Criminal records in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, can be accessed through several channels, including online tools, official court systems, law enforcement agencies, and the clerk's office. CaddoParishCourt.org can help find publicly available criminal case information. The Caddo Parish Clerk of Court maintains criminal case records, while the Shreveport City Court and Louisiana State Police offer additional access points for criminal history searches and booking data.
How to Search Criminal Records in Caddo
There are several ways to search for criminal records in Caddo Parish, depending on the type of record and the level of detail you need.
Through CaddoParishCourt.org
Start at CaddoParishCourt.org to search for publicly available court record information. You can look up cases using a defendant's name or case number.
Online — Official Portals
- Shreveport City Court — The Shreveport City Court uses a case management system with online tools to research criminal and traffic cases filed within city court jurisdiction.
- Shreveport City Court Criminal/Traffic Division — The Criminal/Traffic Division maintains all criminal and traffic charge records for cases handled in Shreveport City Court.
- Louisiana State Police Background Check — The LSP Internet Background Check portal allows you to run a statewide criminal history check pursuant to La. R.S. 15:587. This returns arrest and conviction records from across Louisiana.
- Louisiana Department of Corrections — Use the offender information search to locate individuals currently in state custody. The database is updated every 24 hours and allows searches by name, location, or ID number.
- Shreveport City Jail — The City Jail page publishes daily inmate booking reports for recent arrests processed through the Shreveport Police Department.
- Federal Cases — Criminal cases prosecuted at the federal level in Caddo Parish fall under the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. Federal case records are available through PACER.
In Person
Visit the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court's office at the Caddo Parish Courthouse in Shreveport. Public access terminals may be available for searching criminal case indexes. You can also visit the Shreveport City Court clerk's window for city court criminal and traffic records.
By Mail or Written Request
- Submit a written request to the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court for copies of district court criminal records.
- For a statewide criminal history, submit a request through the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification. Written requests are also accepted by the Caddo Parish government for public records; written requests are recommended.
What You Need to Begin a Search
- Defendant's full legal name
- Date of birth (helpful but not always required)
- Case number (if known)
- Docket number or arrest date (for narrowing results)
Search Caddo Criminal Cases by Case Number
If you already have a case number, searching by that number is the fastest way to pull up a specific criminal case in Caddo Parish.
Louisiana district court case numbers generally follow a format that includes:
- A numeric prefix or sequence number — assigned by the clerk's office when the case is filed
- A year indicator — often embedded in the number, reflecting the year the case was opened
- A letter or suffix — some parishes use letter codes to distinguish case types (e.g., "CR" or "F" for criminal/felony matters)
In Caddo Parish, criminal cases filed in the First Judicial District Court are assigned a docket number by the Clerk of Court. When searching, enter the case number exactly as it appears on any court documents you have. Even a minor variation — such as omitting a leading zero or a suffix — can return no results.
For Shreveport City Court cases, the case number format may differ from district court numbers. If you are unsure which court handled the case, try both the district court and city court search tools.
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in Caddo
Charges
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Statute Code | Louisiana Revised Statute (La. R.S.) section the defendant is charged under, e.g., La. R.S. 14:30 (first degree murder) |
| Severity | Felony, misdemeanor, or infraction — determines the court that handles the case and potential penalties |
| Amended Charges | The original charge may be amended through plea negotiations or at the prosecutor's discretion; the docket will reflect both original and amended charges |
Case Status
- Pending — The case is open and awaiting resolution
- Active — Proceedings are ongoing, with scheduled hearings or trial dates
- Disposed — The case has been resolved (by plea, verdict, or dismissal)
- Closed — All post-disposition requirements are complete
Hearings
- Arraignment — Defendant is formally advised of charges and enters a plea
- Preliminary Hearing — Judge determines whether probable cause exists (felony cases)
- Pre-Trial Conference — Attorneys discuss motions, evidence, and potential resolutions
- Trial — Case is heard before a judge or jury
- Sentencing — Court imposes penalties after a guilty verdict or plea
- Review Hearing — Follow-up hearing to check compliance with probation or other conditions
Court Results
- Guilty — Defendant convicted by plea or verdict
- Not Guilty — Defendant acquitted at trial
- Dismissed — Charges dropped by the court or prosecutor
- Nolle Prosequi — Prosecutor declines to pursue the case (common in Louisiana practice)
- Acquitted — Formal finding of not guilty
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in Caddo
Caddo Parish Clerk of Court (District Court Records)
The Clerk of Court is the custodian of all criminal case records for the First Judicial District Court. To obtain certified copies of criminal case documents:
- Visit the Clerk's office in person or submit a written request by mail.
- Provide the defendant's full name and case number (if available).
- Present a valid government-issued photo ID if requesting records in person.
- Pay the applicable copy and certification fees.
Louisiana State Police (Statewide Criminal History)
For a certified statewide criminal history report, use the Louisiana State Police Internet Background Check system. This is a name-based search authorized under La. R.S. 15:587. Results include arrest records and dispositions from across Louisiana.
Shreveport City Court Records
For criminal or traffic records from Shreveport City Court, contact the Criminal/Traffic Division directly.
Caddo Parish Public Records Requests
General public records requests to Caddo Parish government can be made by phone, email, or in writing. The parish recommends written requests for documentation purposes.
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in Caddo
| Service | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Uncertified copies (Clerk of Court) | Varies; typically $0.50–$1.00 per page | Contact the Clerk's office for the current fee schedule |
| Certified copies (Clerk of Court) | Varies; certification fee added per document | Fees set by the Clerk of Court per Louisiana statute |
| Louisiana State Police background check | $26.00 + $5.00 technology fee | Per La. R.S. 15:587D.(1); paid online via the LSP portal |
| In-person record search (Clerk) | May include search fee | Ask the clerk's office for current search fees |
Processing Times
- LSP Internet Background Check — Results are typically returned within minutes for online requests.
- Clerk of Court (in person) — Same-day retrieval is often possible for indexed records.
- Clerk of Court (by mail) — Allow 5–10 business days for processing and return mailing.
- Older or archived records — May take longer if documents need to be retrieved from storage.
Fees are subject to change. Confirm current amounts directly with the issuing office before submitting payment.