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Arrest Records in Florida

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Need more information? Check out our guides to Florida background checks and Florida public records.

 

Florida has a population of 21.3 million making it the 3rd most populated and 8th most densely populated state in the country. The state capital is Tallahassee and its largest city is Jacksonville, which has a population of 892K. Florida has 67 counties, the most populated being Miami-Dade County, and the least populated is Liberty County. 

Crime is near the U.S. average in Florida: the state’s 2018 violent crime rate of 3.85 per 1,000 is just slightly higher than the national rate. The state;’s most dangerous city is Lake City, which has a violent crime rate of 12.15 incidents per 1,000 and a property crime rate of 70.43 per 1,000. In 2018, Florida had the 24th highest arrests per capita rate. 

Florida Arrest and Crime Statistics

  • Florida had 715,424 arrests in 2018, as reported by 596 law enforcement agencies. This number includes 48,213 arrests of minors under the age of 18.
  • 34,907 arrests were made for violent crimes in the state, including 712 for murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, 1,936 for rape, and 5,761 for robbery. 
  • Drug abuse violations were the leading identified cause of arrest in the state, accounting for 134,142 arrests, followed by ‘Other assaults” which resulted in 80,570 arrests, and larceny-theft with 66,157 arrests.
  • Over 32 thousand were arrested for driving under the influence in Florida and over 10.5 thousand were arrested for violating liquor laws.
  • There are nearly 29,000 registered sex offenders residing in Florida

Sources: FBI: 2018 Crime in the United States, Florida Department of Law Enforcement

 

What is a public arrest record?

An arrest record is a report produced by a law enforcement entity after the arrest or apprehension of an individual which contains the details of the incident, the individual’s personal information, and occasionally includes additional information about the individual’s criminal record.

An arrest record is often a key document in a criminal case and may play a significant role in an ensuing trial. The arrest record may remain in the public record for a long time regardless of whether the suspect is ultimately convicted of the crime(s) for which they were initially arrested. This means that it can be accessed by the general public.  

What is included in a public arrest record?

  • Description of the incident: An arrest record will include a chronological account of the alleged crime produced by the arresting officer that may utilize information provided by first-hand witnesses and/or victims of the alleged crime. 
  • Date and location of the arrest
  • Physical description: The height, weight, hair color, sex, and race of the arrested person, along with other distinguishing characteristics such as tattoos, scars, or birthmarks. 
  • Personal information: The name, age, date of birth, phone number, address, social security number, and other contact information of the arrested individual, as well as any other names the person may go by. 
  • Photographs
  • Fingerprints
  • Criminal charges filed
  • Classification of the crime: Whether the alleged crime is a felony or a misdemeanor.
  • Bail
  • Court date
  • Police interrogation details

What are the types of charges that may appear on an arrest record?

Generally, charges are classified into three main categories:

  • Infraction – An infraction is a minor violation of the law that is regulated at the state level. Punishment for an infraction is typically a fine or a written warning, rather than a jail or prison sentence. Examples of infractions include minor traffic violations, public nuisance offenses, and littering. 
  • Misdemeanor – A misdemeanor is a crime that is more serious than an infraction, but less severe than a felony, and generally punishable by a term of imprisonment of less than a year, or a term of probation. An individual convicted of a misdemeanor is more likely to serve time in a county or local jail than a federal or state prison. Examples of misdemeanors include driving under the influence, most drug abuse violations, and petty theft.
  • Felony – A felony is the most serious type of crime and generally results in a term of imprisonment of more than one year in a state or federal prison. Having a felony on one’s record may result in limitations of employment and the acquisition of specialty licenses. Examples of felonies include rape, murder, and arson.  

Who can access arrest records?

As in most other states, arrest records (also known as arrest reports) are public records in Florida and can be accessed by anyone upon request to a law enforcement agency, and may come up during a routine background check. 

Other examples of Florida public records include:

  • vital records such as birth and death certificates
  • marriage licenses
  • mugshots
  • court records
  • voting records
  • property records 

Where are physical copies of arrest records kept in Florida?

Arrest records are typically held by the law enforcement agency responsible for the arrest, usually a local police department or county sheriff’s office. They also may be kept in the archive of a state government agency, or circuit court. 

Officially, Florida’s central repository for criminal history information is the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Division of Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS).

Why can’t I access an arrest record in Florida?

There are a number of reasons why you may not be able to access an arrest record. Although the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requires federal agencies to release arrest records and other public records, records that fall under certain exemptions can be withheld from the public.

