Find Criminal Court Records in Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge criminal court records are filed and maintained by the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court through the 19th Judicial District Court. Whether you need to check a charge, find a case number, or get a certified copy of a court document, this page covers the online tools, in-person access, and state-level resources available for searching Baton Rouge criminal court records.

The 19th Judicial District Court

Baton Rouge is served by the 19th Judicial District Court, which handles criminal cases for all of East Baton Rouge Parish. The courthouse is at 300 North Boulevard, Baton Rouge. You can reach the court directly at (225) 389-4737, and the court's website at 19thjdc.org has general information about court operations, divisions, and contact numbers for specific sections.

The 19th JDC covers felony criminal cases, serious misdemeanors, and major civil matters. Cases tried here can be appealed to the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal. If you are looking for an older case that went to appeal, the 1st Circuit would be a separate step from the district-level records in East Baton Rouge Parish.

La. R.S. 44:1 establishes public access to government records. Criminal court records are open to any adult who requests them under La. R.S. 44:32(A), unless the record has been sealed or expunged. You do not need to be a party to the case or provide a reason for the request.

East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court

The East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court handles all case filings, copy requests, and public record access for criminal matters in the parish. The main office is at 222 St. Louis Street, Baton Rouge, and can be reached at (225) 389-3950. The clerk's website at ebrclerkofcourt.org (also accessible at ebrclerk.com) provides information on record access, fees, and online tools.

The EBR Clerk of Court website is the main gateway for in-person and online record access in Baton Rouge.

For in-person visits, bring the full name of the person you are searching and any case number you have. Staff can search by name if you don't have a case number. Bring a range of dates or the approximate year of the case to help narrow the search. Copy fees follow standard Louisiana clerk rates. Uncertified copies are typically $1 per page. Certified copies cost more and carry the clerk's official seal, which is needed for certain legal uses.

Searching Baton Rouge Criminal Court Records Online

The eClerks LA statewide portal covers East Baton Rouge Parish and gives you free index-level access to criminal court records. You can search by defendant name or case number and get basic details, including charges, filing dates, and dispositions. This is the fastest starting point for a name-based search without visiting the courthouse.

The Clerk Connect portal is a second statewide option. It also pulls from clerk of court data and provides similar index-level coverage. Some document access on Clerk Connect carries a subscription fee, but basic searching is generally free. Both tools are worth trying if you don't get results on the first one.

Keep in mind that online tools show you index-level data. They confirm a record exists and give you key details, but they do not give you the full case file. For certified copies or complete documents, you still need to contact the clerk's office directly at 222 St. Louis Street or request by mail.

19th JDC Case Search and Court Divisions

The 19th JDC website at 19thjdc.org has information on individual court divisions and assigned judges. Criminal cases in the 19th JDC are divided among several sections, each with an assigned judge. If you know which section handled a case, that can help you find the right contact when following up on a specific matter.

The 19th JDC site lists court divisions, judges, and contact information for criminal sections in Baton Rouge.

The Family Court at 300 North Boulevard, 4th Floor, (225) 388-5485, handles domestic and family matters. While some family cases involve criminal charges like domestic abuse, most criminal records are separate and held by the district court clerk rather than the family court. The Baton Rouge City Court handles local misdemeanors and traffic matters for city residents and may hold records not found at the 19th JDC.

State-Level Criminal Record Resources

Several state databases cover Baton Rouge cases as part of their statewide records.

The Louisiana State Police maintains the state criminal record repository under La. R.S. 15:578. Their paid background check at LSP's background check portal costs $31 per search. Louisiana is a "closed record state" under La. R.S. 15:587, so the official check includes only convictions, not arrests that did not result in conviction. It covers statewide conviction data including East Baton Rouge Parish.

The Louisiana DOC Offender Search is free and shows current and past DOC-supervised individuals, including those from Baton Rouge who received a state prison sentence. The Louisiana Sex Offender Registry is also free and searchable by name or address. For federal cases originating in Baton Rouge, use PACER. Baton Rouge falls under the Middle District of Louisiana for federal court purposes. The Middle District of Louisiana federal court website has additional contact and search information.

Expungement of Criminal Records in Baton Rouge

Expungement in Louisiana is governed by La. C.Cr.P. Art. 971 et seq. In Baton Rouge, the motion is filed with the 19th Judicial District Court. Not all records qualify. Arrests that did not lead to conviction are often eligible. First-time non-violent offenders may qualify after completing their sentence. Violent offenses and sex crimes are generally not eligible.

The standard fee breakdown: the clerk of court charges $200, the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information charges $250, the district attorney's office charges $50, and the sheriff charges $50. Combined fees total $550 before any attorney costs. Legal aid resources in the Baton Rouge area may assist low-income residents. Once an expungement is granted, the record is removed from public access tools including eClerks LA and the clerk's public files. Law enforcement can still access the record under certain circumstances. Juvenile records are sealed by default and do not appear in public criminal court records.

Related Parish

Criminal court records for Baton Rouge are maintained by East Baton Rouge Parish. All felony and major criminal cases go through the 19th Judicial District Court regardless of which part of Baton Rouge the case originates from.

Nearby Cities

Other Louisiana cities with dedicated criminal court records pages: