Lafayette Parish Police Blotter Records

The Lafayette Parish police blotter covers arrest logs, incident reports, daily booking data, and accident report records maintained by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office. Lafayette Parish has one of the most detailed public records programs in Louisiana, with specific fee schedules, dedicated request contacts, and several online tools available to residents.

Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office (LPSO) is headquartered at 316 West Main Street, Lafayette, LA 70501. The main phone is 337-232-9211. For general inquiries, you can also email lpsoinfo@lafayettesheriff.com. The Records Department, which handles police blotter requests and other public records, is at a separate location: 303 West Vermillion Street, Lafayette, LA 70501. That office can be reached at 337-236-5845 or by email at recordsrequest@lafayettesheriff.com.

The LPSO website at lafayettesheriff.com is the central hub for record request tools, including the Daily Arrest Report, the Accident Report Online Service, and crime mapping.

The LPSO homepage links directly to records tools, online services, and contact information for the Records Department and other divisions.

Under La. R.S. § 44:31, any adult in Louisiana has the right to inspect or copy public records. The LPSO must respond to written requests within three business days under La. R.S. § 44:32. For accident reports specifically, allow 7 to 10 business days for processing after the report is cleared for release.

Records Available and Fee Schedule

Lafayette Parish has one of the more detailed public records fee schedules among Louisiana parishes. Knowing the fees before you request can help you plan. Accident reports cost $8.00 if you pick them up in person and $14.00 if you access them through the online Accident Report Online Service. Background checks are $25.00. A call for service record is $15.00 for the first page, with an additional $1.00 per extra page. A clearance letter (notarized) is $30.00. The Daily Booking Report is $10.00.

Fingerprinting using an ink roll costs $20.00. Incident and initial reports are $10.00 each. Regular copies are $1.00 per page or per photo. Audio recordings are $1.00 per minute plus a $10.00 storage fee. Video recordings are also $1.00 per minute plus $10.00 for storage. Body worn camera footage is $30.00 per recording, and dash camera footage is also $30.00 per recording. These fees are set by the office and may change, so confirm current rates when you submit your request.

Records are public under La. R.S. § 44:1. Records tied to active investigations are exempt under La. R.S. § 44:3. Juvenile records require a court order. Any denial must be issued in writing with the legal basis stated. If you believe a denial is improper, you can seek a court order compelling disclosure.

Note: Accident report processing takes 7 to 10 business days after the report is cleared for release. Do not assume the report is ready to pick up immediately after an incident.

Online Tools for Lafayette Parish

The LPSO provides several online tools for residents. The Daily Arrest Report is available by subscription and shows recent bookings in the parish. If you need to track arrest activity regularly, this is the most efficient option the office offers. You can sign up for the subscription through the LPSO website.

The Daily Arrest Report subscription gives you regular access to booking data from Lafayette Parish without having to submit individual records requests each time.

The Accident Report Online Service lets you purchase accident reports online for $14.00. This is more convenient than the in-person option for most people. Crime Mapping is also available through the website, which shows incident data by type and location across the parish. Inmate searches can be done through the Louisiana DOC website, which covers statewide custody information.

The online Accident Report service lets you purchase and download reports without visiting the Records Department in person.

Note: Online tools reflect data that has been entered into the system and may not include very recent arrests or incidents that have not yet been processed by records staff.

How to Submit a Records Request in Lafayette Parish

To request police blotter records from Lafayette Parish, contact the Records Department at 303 West Vermillion Street, Lafayette, LA 70501. The phone is 337-236-5845 and the email is recordsrequest@lafayettesheriff.com. Hours are Monday through Thursday 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:45 PM, and Friday 8:00 AM to 11:45 AM. Mail requests to Captain John Mowell at P.O. Box 3508, Lafayette, LA 70502.

Include your name, the type of record, the date range, and any case numbers or names. For accident reports, be prepared to wait 7 to 10 business days after the report is cleared. For other records, the office has three business days to respond under La. R.S. § 44:32. Fees vary by record type as listed in the fee schedule above. Ask the office about payment methods when you submit your request.

For guidance on public records rights in Louisiana, the LSP background checks page at lsp.org/services/background-checks explains the state-level process, which complements parish-level requests. The Louisiana Attorney General's site at lsa.org has information on what to do if a request is improperly denied.

Cities in Lafayette Parish

Lafayette is the parish seat and largest city in Lafayette Parish.

Nearby Parishes

Lafayette Parish is surrounded by several south-central Louisiana parishes, each with its own Sheriff's Office and records process.