The FOIA includes nine exemptions that allow agencies to withhold documents, such as arrest records, and not release them to the public. They are:

  1. The information is classified to protect natural security. 
  2. The information focuses on the internal rules and practices of the agency.
  3. Another federal law prohibits the release of the information.
  4. The information includes confidential trade secrets and/or commercial and financial information. 
  5. The information includes privileged, confidential communicative exchanges between two agencies. 
  6. The information could pose a danger to another person’s privacy if released.
  7. The information is reserved for law enforcement purposes in a court case or an investigation or could reveal a confidential source. 
  8. The information includes confidential information about financial institution supervision. 
  9. The information includes geographical information about wells.

Additionally, some state laws limit the availability of arrest records due to the fact that they are perceived as one-sided documents that do not include the arrested person’s account of the incident. 

What is the difference between an arrest record and a criminal record?

Compared to an arrest record, a criminal record is a more thorough document that details an individual’s entire criminal history, including arrest warrants, arrests, third party complaints, convictions, and even dropped cases. 

What is the difference between an arrest record and an arrest warrant?

An arrest warrant is a document issued by a judge or magistrate that grants law enforcement the authority to arrest an individual suspected of a crime or to search and seize the individual’s property, whereas an arrest record is a document of an arrest that is only created after an arrest or apprehension has already occurred.  

In order for a judge or magistrate to issue an arrest warrant, they must conclude that there is probable cause for an arrest. Probable cause must be backed by sworn testimony or an affidavit that provides sufficient information supporting the need for an arrest. An arrest warrant must also specify one individual that should be arrested, rather than a group of individuals or a rough description of a suspect. 

How many Americans have been arrested?

While crime has steadily dropped in the United States over the past several decades, arrests have gone up, particularly for younger age groups. Typically, law enforcement makes around 10 million arrests each year. Here are some key statistics on arrests in the United States:

  • In 2018, around 10.3 million arrests were made nationwide.
  • 73% of arrested persons in 2018 were males.
  • The more recent an American was born, the greater the likelihood that the individual has been arrested at least once. The following is the percentage of Americans in various age groups that have been arrested: 
    • 6.4% of Americans  born before 1949
    • 10.7% of Americans born between 1949 and 1958
    • 13.8% of Americans born between 1959 and 1968
    • 18.7% of Americans born between 1969 and 1978
    • 23% of Americans born between 1979-1988

Sources: Federal Bureau of Investigation, RAND Corporation

How to search for Arrest Records in Florida

The FDLE Criminal History Information on the Internet website allows individuals to run a search to run a criminal history search on any person

Name search results will yield any criminal history information the agency has on a person that exists in their directory, including arrest records and conviction records.  

Here is some information on the FDLE criminal history search tool:

  • Each name search costs $25, which includes a $1 credit card processing fee
  • A search yields as many as 5 possible candidates, however, it may also return no matches
  • Requesting the record of any additional candidate costs an additional charge of $25 per record
  • Users can print the results or have them emailed, but they can not be sent through postal mail
  • The results of the search are not certified
  • The search will only yield juvenile criminal history results when the offense committed would be a felony if committed as an adult

A certified Florida criminal history is required in order to challenge an arrest record in the state. For a certified criminal history, contact FDLE Criminal History services at [email protected].

Can I request Florida arrest records through the mail?

The FDLE allows people to request criminal history information by completing the Criminal History Information Request Form and mailing it to:

Florida Department of Law Enforcement 

Criminal History Services

PO Box 1489

Tallahassee, FL 32302

However, requests by mail will be discontinued effective July 1, 2020.

How can I search for a Florida arrest record on the internet using a background check service?

Since tracking down physical copies of arrest records can prove challenging, searching for them online is a viable option. There is a wealth of online services that allow you to search and access Florida arrest records and other public records via numerous government agency databases in exchange for a fee. 

However, despite the fact that users must pay to obtain an arrest record from an online service, it’s nevertheless a convenient means of getting these documents. The offices of government agencies are often marred by inconsistent service and take a long time to process requests to view documents. 

Sometimes it’s worth it to pay a fee to use an online background check service, rather than endure the extended delays typical of government offices.  

What can I do if my arrest record has a mistake?

The FLDE allows individuals to challenge any inaccurate or incomplete information on an arrest record. To do this you will need:

The completed form and fingerprint card should be mailed to the following address for review:

Florida Department of Law Enforcement 

Criminal History Services

PO Box 1489

Tallahassee, FL 32302

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the challenge process, call the Criminal History Record Maintenance Section at (850) 410-7898 or email them at [email protected].

