How it works in Louisiana

  1. Request your Record

    Complete and submit your application to request an official copy of your criminal history record from the Louisiana State Police. The Right to Review path lets you obtain the record without a fee.

    Cost: No fee via Right to Review — Louisiana State Police Right to Review path

  2. Review your Record

    Confirm there is no disqualifying information in your history. If there is something incorrect, follow the process to challenge the issue. If everything is accurate, make a copy for your file and keep the original somewhere safe.

  3. Request Certified Documents

    Collect certified copies of relevant documents. These include a copy of the disposition of the case from the clerk of court that handled the original case and the arrest record from the arresting agency. If you had probation or parole, had to take classes, had to pay fees, or had any other obligations, you also need certified proof that you completed those requirements. Louisiana clerk-of-court fees are set per parish; the figure cited here is the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court schedule as a baseline.

    Certified copy fee: $10.00

  4. Verify the Final Documents

    Review each document for accuracy. Confirm each one is certified and clearly shows you completed your obligations. Make copies of every original.

  5. Prepare your Petition

    Complete the petition based on the type of charge and outcome you are seeking. Note the timing restrictions under La. Code Crim. Proc. art. 977 and art. 978: certain arrest records and non-guilty findings require five years to pass, while certain felony conviction records require ten years to pass.

  6. Finalize your Petition

    Take the completed petition from Step 5, the documents collected in Step 3, and the background check from Step 1, and put them together in a complete package. Double-check every file in the package is the original and ensure you have a copy of the complete package for your personal file.

  7. File your Expeal Request

    Once you have confirmed you have everything, file the petition with the court that handled the original case.

    Filing fee: $250.00

  8. Work with the Court

    After the court confirms it has received your filing, watch for the next instructions — typically a hearing date or a request for additional information. Respond promptly to anything the court asks for.

  9. Receive the Court's Order

    Once the court rules on the petition, it issues an order either granting or denying expungement. Review the order's terms carefully — they spell out which records are covered. Keep a certified copy of the order for your own files.

  10. Verify the Record Update

    Under La. Code Crim. Proc. art. 977 and art. 978, the clerk of court, the Louisiana State Police, and the arresting agency update or remove the records covered by the order. Confirm with the arresting agency and the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification & Information that their records reflect the expungement as well. If a background-check provider later produces an outdated report, your certified copy of the court's order is your authoritative reference.

If you have to mail anything, remember to keep a copy of whatever you send and to use a method with a tracking number like the USPS Flat Rate Envelope.

Official agencies

Court forms

Louisiana record-clearing statutes

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