Rapides Parish Criminal Court Records

Rapides Parish criminal court records are maintained through the 9th Judicial District Court in Alexandria, the parish seat and largest city in the region. This page covers how to search Rapides Parish criminal court records online, how to request copies in person or by mail, what records are available, and what to expect when visiting the courthouse.

The 9th Judicial District Court

The 9th Judicial District Court serves Rapides Parish alone, making it one of the busier single-parish courts in Louisiana given the parish's population. The 9th JDC is based in Alexandria and hears all criminal matters filed in Rapides Parish, from misdemeanors to felonies. Cases decided at the 9th JDC can be appealed to the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal.

The 9th JDC administrator is Caleb Pope, who can be reached at (318) 443-6893. The court's website at 9thjdc.org has scheduling information, court rules, and contact details. If you have questions about a pending case or need to know when a hearing is scheduled, the administrator's office is a good starting point. ADA accommodations for people with disabilities are also handled through that same number.

La. R.S. 44:1 gives the public the right to access government records, and La. R.S. 44:32(A) requires clerks to make records available to any adult who requests them. You do not need a reason or a connection to the case to ask for criminal court records in Rapides Parish.

Clerk of Court Contact and Website

The Rapides Parish Clerk of Court is Karan Corley. The office phone number is 318-473-8153. The clerk's website is at rapidesclerk.org, where you can find information about services, hours, and online access options.

Below is a screenshot from the Rapides Parish Clerk of Court website, which is the main access point for official case records.

The clerk's office handles all filings, certified copies, and public record requests for criminal cases in Rapides Parish. If you have trouble finding a case online, calling the office directly is often the fastest way to get answers.

The site lists current fees, office hours, and links to online search tools. Bookmark it if you plan to make regular records requests for Rapides Parish cases.

How to Search Rapides Parish Criminal Court Records Online

The Rapides Parish Clerk of Court website at rapidesclerk.org is a direct starting point for online case searches. Many filings can be looked up through the portal linked on that site. It is worth checking there first before turning to a statewide aggregator, since the clerk's own system may have more complete records for local cases.

This search tool gives you access to case-level details for criminal filings in Rapides Parish, including charges and disposition information.

The eClerks LA statewide portal also covers Rapides Parish and lets you run free name or case number searches. eClerks LA pulls index-level data from across all 64 parishes, so it is a good option if you are not certain which parish a case was filed in or want to cross-check results. Both tools give you enough to confirm whether a case exists and get the basic facts. Neither replaces a full certified copy from the clerk's office for legal purposes.

Courthouse Rules and In-Person Visits

If you plan to visit the Rapides Parish Courthouse in Alexandria, the 9th JDC has specific rules about conduct and attire that apply to all courtrooms. Modest apparel is required. The court does not allow tank tops, halter tops, shorts, or hats. No weapons of any kind are permitted inside the building. Cell phones must be turned off before entering a courtroom. Food, drinks, gum, magazines, books, and newspapers are also prohibited in the courtroom. Video cameras, tape recorders, and still cameras are not allowed unless the court has specifically authorized them for a particular proceeding.

These rules apply to members of the public, not just parties or attorneys. If you are visiting to observe a hearing or to request records at the clerk's counter, dress accordingly and leave your phone on silent or off before you enter any courtroom area.

The Clerk of Court's office is the right place for record requests. You do not need to go into a courtroom to pull case documents. Bring the full name of the person and any case number or approximate date you have. If you don't have a case number, staff can search by name. Copy fees apply for documents you want to take with you. Certified copies cost more than uncertified ones and include the official clerk's seal.

State-Level Criminal Record Resources

For a statewide criminal record check, the Louisiana State Police maintains the central repository under La. R.S. 15:578. Their background check service at LSP's background check portal costs $31 and returns an official compiled record. Louisiana is a closed record state under La. R.S. 15:587, so this report includes convictions only, not arrests that did not lead to a guilty finding.

The Louisiana Department of Corrections runs the free DOC Offender Search, which shows current and former DOC-supervised individuals. This is useful when you know someone received a state prison sentence after a Rapides Parish case. The Louisiana Sex Offender Registry is also free and searchable by name or location, covering all parishes including Rapides.

For federal cases, use PACER. Rapides Parish falls under the Western District of Louisiana for federal court purposes. Federal criminal cases are separate from the state court records at the 9th JDC and must be searched through PACER.

Expungement in Rapides Parish

Expungement removes a criminal record from public access in Louisiana. The process is governed by La. C.Cr.P. Art. 971 and related articles. In Rapides Parish, you file the motion with the 9th JDC. Not every record qualifies. First-time non-violent offenders who have completed their sentence are often eligible. Arrests that did not result in conviction may qualify on a shorter timeline.

Filing fees for an expungement in Louisiana include $200 to the clerk of court, $250 to the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information, $50 to the district attorney's office, and $50 to the sheriff. These fees are fixed by state law. Once a court grants the expungement, the record is removed from public-facing tools like eClerks LA. Law enforcement agencies retain access under specific conditions set out in the statute, but the record will not appear in routine public searches at the clerk's office.

Cities in Rapides Parish

Alexandria is the parish seat and the largest city in Rapides Parish. It is also one of the major population centers in central Louisiana. For a full guide to searching criminal court records in Alexandria specifically, see the Alexandria criminal court records page. Other communities in Rapides Parish include Pineville, Ball, and Boyce, but those cities do not meet the population threshold for separate city pages. All criminal court cases from any part of Rapides Parish go through the 9th JDC Clerk of Court in Alexandria.

Nearby Parishes

Rapides Parish sits in the center of Louisiana and shares borders with several parishes, each served by its own clerk of court and judicial district.