Florida Courthouse and Sheriff Information by County

CountyCourthouseAddressPhoneSheriffAddressPhone
Alachua CountyAlachua County Clerk of the Court201 E University Ave
Gainesville, FL 32601
352-374-3636Alachua County Sheriff Office2621 SE Hawthorne Rd
Gainesville, FL 32641
352-955-1818
Baker CountyBaker County Clerk of Court339 E Macclenny Ave # 113
Macclenny, FL 32063
904-259-8113Baker County Sheriff's Office1 Sheriff’s Office Drive
Macclenny, FL 32063
904-259-2231
Bay CountyBay County Courthouse300 E 4th St #107
Panama City, FL 32401
850-763-9061Bay County Sheriff's Office3421 FL-77
Panama City, FL 32405
850-747-4700
Bradford CountyBradford County Courthouse - The Eighth Judicial Circuit of Florida945 N Temple Ave
Starke, FL 32091
904-966-6280Bradford County JailA, 2110, 945 N Temple Ave
Starke, FL 32091
904-966-6250
Brevard CountyBrevard County Courthouse Melbourne51 Nieman Ave #160
Melbourne, FL 32901
321-952-4703Brevard County Sheriff's Office1515 Sarno Rd # B
Melbourne, FL 32935
321-253-6658
Broward CountyBroward County South Regional Courthouse3550 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood, FL 33021
954-831-6565Broward County Sheriff Office100 Terminal Dr
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
954-764-4357
Calhoun CountyCalhoun County Courthouse20859 Central Ave
Blountstown, FL 32424
850-674-4545Calhoun County Sheriff20776 Central Ave E
Blountstown, FL 32424
850-674-5049
Charlotte CountyCharlotte County Clerk of the Circuit Court18500 Murdock Cir
Port Charlotte, FL 33948
941-743-1400Charlotte County Sheriff's Office7474 Utilities Rd
Punta Gorda, FL 33982
941-639-2101
Citrus CountyCitrus County Courthouse110 N Apopka Ave # 101
Inverness, FL 34450
352-341-6400Citrus County Sheriff's Office1 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Ave
Inverness, FL 34450
352-726-4488
Clay CountyClay County Courts825 N Orange Ave
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
904-284-6302Clay County Sheriff’s Office901 N Orange Ave
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
904-264-6512
Collier CountyCollier County Circuit Judges3315 Tamiami Trail E
Naples, FL 34112
239-252-8800Collier County Sheriff's Office - Administration3319 Tamiami Trail E
Naples, FL 34112
239-774-4434
Columbia CountyColumbia County Court Administration173 NE Hernando Ave # 408
Lake City, FL 32055
386-758-1342Columbia County Sheriff435 NW Hall of Fame Dr
Lake City, FL 32055
386-719-5595
DeSoto CountyDeSoto County Courthouse115 E Oak St
Arcadia, FL 34266
863-993-4644DeSoto County Sheriff's Office208 E Cypress St
Arcadia, FL 34266
863-993-4700
Dixie CountyDixie County Courthouse214 State Hwy 351
Cross City, FL 32628
352-498-1200Dixie County Sheriff's Office214 NE 351 Hwy L
Cross City, FL 32628
352-498-1220
Duval CountyDuval County Clerk of Courts501 W Adams St
Jacksonville, FL 32202
904-255-2000John E. Goode Pre-trial Detention Facility500 E Adams St
Jacksonville, FL 32202
904-630-5760
Escambia CountyEscambia County Court House190 W Government St
Pensacola, FL 32502
850-595-4360Escambia County Jail2935 N L St
Pensacola, FL 32501
850-436-9830
Flagler CountyFlagler County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller1769 E Moody Blvd, Building #1 - Kim C. Hammond Justice Center
Bunnell, FL 32110
386-313-4400Flagler County Sheriff's Office Operations Center901 E Moody Blvd
Bunnell, FL 32110
386-437-4116
Franklin CountyFranklin County Courthouse33 Market St
Apalachicola, FL 32320
850-697-2112Franklin County Sheriff's Office270 FL-65
Eastpoint, FL 32328
850-670-8500
Gadsden CountyGadsden County Circuit Judge13 N Monroe St
Quincy, FL 32351
850-627-7780Gadsden County Sheriff's Office339 E Jefferson St
Quincy, FL 32351
850-627-9233
Gilchrist CountyGilchrist County Courthouse112 S Main St #1004
Trenton, FL 32693
352-463-3170Gilchrist County Sheriff's Offices 32693, 9239 US-129
Trenton, FL 32693
