About 73,000 arrests are made in Louisiana annually, and Ouachita Parish accounts for around 6,000 of those arrests. Per the Louisiana Sunshine Act, anyone may view or obtain copies of public records, including arrest records in the county, at a fee ranging from $0.25 to $25.
Although the Sunshine Act classifies arrest records as public records, some are restricted from the public by law or court orders. Exempt records include medical records, non-conviction arrest records, records of ongoing investigations, and juvenile records. The Office of the District Attorney for the 4th Judicial District, judicial officers, law enforcement agents, and individuals named on the record may access these records.
Individuals can look up Ouachita Parish arrest records from several government agencies, including the Sheriff's Office, police departments, courts, and the Louisiana State Police.
Record seekers may contact the Records Department of the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office (OPSO) at (318) 324-2630 to make inquiries about arrest records. Persons above 18 years may request arrest records by mail or by visiting the Office at:
Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office
400 St. John Street
Monroe, LA 71201
Phone: (318) 329-1200
Arrest records can also be obtained from Police Departments within the parish. The requestor must first determine the PD responsible for the arrest and then contact their Records Division to make the request. They will typically need to provide the arrestee's name and arrest date. Additionally, requests for arrest records may be made online on the portal of some Police Departments in the parish. Fees may be charged for copies of arrest records. Also, some PDs make their arrest and incident logs available to the public online. Listed below are some Police Departments in Ouachita Parish:
The Louisiana State Police's Bureau of Criminal Identification maintains a central database for criminal records, including arrest records, across the state. Louisiana is a closed record state and does not allow the public to access criminal records. However, criminal and non-criminal justice departments are permitted to access criminal records in the state. Also, a person named on the records has a right to review their criminal records through the Louisiana Applicant Processing System (LAPS).
Persons interested in reviewing their criminal records can request them by mail or in-person visit (based on appointment). They must submit the completed Right to Review Authorization Form to the LSP at:
Louisiana State Police
Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information
P.O. Box 66614
7919 Independence Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70896
Individuals whose arrests led to prosecution can contact the Clerk of the Court that heard the case to request copies of their criminal court records. The Criminal Department of the Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court's Office handles criminal records from the District Court, while Clerks of city courts maintain their records. Record seekers can visit the courthouse to obtain copies of their criminal court records.
Alternatively, they can use the Clerk Connect Portal to access criminal records from the county at a fee. In addition, there are reputable third-party websites, such as InfoTracer, where individuals may access credible Ouachita Parish arrest records.
Ouachita Parish, with an index arrest rate of 38.65 per 1,000 residents, has the highest number of arrests in Louisiana. Here is the compilation of arrest statistics for adults and juveniles in Ouachita Parish.:
| Arrest Type | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Larceny | 844 |
| Rape | 73 |
| Homicide | 65 |
| Aggravated Assault | 922 |
| Simple Assault | 866 |
| Robbery | 57 |
| Burglary | 1,355 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 383 |
| Arson | 7 |
| Total Number of Arrests | 6,091 |
Source: Louisiana Uniform Crime Report
It is situated in Ouachita county, Louisiana with a total number of 248 employees - 121 female, 127 male officers and 0 civilians. Ouachita Parish SO ORI (Originated Agency Identifier) number is LA0370000, it belongs to the West South Central division in the South region with a region code of Region III.