Find Shreveport Court Records

Shreveport court records are maintained by Shreveport City Court and the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court, which serves the 1st Judicial District. City Court handles local traffic, misdemeanor criminal, and civil cases, while the Caddo Parish court system covers felony cases and larger civil matters. Both systems maintain public records that anyone can access under Louisiana law. This page covers how to find Shreveport court records, what types exist, and what fees to expect.

Shreveport City Court

Shreveport City Court handles traffic violations, misdemeanor criminal cases, and civil matters within its jurisdiction. The court has two divisions: one for civil cases and one for criminal and traffic. Night court is available on the first Monday of each month at 5:30 PM for those who cannot attend during regular hours. This is a practical option for people who work daytime hours and need to address a court matter.

Shreveport City Court recently moved to a new Case Management System with online tools for case research, payments, and document access. The portal lets you view and download documents filed in cases. This is one of the more robust online systems among Louisiana city courts.

An important change for traffic citations: law enforcement now gives drivers a deadline date rather than a court date. That date is the deadline to address the citation. If you want to contest a citation at trial, you must call the court at (318) 673-5830 to schedule a court date. Do not assume the date on your ticket is a court appearance date.

The screenshot below shows the Shreveport City Court main page, which links to the new case management system, online payment tools, and court news.

The Shreveport City Court site includes the online case portal, contact details for both divisions, and notice about the updated citation system for traffic matters.

Caddo Parish Clerk of Court

The Caddo Parish Clerk of Court is located at 501 Texas Street, Room 103, in downtown Shreveport. This office is the official keeper of records for the 1st Judicial District. All felony criminal cases, major civil suits, family law matters, and successions for Caddo Parish go through this clerk. If a Shreveport court record is not at City Court, it is likely here.

The Caddo Parish Clerk maintains both online and in-person access to records. You can reach the clerk's office at (318) 226-6780. The website at caddoclerk.com provides search tools and information on how to request copies of case records. For property and mortgage records, the clerk's office also serves as the recorder of deeds for Caddo Parish.

For a full overview of Caddo Parish court records, visit the Caddo Parish court records page.

Types of Court Records in Shreveport

Shreveport court records fall into several categories. At City Court, you will find traffic violation records, misdemeanor criminal case files, DWI records, and civil case records for claims within the court's dollar limit. Criminal records at Shreveport City Court are kept on file indefinitely for serious matters. This includes DWIs, hit and run cases, negligent injury, and noise violations. Traffic records are kept for three years.

The Caddo Parish Clerk holds felony criminal records, major civil case files, jury verdicts, family law orders, and property records. These go back many decades and are available to the public unless sealed by court order.

Under La. R.S. 44:1, public records in Louisiana include all documents created or received in the course of official business. This means most Shreveport court records are public. You can request them without stating a reason.

Note: Juvenile court records in Caddo Parish are sealed and not available to the general public without a court order.

How to Access Shreveport Court Records

Online access is the fastest way to search Shreveport court records. Shreveport City Court now has a case management portal linked from the city's website. You can search cases, view documents, and make payments online. For Caddo Parish District Court records, the caddoclerk.com site provides a public case search tool.

In-person access is also available. Visit City Court at 1244 Texas Street or the Caddo Clerk at 501 Texas Street. Both offices are open Monday through Friday. Bring photo ID and the name or case number you need. Staff can pull records and issue copies. Certified copies require a fee and take a bit more time to prepare.

The screenshot below shows the Shreveport City Court criminal and traffic division page, which covers case types, records retention, and how to schedule a trial date.

The criminal and traffic division page explains how the new citation system works, what records are kept, and how long traffic and criminal records are retained in Shreveport.

Under La. R.S. 44:31, every person has the right to inspect, copy, and reproduce public records. The custodian must respond promptly and cannot require you to give a reason for your request. If a record is restricted, the clerk must tell you why.

Note: For older Shreveport court records not yet in the digital system, an in-person visit is often required to locate and copy the file.

Court Record Fees in Shreveport

Copy fees at Shreveport City Court and the Caddo Parish Clerk are set by state law and local rules. Plain paper copies cost less than certified copies. Certified copies carry an official seal and are needed for legal purposes like court filings, background checks, or official requests.

Under La. R.S. 44:32, custodians of public records may charge reasonable fees for copying. For City Court records, call (318) 673-5800 to confirm current rates. For Caddo Parish Clerk records, call (318) 226-6780. Fees are not always listed online, so a quick call saves time and avoids surprises at the counter.

If you cannot pay, you may request a fee waiver from the court. The clerk can tell you what form to use. Fee waivers are granted based on financial need and require approval from a judge.

Public Records Access in Shreveport

Louisiana's public records law gives anyone the right to see Shreveport court records. The law, codified at La. R.S. 44:1, covers all documents created or received in the conduct of official business. Court case files, judgments, orders, and dockets all qualify as public records unless a specific exemption applies.

Sealed records are not public. A judge may seal records for reasons like protecting a minor, ongoing law enforcement matters, or by agreement of the parties in certain civil cases. Expunged criminal records are also removed from public access. If you search for a record and find nothing, it may be sealed, expunged, or simply not exist.

The Louisiana Supreme Court's statewide tools, including the ClerkConnect and eClerks LA portals, provide cross-parish search access that includes Caddo Parish. These tools are useful if you are not sure which court handled a case or if the case may have been filed in multiple parishes.

Nearby Cities

These nearby cities also have court records in Louisiana. Each city's records are held by the parish or city court serving that area.