Louisiana Booking Reports
Louisiana booking reports are public records kept by parish sheriff offices across the state. Each of the 64 parishes runs its own jail and keeps booking logs that are open for public view. You can search for booking reports online through parish sheriff websites, the LAVNS victim notification system, or by calling the jail where someone was booked. Many parishes now post daily arrest logs and current inmate rosters on their websites. This page covers how to find booking reports in Louisiana, what they contain, and where to search for records in every parish and major city.
Louisiana Booking Reports Quick Facts
How to Find Louisiana Booking Reports
Parish sheriff offices are the main source for booking reports in Louisiana. Each parish sheriff runs the local jail and creates a booking record every time someone is arrested and processed. Under Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 228, every law enforcement officer who makes an arrest must book the person right away. The booking record and booking information summaries are always open for public inspection. This is one of the clearest mandates in state law when it comes to public access.
The fastest way to find a booking report is to check the parish sheriff website. Many parishes post their jail roster online. Some update it every few hours. Others publish daily arrest reports that show new bookings from the past 24 hours. Lafayette Parish, for instance, lets you subscribe to get daily arrest reports sent to your email. That kind of access makes it simple to stay informed about recent arrests in a given area.
You can also search through the Louisiana Automated Victim Notification System (LAVNS) on VineLink. LAVNS lets you look up offenders by name, location, or ID number. It covers both state prison inmates and many parish jail inmates. The system gets updated every 24 hours. You can register for alerts when an inmate's custody status changes. The phone line for the Imprisoned Person Locator is (225) 383-4580.
The DPS&C Offender Information page provides details on how to search for people in state custody through LAVNS and the automated phone system.
The screenshot above shows the state offender search portal. It explains how family and friends can locate someone in DPS&C custody using the LAVNS system or by calling the automated line.
What Louisiana Booking Reports Contain
A booking report is the official record made when someone is arrested and brought to a jail for processing. It captures the basic facts about the arrest and the person in custody. The level of detail varies by parish. Some sheriff offices share a lot of data on their public rosters. Others show just a name, date, and charges.
Booking reports in Louisiana typically include:
- Full legal name and any known aliases
- Date of birth, age, and gender
- Booking photograph and physical description
- Date and time of booking
- Arresting agency
- Charges filed at the time of booking
- Bond or bail amount
Some parishes also list the court date, projected release date, and the specific statute the person is charged under. For instance, a charge might show "14:63 - Criminal Trespass" with the bond amount right next to it. Jackson Parish inmate records display age, booking date, booking time, bonds, and full charge details on their online roster.
For complete booking records beyond what shows on the public roster, you may need to submit a formal records request. Under Louisiana law, agencies must respond within three business days. Copy fees range from $0.25 to $1.00 per page. Mugshot copies cost $5 to $25 per photo depending on the parish.
Louisiana Public Records Law
Louisiana law makes booking records public. The Louisiana Public Records Act under RS 44:1 says all records used in public business are presumed open to inspection. Anyone can ask to see them. You do not need to give a reason for your request.
RS 44:3 deals with law enforcement records specifically. It exempts some investigative files from public disclosure. But booking records, initial reports, and police log books are carved out as public records under this same statute. So while an active investigation file might be closed, the booking record itself stays open to public view.
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press notes that Code of Criminal Procedure Article 228 goes even further. It says booking information summaries "shall always be open for public inspection." That language leaves little room for denial. If you ask for a booking report at any parish jail, the law says they must let you see it.
There are limits on other types of records. RS 15:574.12 makes state prison records mostly confidential. Only basic facts are public for state inmates: age, offense, date of conviction, length of sentence, and misconduct while in custody. RS 15:587 governs the Louisiana Computerized Criminal History database. Louisiana is a closed record state for full criminal history data. But booking records at parish jails are a different matter. They remain public.
The DPS&C Public Information page explains the rules for requesting records from the state corrections department.
