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  1. Orleans Parish County Court
  2. Orleans Parish County Arrest Records

Orleans Parish, Louisiana Arrest Records

Orleans Parish arrest records are law enforcement records generated and safeguarded by local agencies to document an arrest and the events surrounding it. Arrest records are entries in a law enforcement database that contain basic information, such as the arrested person's identifying details, the date and time of the arrest, booking details, and related case information. In Orleans Parish, these records are typically created by local law enforcement agencies, such as the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office and the New Orleans Police Department. These records are maintained to ensure transparency and accountability in how law enforcement conducts its duties.

Arrest records are considered public information maintained by a government agency under Louisiana's Public Records Law (La. R.S. 44:1 et seq). According to this law, any records generated by government agencies, including arrest records held by law enforcement, may be inspected or accessed by the public unless the record or the information in it is exempt or restricted by statute.

Criminal history record information for Louisiana is governed by La. R.S. 15:578 through 15:595. These statutes authorize the creation of a central repository for these criminal histories and define how these records are collected, maintained, and disseminated to the public after they have been submitted by law enforcement agencies.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Orleans, Louisiana?

Orleans Parish arrest records and booking details are usually considered public information under the Louisiana Public Record Law. This law permits the public to access and copy records in the custody of government agencies unless the record is exempted or restricted by statutory exemptions. La. Rev. Stat. § 44:3(A)(4) in particular permits law enforcement to withhold certain arrest records until a final judgment of conviction or acceptance of a guilty plea.

Record requests may be made in person directly to the custodians of arrest records. The exact procedure will usually depend on the agency and the type of record requested. A requester does not need to live in Orleans Parish or Louisiana to request arrest records, as there are no residency restrictions. Identification is also not compulsory during a record request. Some agencies may request ID when requesting particular records or collecting physical copies.

What Do Public Orleans Parish Arrest Records Contain?

Public Orleans Parish arrest records will typically contain basic identifying and booking information generated during the booking process after an arrest.

The following generally make up a public Orleans Parish arrest record.

  • The full name of the arrested person
  • Physical description including age, race, sex, height, weight, hair color, etc.
  • Biometrics such as mugshot photographs and fingerprints
  • The arresting agency/officers
  • Booking information including number, date, times, and location
  • Criminal charges and statutes they violated
  • Case numbers and hearing dates
  • Jail housing location
  • Bail/Bond information such as amount and type

Orleans Parish arrest records may not be released in full. For example, the public records laws allow law enforcement to withhold certain investigative records from the public until the case is resolved with a conviction or guilty verdict. Other reasons why records may be restricted from the public include:

  • The record is from an active or ongoing case or investigation
  • The information concerns juvenile arrest records or minors
  • The information would expose confidential information or undercover law enforcement agents
  • The information would expose victims or witnesses to a crime
  • The information is protected by state or federal privacy law
  • The record contains sensitive details such as medical, mental health, or Social Security information
  • The arrest record has already been sealed or expunged by court order

Orleans Parish, Louisiana Arrest Search

Anyone seeking arrest or criminal history information for Orleans Parish may use the following state or federal databases and resources.

The Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information is the central repository for criminal histories. Record seekers may contact the bureau to obtain criminal histories and perform fingerprint-based background checks. Requests may schedule an appointment online to submit fingerprints and pay for the service. The Right to Review Criminal History Report will be forwarded to the requester either by mail or email.

Arrest information and inmate records for individuals in state correctional facilities may be obtained by calling the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections automated information line at (225) 383-4580 or using their online Inmate Locator.

For arrests that ended with criminal cases in federal court, record seekers may look up case files using the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) database. Search tools on PACER allow users to access criminal case records that may include arrest details. Inmate information, specifically for those serving their sentences in federal prisons, may be obtained using the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator.

Orleans Parish Inmate Locator

Orleans Parish inmate records and arrest information may be obtained online using the Inmate Inquiry. Record seekers may also search for Detainees by Phone using the instructions and numbers provided on the website. Record searches and inmate requests may be made directly using the following contact information,

Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office

2800 Perdido Street,

New Orleans, LA 70119

Phone: (504)822-8000

Corrections Division Phone: (504)202-9339

Email: contactus@opso.us

Corrections Division Email: communications@opso.us

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Orleans Parish

Record seekers may find free Orleans Parish arrest records by using the online Inmate Inquiry page or by calling the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office or Correctional Division directly. Record seekers will require details to use these search tools, such as the inmate's name, last name, and booking number. The inmate inquiry also allows users to include archived records in search results for older records.

