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

Ouachita Parish, Louisiana Arrest Records

An arrest in Ouachita Parish does not mean that the arrestee has been convicted of a crime. It simply means a law enforcement officer has apprehended the person for questioning or to be brought before a court. The arresting officer will enter the arrestee’s information into the agency’s database to create a record associated with the arrest. Interested persons may access this information at the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office (OPSO) or the local police departments, such as the Monroe Police Department and the West Monroe Police Department. The release of arrest records complies with the Louisiana Public Records Law. Sometimes, record seekers may find arrest details within criminal offender record information. Unlike arrest records, criminal offender record information is confidential and governed by the RS 37:763.1.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Ouachita, Louisiana?

Yes. The Louisiana Public Records Law grants anyone of any age in Ouachita Parish (resident or non-resident) the right to inspect, copy, or reproduce an arrest record. Requests may be submitted online or in person at the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office. However, some arrest records may not be available to the public (RS §44:3). Examples of confidential arrest records include:

  • Juvenile arrest records
  • Status offender’s arrest records under the Children's Code
  • Arrest records about pending investigations and  criminal litigation
  • Arrest records that reveal the identity of an undercover police officer, sexual offense victims, or a confidential source.
  • Any records in which the arrested have not pled guilty or in which a court has not entered a final judgment of conviction. 
  • Arrest video or audio recordings obtained from a police officer’s body-worn cameras which may violate a person's privacy.

What Do Public Ouachita Parish Arrest Records Contain?

A public Ouachita Parish arrest record contains the following information:

  • The inmate’s full name, mugshots, date of birth, gender, race, address, and aliases
  • Booking number, date, origin, and time 
  • Release date, housing facility, bail amount, 
  • Bond amount, number, type, and status
  • Charges, disposition, crime class, charge description, counts, court, and court date
  • Offense date, sentence date, sentence length, docket number, and arresting agency

Although most arrest information is public under the Louisiana Public Records Law, some of it is confidential. For example, expunged arrest records are not available for public view. Also, arrest information about sexual offense victims or those whose disclosure would reveal the identity of a confidential source is not public. 

Ouachita Parish, Louisiana Arrest Search

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections (DPS&C) partners with a third-party vendor to provide Ouachita Parish arrest records online to interested persons. The search criteria are name, ID number, or case number. Anyone seeking copies of arrest records may have to visit the DPS&C Facility closest to them. The staff will require basic information about the record for the search. Copies of records usually attract a small fee. 

Many federal law enforcement agencies also disseminate arrest records to the public. For example, the United States Capitol Police (USCP) uses its Weekly Crime Summary portal to provide Ouachita Parish arrest records without charges. Users may filter their searches by providing a CFN number, crime summary, crime date, or crime type. The USCP also allows members of the public to access Ouachita Parish arrest records by mailing a completed Request Form. Other federal law enforcement agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), issue arrest records only to the subjects of the records. The FBI accepts requests online, by mail, and through approved channelers for $18. 

Ouachita Parish Inmate Locator

Follow the steps below to use the Ouachita Parish inmate locator:

  • Go to the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office website 
  • Select Inmate & Jail Information from the top menu and click on “Bookings” from the dropdown
  • Click the  “Acknowledge & Proceed to Bookings” link to accept the terms of use and proceed to the “Inmate Inquiry” page. 
  • Search by name, subject number, booking date, or custody status
  • Click the link attached to the inmate’s name to view the entire record

Individuals may also visit the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office to perform a search. The office opens from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the address below:

Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office

400 St. John St.

Monroe, LA 71201

Phone: (318) 329-1200 

Active Warrant Search in Ouachita Parish

According to CCRP 202, an Ouachita Parish magistrate will issue an arrest warrant when all of the following occur:

  • A complainant executes an affidavit specifying the nature of the offense committed, the date and place of the offense, and the offender’s name and surname (if known), and the name of the person injured (if there be any).  
  • There is probable cause to believe that an offense was committed and that it is named in the complaint. 

Per  CCRP 203, an Ouachita Parish arrest warrant must:

  • Be in writing and in the name of the state
  • State the issuing date and the parish where it was issued 
  • State the name of the accused person or any name or description by which the person may be identified if the actual name is unknown
  • State the offense the accused has committed 
  • Command the accused to be arrested and booked 
  • Carry the signature of the magistrate with the title of their office 
  • Specify the bail amount if the case is non-capital

The arrest warrant will be directed to all peace officers in Louisiana. However, only one peace office will execute it, and it may be executed in any parish (CCRP 204). The warrant will not expire until executed (CCRP 205).

