Ouachita Parish Police Blotter Search

The Ouachita Parish police blotter covers incident reports, arrest logs, and related law enforcement records maintained by the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office in Monroe. As of February 2026, all records requests must be submitted in writing by U.S. Mail, so this page walks you through exactly how to do that and what to expect in return.

Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office (OPSO) is at 400 St. John Street, Monroe, LA 71201, and can be reached at 318-329-1200. The agency handles law enforcement, civil process, and records for the parish. Lieutenant Dayna Sampognaro oversees the Records Division and handles offense reports, accident reports, warrant information, and inmate booking records. The Sheriff's website at opso.net provides general information about the agency and its divisions.

The OPSO website at opso.net is the primary online resource for the agency. While records cannot be requested online or by email under the current policy, the site provides contact details and general information about the office that can help you prepare your mail request.

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office website is the best starting point before you submit your mail request, since it lists office hours, division contacts, and basic information about what records the office maintains.

Under La. R.S. § 44:31, any adult in Louisiana has the right to inspect or copy public records. The Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office must respond within three business days of receiving your written request under La. R.S. § 44:32. Because requests currently go by mail, factor in postal transit time on both ends when calculating how long the process will take.

How to Submit a Records Request by Mail

As of February 26, 2026, the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office only accepts public records requests submitted by U.S. Mail. Phone and email requests are not accepted for records. Send your written request to: Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office Custodian of Records, 400 St. John, Suite 109, Monroe, LA 71201. Do not use the general office address; use the specific Suite 109 address for the Custodian of Records.

Your written request must include your name, your age, and your return mailing address. These three pieces of information are required. Without all three, the office may not process your request. You do not need to state a reason for the request under Louisiana public records law, but you do need to be specific about what records you want. Include the type of record, the date or date range, any case numbers you have, and the names of the people involved.

Payment is required before any records are released. The office accepts cash or money order. Do not send cash through the mail; wait until the office responds to your request and tells you the total cost before sending payment. They will let you know what is available and what it will cost before you pay. Then send the money order with a copy of your original request so the office can match your payment to the right request file.

Note: The mail-only policy means the process takes longer than in parishes that accept walk-in or online requests. Plan ahead and submit your request well before you need the records, since the three-business-day response clock does not start until your letter arrives at the office.

Fees and Record Types

Copy fees for paper records run between $0.25 and $1.00 per page, which is the standard range set by Louisiana law. Certified copies carry an additional fee of $5.00 to $10.00 per document depending on the type of record. These fees apply to offense reports, accident reports, booking records, and other standard documents. Ask about the fee when the office responds to your request; they will give you the exact amount before you pay.

Warrant information is handled through the Records Division as well. If you want to know whether an active warrant exists in Ouachita Parish, the Records Division under Lt. Sampognaro is the right contact, though that information will also need to come through a written mail request under the current policy.

Inmate booking records are another type of document the Records Division handles. Booking records show when someone was taken into custody, what charges were listed, and what their bond status was at the time of booking. These are public records once the booking is complete. If the person is still in custody, the jail can confirm that information; call the jail line at the number listed on the OPSO website for current custody status questions.

For residents of Monroe, the city police department also maintains its own records separate from the Sheriff's Office. See the dedicated page for the City of Monroe for more about city-level police blotter records and resources available through the Monroe Police Department.

State Resources

Louisiana State Police holds statewide records that go beyond what any single parish keeps. The background check service at lsp.org/services/background-checks covers criminal history data from all 64 parishes. For a full statewide record on an individual, that is the right tool. It costs more than a local records request, but it gives you a complete picture across the entire state.

Crash reports on state highways in Ouachita Parish may be with LSP if a state trooper responded. Under La. R.S. § 32:398, those reports are available to involved parties once the investigation is done. State-level request forms are listed at lsp.org/forms. If the crash was investigated by Monroe Police Department or the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office, request the report from that agency instead.

The Louisiana State Archives at lsa.org is a resource for older records, guidance on public records rights, and assistance if a parish-level request is not handled properly. If the Sheriff's Office does not respond within three business days of receiving your letter, or if a denial seems improper, the Archives can advise you on next steps including filing a legal challenge in district court.

Nearby Parishes

Ouachita Parish is in northeast Louisiana and shares borders with several parishes, each with its own Sheriff's Office and records process.