Louisiana Inmate Population
Louisiana inmate population records are kept by parish sheriff's offices and the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Each of the 64 parishes runs its own jail and posts an inmate roster online. You can search for current inmates by name through the LA VINE system, which covers more than 50 parish jails across the state. The Louisiana inmate population also includes people held in nine state correctional facilities. Most parish rosters update every 30 minutes. This page shows you how to find inmate records in Louisiana, what details they include, and where to look for people held at the parish or state level.
Louisiana Inmate Population Quick Facts
Louisiana Inmate Population Search Through LA VINE
The LA VINE system is the main way to search the Louisiana inmate population online. LA VINE stands for Louisiana Automated Victim Notification System. It connects to more than 50 parish jails across the state. The system pulls data from each jail and puts it in one place. You can search by name and find out if someone is in custody right now.
To use LA VINE, go to vinelink.com or visit the parish roster page directly. Each parish has its own LA VINE page. Type at least two letters of the last name and two letters of the first name. Click search. The system shows you a list of matches. Click on a name to see more details like charges, bond amount, and booking date. The roster updates every 30 minutes so the data stays current. LA VINE also lets you sign up for alerts. If someone gets released or moved, you get a call or text. The toll-free hotline is 1-866-528-6748 and runs 24 hours a day.
The DPS&C offender information page covers people in state prison. You can call the offender locator at (225) 383-4580 any time of day to ask about a state inmate. Give them the person's name and date of birth or their DPS&C number.
Note: LA VINE covers parish jails only, not state prisons or federal facilities.
Louisiana DPS&C Inmate Records
The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections runs nine state correctional facilities. These hold people sentenced to more than one year. The DPS&C main office is at 504 Mayflower Street in Baton Rouge. You can reach them at (225) 342-6740 during business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
State prisons include Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, which is the largest maximum security prison in the state. Elayn Hunt Correctional Center and Dixon Correctional Institute handle medium security inmates. David Wade Correctional Center in Homer is another medium security facility. The Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women in St. Gabriel holds female offenders. Allen Correctional Center in Kinder and Winn Correctional Center in Winnfield are both privately run. B.B. Rayburn Correctional Center in Angie and Raymond Laborde Correctional Center in Cottonport round out the state system.
You can find a full list of state facilities at the DPS&C facility directory. Each listing shows the address, phone number, and type of facility.
What Louisiana Inmate Population Records Show
When you look up someone in the Louisiana inmate population, the record usually shows basic details about who they are and why they are in jail. The exact fields depend on the parish. Some systems show more than others.
Most parish jail rosters show the person's full name, date of birth, gender, and race. You also see the booking number, booking date and time, and the arresting agency. Charge details list each offense along with whether it is a felony or misdemeanor. Bond amounts appear when set by the court. Some parishes also show the next court date, housing unit, and a booking photo.
Under Louisiana Revised Statute 15:574.12, certain inmate records are confidential. Pre-sentence investigation reports, pre-parole reports, and clemency reports are not open to the public. Medical and mental health records stay private. Social security numbers and home addresses do not appear on public rosters. But basic booking data, charges, and bond amounts are public under the Louisiana Public Records Act (R.S. 44:1 et seq.).
Louisiana inmate population records that are public include:
- Full legal name and date of birth
- Booking number and date
- Current charges and charge severity
- Bond amount and bond type
- Arresting agency
- Custody status and housing facility
Note: Booking photos are available in some parishes but not all.
Ways to Search Inmate Population in Louisiana
Louisiana gives you several ways to find someone in jail. The method you pick depends on what parish you are looking in and how much detail you need.
Online search is the fastest option. More than 50 parishes post their inmate roster through LA VINE. Larger parishes like Orleans, Jefferson, Caddo, Calcasieu, and Lafayette run their own search portals too. Orleans Parish uses the OPSO Detainee Search at opso.gov. Lafayette Parish switched to a 365Labs Community Portal that shows bookings from the last 72 hours. Lafourche and Iberville parishes use the Zuercher Portal for real-time data. Webster Parish runs a Kologik system. Each portal works a bit different but the idea is the same. Type a name and get results.
Phone calls work when you need quick answers. Every parish jail has a phone line. Some run 24 hours. Call the jail, give them the name, and ask if the person is in custody. You can also call the DPS&C offender locator at (225) 383-4580 for state inmates. That line runs all day and night.
Written records requests go through the sheriff's office. Put your request in writing. Include the person's name, the specific records you want, and your contact information. Most offices respond within three to five business days. Inspection of public records is free, but copies cost $0.25 to $1.00 per page. Certified copies add about $5.00 more. The DPS&C public records page explains how to request state-level inmate records by mail or email at docpublicrecords@la.gov.
Parish Jail Search Systems Across Louisiana
Louisiana parishes use different software to manage their inmate population data. Most rely on LA VINE, but several larger parishes run their own systems with more features. Here is a breakdown of the main platforms you may come across.
The LA VINE roster is the most common. It covers more than 50 parishes. You search by name and get a list of current inmates. The data refreshes every 30 minutes. The 365Labs Community Portal runs in Lafayette Parish. It replaced an older system called JADES. You need a free account to search. The portal shows bookings from the past 72 hours if you check that box, or all current inmates if you leave it unchecked. The Zuercher Portal runs in Iberville and Lafourche parishes. It shows real-time data with booking photos. The Kologik system runs in Webster Parish and provides a full jail roster with charges, bond, and status details.
Orleans Parish has its own Detainee Search tool. You can search by last name, first name, subject number, or booking number. The system shows charges, bond amount, arresting agency, and the next court date. A medical inmate advocate is available at (504) 202-9451 for health questions about Orleans Parish inmates.
Louisiana Inmate Population Notification Services
LA VINE is not just a search tool. It also sends notifications when something changes with an inmate's status. If someone gets released, transferred, or escapes, LA VINE contacts anyone who signed up for alerts. You can get a phone call, text message, or email. The system runs through the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement (LCLE) and connects to jail systems in 48 states.
Registration is free. Go to vinelink.com or call 1-866-528-6748 to sign up. You need the inmate's name or ID number to register. The DPS&C victim services page has more details on notification programs and support resources for crime victims in Louisiana.
Note: Notifications only work for inmates in participating facilities.
Louisiana Laws on Inmate Population Records
Louisiana law sets rules on what inmate records you can and cannot see. The Louisiana Public Records Act (R.S. 44:1 et seq.) says records kept by public bodies are open to the public unless a specific law says otherwise. Under R.S. 44:32, custodians can charge fees for copies.
Louisiana Revised Statute 15:574.12 limits access to certain inmate information. Pre-sentence reports, pre-parole reports, and clemency reports are confidential. So are records gathered by the Board of Pardons and Parole. These documents cannot be inspected by the public. But basic jail roster information like names, charges, booking dates, and bond amounts is still public.
What this means in practice is that you can look up who is in jail and what they are charged with. You can see bond amounts and court dates. You cannot get medical records, security classification details, or information about ongoing investigations. Juvenile records have their own separate rules and are generally not public. If you need records that are not available online, submit a written public records request to the sheriff's office or DPS&C.
Browse Louisiana Inmate Population by Parish
Each parish in Louisiana runs its own jail and keeps its own inmate roster. Pick a parish below to find local search tools, contact information, and facility details.
Inmate Population in Major Louisiana Cities
Residents of major Louisiana cities can look up inmate records through their parish sheriff's office or local police department. Pick a city below to find local resources.