Arrest records are public in Shreveport, Louisiana, pursuant to the Louisiana Public Records Act (La. R.S. 44:1 et seq.). This legislation establishes that governmental records, including arrest records, shall be available for public inspection. The Louisiana Public Records Act serves to promote transparency and accountability within the criminal justice system by allowing citizens to access information regarding arrests and law enforcement activities conducted within their community.
Members of the public may inspect, copy, or reproduce arrest records maintained by law enforcement agencies in Shreveport, subject to certain statutory exemptions. These exemptions may include records pertaining to ongoing investigations or juvenile matters as specified in La. R.S. 44:3. The custodian of such records must make them available during regular office hours or provide copies upon request, with reasonable fees applied for reproduction services.
The City of Shreveport provides multiple channels through which members of the public may access arrest records. Individuals seeking arrest information have the following options:
Shreveport Police Department
1234 Texas Avenue
Shreveport, LA 71101
(318) 673-7300
Official Website
Online Access: The City Jail maintains an online inmate booking report that is updated daily. This resource allows citizens to verify if an individual is currently in custody.
Mail Requests: Written requests for arrest records may be submitted via postal mail to the Records Division of the Shreveport Police Department. All requests must include the full name of the subject, date of birth (if known), approximate date of arrest, and the requestor's contact information.
Criminal/Traffic Division: For arrest records related to traffic violations or other misdemeanor offenses, the Criminal/Traffic Division of the Shreveport City Court maintains these records.
Shreveport City Court - Criminal/Traffic Division
1244 Texas Avenue
Shreveport, LA 71101
(318) 673-5830
Official Website
Pursuant to Shreveport City Code Division 2, Section 26-106, fees for copies of arrest records shall be collected prior to release of the requested documents. Payment may be made by cash, money order, or credit card depending on the agency providing the records.
Arrest records maintained by Shreveport law enforcement agencies typically contain comprehensive information about the arrest event and the individual taken into custody. Standard arrest records include the following elements:
It should be noted that pursuant to La. R.S. 44:3, certain information may be redacted from arrest records prior to public release. This includes confidential informant information, juvenile records, and details that might compromise ongoing investigations.
The State of Louisiana provides statutory mechanisms through which eligible individuals may petition for the expungement of arrest records in Shreveport. Expungement is the legal process by which arrest records are removed from public access, though they may remain available to law enforcement agencies for specific purposes.
Pursuant to Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 971 et seq., individuals may qualify for expungement under the following circumstances:
The expungement process requires filing a petition with the Shreveport City Court for misdemeanors or with the Caddo Parish District Court for felonies. Filing fees and court costs apply to expungement proceedings as established by La. R.S. 44:9.
Shreveport City Court
1244 Texas Avenue
Shreveport, LA 71101
(318) 673-5800
Official Website
Individuals seeking expungement are advised that the process involves multiple governmental agencies including the arresting agency, the district attorney's office, and the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information. The statutory timeline for processing expungement petitions is typically 60-90 days from the date of filing, assuming no objections are raised by the district attorney or other agencies.
While arrest records are generally public in Shreveport, Louisiana law establishes certain restrictions on access to protect privacy rights and the integrity of the criminal justice system. These restrictions include:
Law enforcement agencies in Shreveport must balance the public's right to information with these statutory protections. Custodians of records are required to review and, if necessary, redact protected information prior to releasing arrest records to the public.