The Louisiana Public Records Law permits the public disclosure of warrants. The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office’s Records/Identification Division is responsible for receiving and managing warrants. Requesters may view active warrants on the Most Wanted page on the Sheriff’s Office website. Anyone who wants to verify the status of a warrant should contact the Records Division by phone at  (318) 410-2490. The records staff will need a name or number for verification.

Agency / Resource

Purpose

Search Methods

Notes

Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office

Maintains and serves warrants

Phone and online

Most Wanted page

Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court 

Issues and maintains warrants

Online through the Clerk Connect Portal, by phone at (318)-327-1444, by email at danab@opcoc.la.gov, and in person

PO Box 1862

Monroe, LA 71201-1862

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Ouachita Parish

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office has a booking portal for free arrest record searches. Users will need a name, subject number, booking date, or custody status for the search. Users should click the link attached to the inmate’s name to view the complete online arrest record. 

Users must know that a free online portal only reveals arrest records for informational purposes. They may contain errors and may not reflect the current arrest information. Therefore, record seekers should not rely on information retrieved from free arrest portals for any type of legal action. 

Ouachita Parish Arrest Report

It is sometimes confusing to differentiate between arrest reports and arrest records because they are related. A police officer is expected to complete both documents after an arrest. The major difference between arrest records and arrest reports is in the content. Arrest reports provide comprehensive details of an arrest, including the date, time, and identifying information of the arrestee. It also contains evidence collected during the arrest, witness statements, officers’ observations, and details of how the person was arrested. Arrest records do not have such information. They are only generated to show that a person has been arrested and is in custody. 

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Ouachita Parish

Expungement is not the destruction of arrest records; it is their removal from public access ( LA. C.Cr.P. 972). Only prosecutors, law enforcement or criminal justice officers, judges, or persons with court orders may access expunged arrest records. (CCRP 973). Below is the step-by-step process of expunging records in Ouachita Parish: 

  • Step 1: Determine Eligibility

Individuals who want their arrest records expunged in Ouachita Parish must meet the following eligibility criteria: 

  • The person was not convicted of the crime for which they were arrested (CCRP 976)
  • The arrest was for a misdemeanor offense (CCRP 977) and:
    • The charges were dismissed. 
    • It has been over five years since the completion of the sentence 
    • No felony offense was committed during the five years
    • There are no pending felony charges.  
  • The arrest was for a felony offense (CCRP 978):
    • The charges were dismissed.
    • It has been over ten years since the completion of the sentence 
    • The person has not been found guilty of any other criminal offense in the past 10 years. 
    • No pending criminal charges.
    • The person is entitled to a first-offender pardon for the offense under Louisiana Article IV, Section 5(E)(1). However, the offense must not be classified as a crime of violence (R.S. 14:2(B)) or a sex offense (R.S. 15:541).  
  • Step 2: Get a background check

Applicants must obtain a background check from the Ouachita Sheriff’s Office (OPSO) or the Louisiana State Police (ISP) before they file for expungement. The OPSO provides background checks for $10, payable by debit/credit cards, Apple Pay, or cash. The document expires after 30 days. 

  • Step 3: File the appropriate form and pay the fees

Visit the Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court to obtain a copy of the Motion for Expungement Form. Complete the form, file it with the clerk, and pay a $550 filing fee. Some individuals may be eligible for a fee waiver by the Ouachita Parish District Attorney. If they are eligible, they must complete the necessary paperwork and attach it to the motion when they file.

  • Step 4: 60-day wait period 

The Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court will send a copy of the applicant’s Motion for Expungement to the arresting agency (Sheriff’s Office or police), the Louisiana State Police (LSP), and the District Attorney. These agencies have 60 days to respond to the motion. If any of the agency objects to the expugment, the applicant will have to appear in court. 

  • Step 5: Order granted

If the agency approves the expugment, the court will also approve it. The applicant should request a certified copy of their expungement once the court grants it. The clerk will send a copy of the expungement order to the local police department, the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office, the district attorney, and the Louisiana State Police (LSP), directing them to seal the applicant’s arrest record from public view.  The LSP will send a “Certificate of Compliance letter to the applicant to verify that the record has been sealed. 

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

Expungement is an acceptable process for removing arrest records published on law enforcement agencies' databases. Once an expungement request is approved, the clerk will send a copy of the expungement order to the agencies involved in the arrest, requesting that they remove the person’s record from their databases. However, third-party databases may still have the person’s arrest information on their websites. To get them removed, individuals should visit the sites and use the opt-out feature to submit a removal request.