Find Louisiana Jail Mugshots
Louisiana jail mugshots are booking photos taken when a person is arrested and booked at a parish jail. Each of the 64 parishes in Louisiana keeps its own jail roster through the local sheriff's office. You can search for jail mugshots online using tools like the LAVNS system, parish sheriff websites, and other state databases. Some parishes post inmate photos on their roster page. Others need a phone call or written request. This guide covers how to look up Louisiana jail mugshots, what each search tool shows, and where to find inmate records by parish or city across the state.
Louisiana Jail Mugshots Quick Facts
Louisiana Jail Mugshots Through LAVNS
The Louisiana Automated Victim Notification System, known as LAVNS, is the main tool for checking jail rosters across Louisiana. It covers all parish jails and state prisons. The system gets new data every 24 hours. You can search by name, location, or case number. Each parish has its own LAVNS page where you can see who is in jail right now. The roster shows full names, dates of birth, race, gender, and booking dates for most parishes.
LAVNS also lets you sign up for alerts. If you want to know when an inmate gets out or moves to a new jail, you can register for free. The system sends updates by phone, text, or email. You can call the LAVNS line at 866-528-6748 any time to ask about an inmate. The service is free and you can call as many times as you want. It was built for crime victims but anyone can use it to check on a person's jail status in Louisiana.
The VINELink system works with LAVNS to track inmates across state lines.
Note: LAVNS does not include people held in state DPS&C prisons. For state inmates, use the Imprisoned Person Locator.
Search Louisiana Inmate Records at DPS&C
The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections runs the state prison system. If someone has been sent to a state facility after conviction, their info will not show up on a parish jail roster. You need to use the DPS&C tools instead. The department has an automated phone line at 225-383-4580 that works around the clock. You will need the person's name and date of birth, or their DPS&C number, to pull up their record.
The DPS&C website at doc.louisiana.gov is the starting point for state prison searches.
The Imprisoned Person Locator shows which facility holds an inmate, the facility address and phone number, and a projected release date if one exists. Family members and friends of people in state custody use this tool most often. The system updates daily so the data stays current.
The Imprisoned Person Locator page on the DPS&C site lets you find people in state custody.
How to Find Jail Mugshots in Louisiana
There are several ways to search for jail mugshots in Louisiana. The method you use depends on which parish the arrest took place in. Most parishes have at least one online search tool. Some have two or three. A few small rural parishes still need a phone call to the jail.
Online parish jail rosters are the fastest way to find Louisiana jail mugshots. Each sheriff's office runs its own inmate search page. The LAVNS roster is the most common format. You click the first letter of the last name and scroll through the list. Some larger parishes like Caddo, Calcasieu, and Jefferson have their own custom search tools on the sheriff's website. These often let you search by name, booking number, or date range. Most jail rosters in Louisiana show the inmate's name, date of birth, gender, race, and booking date. A few parishes also show the mugshot photo right on the roster page, though many do not post photos online due to changes in state law.
You can also search for jail mugshots by phone. Call the jail or detention center in the parish where the arrest took place. Most jails have staff who can check the roster for you over the phone. This works well for parishes that lack an online roster.
Written requests are a third option. Under the Louisiana Public Records Law (La. R.S. 44:1), you have the right to ask for a copy of a booking photo. Send a letter to the sheriff's office with the person's name, date of birth, and date of arrest. The office must respond within three business days. Standard copy fees are about $0.25 per page. Mugshot photos may cost $5 to $25 depending on the parish.
Louisiana Criminal History Checks
The Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification runs the Internet Background Check system. This is separate from jail mugshots. It pulls from the statewide criminal history database rather than a single parish jail roster.
The State Police IBC portal at ibc.dps.louisiana.gov provides access to criminal history records.
You can request your own criminal history in person at the Bureau of Criminal Identification at 7919 Independence Blvd in Baton Rouge. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. You need a valid state ID and must pay a $26 processing fee plus a $10 fingerprinting fee. Payment must be by money order, business check, or cashier's check. No cash or personal checks. If you come in before 3:00 PM, you can get same-day results. Mail requests take 15 to 21 business days and go to P.O. Box 66614 Mail Slip A-6, Baton Rouge, LA 70896.
What Louisiana Jail Mugshots Records Show
A booking record in Louisiana includes more than just the mugshot photo. When someone gets booked at a parish jail, the staff creates a full record of the arrest. Each parish keeps this data at the sheriff's office.
A typical Louisiana jail booking record contains the person's full name, date of birth, and physical details like height, weight, hair color, and eye color. It also lists the last known address before the arrest, the date and time of arrest, and where the arrest took place. The arresting officer's name and badge number go on the record. All charges are listed with the statute number and offense type. The record shows the booking number, bond or bail amount, and whether the person is still in custody or has been released. The mugshot itself is the front-facing photo taken at the jail during the booking process.
Under Louisiana law, most of this is public information. La. R.S. 44:32 says the custodian of public records must show them to any adult who asks. You do not have to give a reason for your request. However, a 2022 change to the law under La. Code of Criminal Procedure art. 234 put new limits on when mugshots can be shared publicly. Mugshots for people accused of certain violent crimes and fugitives can still be released. But for other arrests, many parishes now hold back the booking photo unless you make a formal records request.
Mugshot Availability by Parish
Not all parishes in Louisiana post jail mugshots online. The rules vary from one sheriff to the next.
Some parishes like DeSoto, Livingston, and Orleans display mugshots on their public inmate search pages. DeSoto Parish brought back booking photos in January 2025 after updating its website. The Livingston Parish jail roster includes mugshot photos in the search results. Orleans Parish runs one of the most complete inmate search systems in the state, with photos, charges, and court dates all on one page.
Most parishes use the LAVNS roster format. These rosters typically show name, date of birth, race, gender, and booking date. They do not show mugshots. If you need a booking photo from one of these parishes, you must call the jail or submit a written public records request to the sheriff's office. The mugshot removal law (La. R.S. 44:700) also puts rules on commercial sites that publish mugshots and charge fees to take them down.
Browse Louisiana Jail Mugshots by Parish
Each parish in Louisiana has its own sheriff's office that manages the local jail and keeps booking records. Pick a parish below to find local jail mugshot resources and contact info.
Jail Mugshots in Major Louisiana Cities
Residents of major cities in Louisiana get booked at the parish jail that serves their area. Pick a city below to learn about jail mugshot resources for that location.