This shows the DPS&C public records request portal where you can submit written requests for information about offenders in state custody.
State Agencies and Jail Records
Several state agencies handle different parts of the arrest and booking system in Louisiana. The one you contact depends on whether the person is in a parish jail or state prison.
The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C) oversees nine state prison facilities. They keep records for inmates in state custody. You can request records by writing to P.O. Box 94304, Baton Rouge, LA 70804 or by emailing docpublicrecords@la.gov. Only limited information is public under RS 15:574.12. The department does not do background checks. They direct those requests to the State Police.
The Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information (BCII-LCJIS) maintains the state criminal history repository called LACCH. This system stores arrests, dispositions, probation and parole bookings, and incarceration information for people arrested in Louisiana. The BCII office at 7919 Independence Blvd in Baton Rouge handles fingerprint identification through AFIS, which provides real-time identification at the time of booking.
The BCII forms page has details on how agencies and individuals can request criminal history information through the proper channels.
The Louisiana Sheriffs' Association provides a directory of all 64 parish sheriffs. Each sheriff runs the parish jail and keeps local booking reports. You can find contact info for any parish sheriff through their directory at 1175 Nicholson Drive, Baton Rouge, or by phone at (225) 343-8402.
Online Booking Report Search
Many Louisiana parishes offer free online tools for searching booking reports. The type of system varies. Some parishes use their own websites. Others contract with platforms like TBS-Web, 365Labs, or Kologik to host their jail rosters and inmate search tools.
LAVNS through VineLink is the most widely used statewide tool. It covers inmates in DPS&C custody and many local jail facilities. You can search by name, facility, or offender ID. The system also lets you register for notifications when someone's status changes. VineLink is free to use.
The VineLink search page lets you look up offenders across Louisiana. You can register to get alerts by phone, email, or text when an inmate is moved or released.
For parish-level booking reports, go to the sheriff office website for the parish where the arrest took place. Look for links labeled "inmate roster," "jail roster," or "current inmates." Livingston Parish uses TBS-Web and shows name, DOB, race, gender, and booking number. St. Landry Parish runs a LAVNS roster at stlandry.lavns.org that lets you search by name, booking number, or date of birth. Lafayette Parish has a 365Labs community portal showing currently housed inmates and anyone booked in the last 72 hours.
The LSP Internet Background Check system serves authorized agencies that need to run criminal history checks through the LACCH database. This is not a public search tool. It is for agencies authorized under RS 15:587.
The IBC portal is where authorized agencies log in to run formal criminal history checks. Individual booking report searches happen at the parish level.
Record Request Fees
Most parish jail rosters are free to search online. You do not pay to look at the public roster or check for a name. But official copies come with fees.
Standard copy fees across Louisiana run $0.25 to $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost more. Mugshot copies are $5 to $25 per photo depending on the parish. Some clerks of court charge $20 per name for criminal background searches, as Tensas Parish does. Expungement costs vary widely. In Webster Parish, total expungement fees can reach $500 or more when you add up payments to the clerk, sheriff, district attorney, and Louisiana State Police.
A state background check through LSP costs $31. You can pay online with Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express. The LSP Background Check FAQ page explains the process and fees. In-person requests at LSP require an extra $10 fingerprinting fee. Cash and personal checks are not accepted. You must arrive before 3:00 PM for same-day service at the Baton Rouge office.
The FAQ page covers common questions about background check fees, processing times, payment methods, and what to expect from the results.
Note: Fees change from time to time, so call the agency or parish office to confirm current costs before sending payment.
Browse Louisiana Booking Reports by Parish
Each parish in Louisiana has its own sheriff office that keeps booking reports. Pick a parish below to find local jail roster links, contact information, and resources for that area.
Booking Reports in Major Louisiana Cities
Residents of major cities file records requests through their parish sheriff office. Pick a city below to learn about booking reports and arrest records in that area.