Search Morehouse Parish Police Records

Morehouse Parish police records are held by the Morehouse Parish Sheriff's Office in Bastrop and by state-level agencies including Louisiana State Police. Use this page to find out how to request incident reports, crash reports, and background check information for Morehouse Parish.

Morehouse Parish Sheriff's Office

The Morehouse Parish Sheriff's Office is based at 351 South Franklin Street in Bastrop. Their main phone number is (318) 281-4141. The sheriff's office is the lead law enforcement agency for unincorporated parts of the parish and maintains records of arrests, calls for service, and incident reports. Visit their site at morehouseparishsheriff.com for current contact information and any online services they may offer.

To request records from the sheriff, call ahead to find out what information you need to provide. You will generally need to know the date of the incident, the names of the people involved, and a rough description of what happened. The office can tell you whether to come in or send a written request by mail. Walk-in requests are handled on weekdays during regular business hours. Mail requests should be sent to the South Franklin Street address.

The sheriff's office also handles service of court process, civil papers, and warrant information for the parish. Not all records are releasable under the state's public records laws. Louisiana law restricts access to full criminal histories, so the local sheriff cannot provide that type of report to the general public.

Morehouse Parish Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Court office for Morehouse Parish is located at 100 East Madison Avenue in Bastrop, phone (318) 281-3343. The clerk maintains all civil and criminal case files for the parish's district court. These records include filings, judgments, dispositions, and related court documents that are typically part of the public record.

Court records at the clerk's office are separate from police department incident reports. If you are looking for the outcome of a criminal case, the clerk is the right place to go. Case files can be searched by case number or by the name of a party. The clerk charges a per-page fee for copies. Call before you visit to confirm current hours and copy fees.

Louisiana Public Records Act and Exemptions

Louisiana's Public Records Act, found at La. R.S. 44:1, gives residents the right to inspect and receive copies of public records from government bodies. Most government records are presumed to be open unless a specific exemption applies. Agencies have three business days to respond to a public records request.

There are important carve-outs from this general openness. La. R.S. 44:3 lists exemptions for law enforcement records, including active criminal investigations, confidential informant details, and records that could compromise ongoing operations. When a record is withheld on one of these grounds, the agency must cite the specific legal basis in its denial.

Criminal history data is handled under a different statute entirely. Under La. R.S. 15:587, criminal history records are not open to the public in Louisiana. They can only be released to authorized agencies, courts, and the individuals whose records they are. This means you cannot walk into the Morehouse Parish Sheriff's Office and get a full criminal background report on another person.

Background Checks Through Louisiana State Police

Official criminal background checks for people connected to Morehouse Parish must go through the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information. Their Baton Rouge office is at 7919 Independence Blvd, and they can be reached at (225) 925-6095. Walk-in service runs weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The fee is $36 total: $31 for the background check plus a $5 technology surcharge. People who want to review their own criminal history on file with the state have that right under La. R.S. 15:588. More details on how to submit fingerprints and what the process involves are available on the LSP background checks page.

Crash Reports for Morehouse Parish

Accidents that occurred in Morehouse Parish and were investigated by state troopers or local law enforcement may have crash reports on file with Louisiana State Police. These reports cost $11.50 each when ordered online. Standard reports are available 15 days after the crash. Fatal accident reports take 60 days before they are available in person.

Order crash reports through the LSP crash reports service. You will need the date of the crash, the location, and the names of the drivers involved. Reports are often needed for insurance claims, legal filings, or personal reference.

Louisiana Department of Corrections

If you need information about someone held in a Louisiana state prison or under state supervision, the Department of Corrections handles those records separately from the parish sheriff. Their public information office can respond to requests about current and former DOC inmates. See the DOC public information page for instructions on how to submit a request.

Nearby Parishes

Morehouse Parish shares borders with several north Louisiana parishes. Click any link below to find police records information for that area.