When using these free options, especially online, ID is not required to perform a record search. Redacted or confidential records also do not appear in free records. Some agencies may require ID and copy fees if the requester is picking up copies or sensitive records in person.

Orleans Parish Arrest Report

Arrest reports and arrest records are two law enforcement documents generated by arresting agencies to document an individual's entry into the legal system.

Arrest records are typically summarized entries into a law enforcement or court database used to register and track the arrested person's detention. They generally contain basic information about the arrestee, including personal identifiers, a physical description, charges, arrest date and time, the arresting agency, bail details, case disposition, and jail housing. These records are generally public information that may be accessed by contacting the local custodian.

Arrest reports are more detailed narratives prepared by the arresting officers involved after an arrest. These reports contain more comprehensive information, providing a full timeline of the events leading up to the arrest. They provide probable cause for the arrest and support court proceedings such as the filing of charges. An arrest report may include victim and witness statements, evidence lists, action reports, and officer observations. Arrest reports are more restricted from public access as they typically contain sensitive information or investigative details.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Orleans Parish

Residents of Orleans Parish may seek expungement of their records under the expungement statutes codified in the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure, Articles 971 through 999. This procedure, commonly referred to as sealing, restricts the record from public access and background checks. However, these records are not deleted, and certain law enforcement agencies may still have access to them.

An arrest record may be eligible for expungement if they meet the following criteria.

  • The arrest was resolved without a conviction, such as when the arrest was not prosecuted, the charges were dismissed, no charges were filed, the defendant was found not guilty, or the statute of limitations expired with no prosecution.
  • The offense must be a simple non-sexual, non-violent misdemeanor, such as criminal mischief, theft, trespassing, disturbing the peace, and shoplifting. First offenses of certain minor possession offenses may also be eligible. Applicants may request expungement 5 years after completing all aspects of their sentence.
  • Non-violent felonies may also qualify for expungement. The applicant must complete the 10-year waiting period after completing all aspects of the sentence, including any deferred sentencing, parole, and probation, without any new charges or convictions.

Not every conviction is eligible to be expunged; major crimes resulting in violence and death, sexual offenses, domestic abuse, crimes against minors, and major drug distribution may never be expunged.

The following steps may be used when applying for expungement in Orleans Parish.

  • Review the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure to confirm qualification for expungement.
  • Obtain a Right to Review criminal history from the Louisiana State Police to obtain complete case details.
  • Visit the Parish Court Clerk's office or Orleans Parish District Court website to obtain the Motion for Expungement and other supporting certified documents, such as the final disposition of the case. Parish Clerks usually provide a full packet containing all the required forms and instructions.
  • File the completed motion and all the supporting documentation with the Orleans Parish Court where the case was heard, then pay all the filing fees.
  • Serve all involved agencies, such as the parish District Attorney, the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information, and the local arresting agency, with copies of the expungement motions. These agencies have a 60-day deadline to challenge it.
  • When the motion is challenged or objected to, the court typically schedules a hearing to review both sides. If there is no challenge, the judge may sign the court order and grant the expungement.

How Do You Remove Orleans Parish Arrest Records From the Internet?

Removing Orleans Parish arrest records from the internet begins with legally restricting them from public access through the expungement process provided by Louisiana law. Once the court grants an expungement order, official state and local databases restrict these records from public access and third-party sources that republish them. Applicants may then use the court-granted expungement order to approach these sources and request removal.

The following steps may be used to request the removal of an arrest record from the internet after obtaining a valid expungement order.

  • Identify the sources that are posting or republishing the outdated arrest data online. These sources may include third-party aggregator websites, new media, and search engine results.
  • Each source must be contacted directly, as they typically operate individually. Third-party public records websites may provide opt-out, data removal, or privacy links that may be used to request removal of records. Use these to submit the expungement order and follow up to ensure compliance.
  • Search engines may also provide avenues to delete outdated content or request deindexing to reduce the records' visibility in search results.