Public Records Assistance

Louisiana’s Public Records Act (La. R.S. 44:1 and following) gives any person the right to inspect and copy public records. You do not have to say why you want them. We use the Act constantly, and we help residents, journalists, and researchers use it too.

What we file

We file requests on a regular schedule with NOPD, City Hall, and state agencies, publish the responses, and challenge improper denials. Our requests have produced thousands of pages of NOPD correspondence about facial recognition, drone flight logs, and contract records.

How we can help

• Scope. Work out which agency holds the record and how to describe it so the custodian can find it.
• Draft. Write the request, including fee-waiver language and the statutory response deadline.
• File. Submit it through the city’s NextRequest portal or by email, and calendar the deadline.
• Follow up. When the agency misses the deadline, over-redacts, or denies the request, write the follow-up demanding a record-by-record justification and the segregable portions.
• Escalate. If the agency still refuses, explain the options, including a mandamus suit under La. R.S. 44:35, which requires a lawyer.

We are volunteers, not lawyers, and we do not give legal advice.

Do it yourself

We publish our request templates, including the fee-waiver and deadline language we use. A few things to know:

• Any person can request records. You do not have to be a Louisiana resident or explain your purpose.
• A custodian who does not produce a record immediately must respond in writing within three business days.
• A denial must cite the specific exemption. Agencies must release the parts of a record that are not exempt.
• Keep every email. The record of what you asked for and when is what an appeal rests on.