. It tells what property or cars were part of the event. It names the officers. Some info is kept private. The victim's name is only given to the victim. Or it goes to their insurance firm. Names and addresses are removed for young victims. They are also removed in sex crime cases.

• Personal Criminal History (Self-Request Only at LPD):

  • You can ask LPD for your own arrest history. You must go in person. Bring a photo ID. You fill out a release form. The fee is $5.00. They only give you dates of arrest and the charges. They do not give full reports this way. This is only for your own record check.

Distinguishing Related Record Types

Current Inmate Status vs. Arrest History

Knowing if someone is in jail right now is different from getting past arrest records. Use the LPSO Community Portal to check the Lafayette Parish jail. For state prison inmates, use state tools. The Louisiana Automated Victim Notification System (LAVNS) tracks state inmates. You can search online. Or call toll-free at 866-528-6748. A state inmate locator phone line is 225-383-4580. These tools show current location and status. They may not show old arrest details if the person is not in jail now.

Arrest Records vs. Full Criminal Court Records

An arrest record shows the start of a case. It proves an arrest occurred. Full criminal court records show much more. They are kept by the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court. These files track the case through the court system. They have motions filed by lawyers. They include judge's orders. They show plea deals or trial results. They list the final sentence if found guilty. To see the full legal story, you need court records. The Clerk's office is the source for these.

Active Warrants

Sometimes people want to know about active warrants. An arrest warrant is an order for police to arrest someone. The LPSO online tools might show active warrants. Check the Community Portal or inquire with the Sheriff's Office directly. Warrant information can change fast. Always check with the official source for current status. Public access might be limited for safety reasons.

Governing Law: Louisiana Public Records Act

Core Principles (La. R.S. 44:1 et seq.)

Louisiana law strongly favors open records. The Public Records Act (La. R.S. 44:1 et seq.) is key. It states that public records should be open. People have a right to see them. They have a right to get copies. This helps keep government open and known. Arrest records fall under this law. They are public unless a specific law says otherwise. The law aims for transparency. It allows citizens to watch public bodies.

Custodian Responsibilities

The agency holding the record is the custodian. For Lafayette Parish arrest records, this is often the LPSO. Or it could be LPD for city arrests. The Clerk of Court holds court records. La. R.S. 44:32 says custodians must make records available. They must provide a place to view them. They must give copies if asked. If they deny a request, they must explain why. They need to cite the specific law that allows them to deny access. They should respond to requests in a timely way.

Requestor Rights

As someone asking for records, you have rights. You do not need to say why you want the record. La. R.S. 44:32 makes this clear. The custodian can ask for your name and age. They need ID to confirm who you are. But your reason for asking is not needed. You have the right to inspect records. You have the right to get copies. You may have to pay reasonable fees for copies.

Key Exemptions in the Law

The right to see records is broad, but not total. The law lists things that are not public. La. R.S. 44.4.1 lists many exemptions. These protect privacy or safety. As noted before, juvenile records are private. Victim details in sex crimes are kept secret. Police methods and source names are hidden. Ongoing investigation files may be exempt too. The state Constitution's right to privacy also limits access sometimes. Only clear legal exemptions allow denying access.

Special Considerations

There are some special rules. For example, people currently in prison have limited rights. They usually cannot request public records. An exception exists if the record helps their case for post-conviction relief. This rule is in La. R.S. 44:31.1. Always check the latest laws. Rules can change over time. Official agency websites often have current details.