Where to Find and Access Louisiana Criminal Records

Louisiana criminal records are primarily sourced from the databases provided by courts and law enforcement bodies. Information on some criminal cases is available to the masses through various criminal records searches, but the details on most of it remain out of bounds. Unless, of course, you request a comprehensive criminal record search through an appropriate agency, like the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information, or a court. Sometimes, this information can be requested online or you may obtain printed or digital copies.

Louisiana criminal records are easily accessible to approved individuals or agencies like the health care, social and medical services, the gaming industry, and regulatory organizations that need criminal history screenings. These can also be accessed by victims of the crimes committed by the search object. It is worth mentioning that a Louisiana criminal record report is admissible as evidence only if it is supported by reports from a fingerprint identification database.

Conducting a Criminal Background Check

To obtain a criminal background check, you will have to fill out the Louisiana Criminal Record mail-in form and send it to the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information, situated in Baton Rouge. However, you will need to submit fingerprints for this check. You can download the required form from the state police website, https://laapps.dps.louisiana.gov/, and mail it to them.

The state police website also offers an Internet background check service. You do have to register and have your organization approved by the Criminal Records Office to utilize the services. The site offers the General Disclosure Form and the accompanying Authorization Form at http://www.lsp.org/http://www.peoplepublicrecords.org/technical.html to submit your request for a background check. You will need to complete and submit the Rap Disclosure Form when you are requesting background checks for varied bodies like the State Board of Medical Examiners, the State Board of Nursing, and the State ABC Board.

Fingerprint Records

The Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information supervises the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS). This is aligned with computerized criminal history (CCH) information and contains mug shots and fingerprints of booked persons. The Bureau also operates the Louisiana Computerized Criminal History (LACCH) system that houses information on the arrest, disposition, and incarceration of individuals in Louisiana. It is a fully fingerprint-based search system that has proven valuable for law enforcement agencies, correction agencies, and the courts. The law enforcement bodies in particular can use the services of LACCH electronically through the Louisiana Law Enforcement Message Switch (LEMS).

Other Criminal Records Search Options

In addition to this, there are also four other databases where you may carry out a Louisiana criminal records search. The Louisiana corrections report search contains but is limited to persons who are serving terms with the Louisiana Department of Corrections and have been considered for parole. The search results provide information on a person’s name, date of birth, race, sex, description of the crime, parole and institution information.

The Bureau of Identification and Information also operates a database known as the State Sex Offender and Child Predator Registry (SOCPR). It is a central repository that stocks information on convicted sexual offenders, child predators, and sexually violent predators. The Louisiana sex offender report description includes information like name, aliases adopted, address, description of the crime and location about offenders considered high-risk by the state. This is available on the site http://www.lsp.org/socpr/http://www.peoplepublicrecords.org/default.html, and is updated monthly.

The terrorist database background check is aligned with the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list that is kept by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of Treasury. The list also includes information on narcotic traffickers.

The Most Wanted report search is updated regularly and includes voluminous lists of most wanted criminals compiled by several state agencies, providing the FBI’s top 10 most wanted, FBI’s most wanted fugitives, U.S. Secret Service's most wanted and the U.S. DEA wanted fugitives.

The above mentioned Louisiana criminal records searches generate almost instantaneous results. However, the Louisiana county criminal background searches yield results within 1-4 working days. A Louisiana county criminal description report contains information on conviction or deferred judgments.

Although mostly restricted, Louisiana criminal record searches, when conducted through proper channels, yield valuable information.