Lincoln Parish Police Blotter Search

The Lincoln Parish police blotter covers incident reports, arrest records, and law enforcement logs from the Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Office in Ruston. Lincoln Parish has an unusual setup: public records requests must be submitted in writing to the Third Judicial District Attorney's Office, not directly to the Sheriff's Office. This page explains that process and where to find the right contacts.

Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Office

The Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Office is located at the Lincoln Parish Public Safety Complex, 161 Road Camp Road, Ruston, LA 71270. The non-emergency phone line is 318-251-5111. Fax is 318-251-6478. General email is sheriff@lincolnparish.org. Mail can be sent to P.O. Box 2070, Ruston, LA 71273. The Sheriff's Office website at lincolnparishsheriff.com has information about the office and its services.

The Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Office website at lincolnparishsheriff.com provides general information about the office, but public records requests must go through the Third Judicial District Attorney's Office, not directly to the Sheriff.

The Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Office homepage provides contact information and general resources, but the public records request process runs through the Third District Attorney's Office.

Under La. R.S. § 44:31, any adult in Louisiana has the right to inspect or copy public records. The agency that receives the written request must respond within three business days under La. R.S. § 44:32. In Lincoln Parish, that agency for public records requests is the Third Judicial District Attorney's Office, not the Sheriff directly.

How Public Records Requests Work in Lincoln Parish

Lincoln Parish has a specific requirement that sets it apart from most other parishes: all public records requests must be submitted in writing to the Third Judicial District Attorney's Office. This is the designated records custodian for public records requests from the Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Office. You cannot simply call or walk into the Sheriff's Office and pick up a record. The request must go through the DA's office in writing.

The contact for records requests at the Third Judicial District Attorney's Office is Laurie James. Her email is lwhitten@lincolnparish.org and the office phone is 318-513-6350. The mailing address is 100 West Texas Avenue, Ruston, LA 71270. The Third DA's website at thirdda.org/public-records-request.php has a public records request form that you can download or submit online.

The Third Judicial District Attorney public records request page is where Lincoln Parish residents submit written requests for police blotter and other Sheriff's Office records.

When you submit your request, include your name, the type of record, the date range, and any case numbers or names. The DA's office has three business days to respond under La. R.S. § 44:32. If a record is withheld, you must receive a written denial with the legal reason. Active investigations are protected under La. R.S. § 44:3. Juvenile records require a court order. Other standard exemptions may apply depending on the nature of the document.

Note: Do not mail or email records requests to the Sheriff's Office directly. The request must go to the Third Judicial District Attorney's Office at 100 West Texas Avenue, Ruston, LA 71270, or via the online form at the Third DA's website.

Third Judicial District Attorney's Office

The Third Judicial District covers Lincoln and Union parishes. The District Attorney's Office handles not only criminal prosecutions but also serves as the designated point of contact for public records requests related to the Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Office. This arrangement is not common across Louisiana and is specific to how Lincoln Parish has set up its public records process.

Contacting Laurie James at lwhitten@lincolnparish.org is the fastest way to get started. She handles public records requests and can tell you quickly whether a specific record is available, what form your request should take, and what fees might apply. The office phone is 318-513-6350 and the physical address is 100 West Texas Avenue, Ruston, LA 71270.

For state-level records and statewide criminal history, the Louisiana State Police manages that separately through its background checks service at lsp.org/services/background-checks. For court records from Lincoln Parish district court proceedings, contact the Lincoln Parish Clerk of Court, which maintains filings, judgments, and other court documents independently of both the Sheriff and the DA.

For Louisiana-wide guidance on public records rights and disputes, the resources at lsa.org cover your rights under La. R.S. § 44:31 through § 44:3 and explain what to do if a request is improperly denied.

Submitting Your Lincoln Parish Records Request

To request police blotter records from Lincoln Parish, submit a written request to: Attn: Laurie James, Third Judicial District Attorney's Office, 100 West Texas Avenue, Ruston, LA 71270. You can also email lwhitten@lincolnparish.org or call 318-513-6350. An online form is available at thirdda.org/public-records-request.php.

Your request should include your name, the type of document you need, the date range, and any relevant case numbers or names. Be specific. The more detail you provide, the faster and easier it is for staff to locate the right records. The DA's office must respond within three business days of receiving a written request. If your request is denied, you will get a written notice explaining the legal reason. You can challenge an improper denial through the courts.

Copy fees follow standard Louisiana rates. Ask the office what payment methods they accept. For most documents, fees run from $0.25 to $1.00 per page. The office can tell you the total cost before making copies so you can decide how many pages you actually need.

Nearby Parishes

Lincoln Parish is surrounded by north Louisiana parishes, each with its own Sheriff's Office and records process.