352-463-3410
Glades CountyGlades County Court HouseAvenue J
Moore Haven, FL 33471
Glades County Sheriff's Office1297 FL-78
Moore Haven, FL 33471
863-946-1600
Gulf CountyGulf County Clerk of Court200 S 2nd St
Wewahitchka, FL 32465
850-229-6112Gulf County Sheriff's Office418 Cecil G. Costin Sr. Blvd
Port St Joe, FL 32456
850-227-1115
Hamilton CountyHamilton County Circuit Ct Clerk207 1st St NE #106
Jasper, FL 32052
386-792-1288Hamilton County Sheriff's Office3995 Co Rd 51
Jasper, FL 32052
386-792-1001
Hardee CountyHardee County Clerk The Court417 W Main St
Wauchula, FL 33873
863-773-4174Hardee County Jail900 Summit St E
Wauchula, FL 33873
863-767-0873
Hendry CountyHendry County Courthouse141 E Hickpochee Ave
LaBelle, FL 33935
Hendry County Sheriff's Office101 S Bridge St
LaBelle, FL 33935
863-674-4060
Hernando CountyHernando County Clerk of Court20 N Main St
Brooksville, FL 34601
352-754-4201Hernando County Sheriff's Office18900 Cortez Blvd
Brooksville, FL 34601
352-754-6830
Highlands CountyHighlands County Clerk of Courts590 S Commerce Ave
Sebring, FL 33870
863-402-6830Highlands County Sheriff's Office400 S Eucalyptus St
Sebring, FL 33870
863-402-7200
Hillsborough CountyHillsborough County Courthouse800 E Twiggs St
Tampa, FL 33602
813-276-8100Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO)2008 E 8th Ave
Tampa, FL 33605
813-247-8000
Holmes CountyHolmes County Court201 N Oklahoma St
Bonifay, FL 32425
850-547-1100Holmes County Sheriff's Office211 N Oklahoma St
Bonifay, FL 32425
850-547-3681
Indian River CountyIndian River County Clerk Of The Circuit Court2000 16th Ave
Vero Beach, FL 32960
772-770-5185Indian River County Jail4055 41st Ave
Vero Beach, FL 32960
772-569-6700
Jackson CountyJackson County Judge4445 Lafayette St # 104
Marianna, FL 32446
850-482-9656Jackson County Sheriff's Office4111 Gov. Rick Scott Drive
Marianna, FL 32448
850-482-9624
Jefferson CountyJefferson County Courthouse Annex435 Walnut St
Monticello, FL 32344
850-342-0218Jefferson County Sheriff's Office171 Industrial Park
Monticello, FL 32344
850-997-2523
Lafayette CountyLafayette County Clerk-Court120 W Main St
Mayo, FL 32066
386-294-1600Lafayette County Jail178 NW Crawford St
Mayo, FL 32066
386-294-1301
Lake CountyLake County Courthouse550 W Main St
Tavares, FL 32778
Lake County Sheriff's Office360 W Ruby St
Tavares, FL 32778
352-343-2101
Lee CountyLee County Clerk of Court1700 Monroe St
Fort Myers, FL 33901
239-533-5000Lee County Sheriff's Office15650 Pine Ridge Rd
Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-477-1830
Leon CountyLeon County Courthouse301 S Monroe St
Tallahassee, FL 32301
850-606-4000Leon County Sheriff's Office2825 Municipal Way
Tallahassee, FL 32304
850-606-3300
Levy CountyLevy County Courthouse355 S Court St
Bronson, FL 32621
352-486-5266Levy County Sheriff's Department9050 NE 80th Ave
Bronson, FL 32621
352-486-5111
Liberty CountyLiberty County Courthouse10818 NW, FL-20
Bristol, FL 32321
850-643-2215Liberty County Sheriff's OfficeBristol, FL 32321850-643-2235
Madison CountyMadison County Courthouse Annex229 E Pinckney St
Madison, FL 32340
850-973-6136Madison County Sheriff's Office2364 US-90
Madison, FL 32340
850-973-4151
Manatee CountyManatee County Courthouse1101 6th Ave W
Bradenton, FL 34205
Manatee Sheriff's Office10005 Gulf Dr
Anna Maria, FL 34216
941-708-8899
Marion CountyMarion County Clerk of Courts110 NW 1st Ave #1
Ocala, FL 34475
352-671-5604Marion County Sheriff's Office692 NW 30th Ave
Ocala, FL 34475
352-732-8181
Martin CountyMartin County Courthouse100 SE Ocean Blvd
Stuart, FL 34994
772-288-5576Martin County Sheriff800 SE Monterey Rd
Stuart, FL 34994
772-220-7000
Miami-Dade CountyMiami-Dade County Courthouse73 W Flagler St
Miami, FL 33130
305-275-1155Miami-Dade County Police Department2100 NW 42nd Ave
Miami, FL 33142
305-876-7373
Monroe CountyMonroe County Courthouse302 Fleming St
Key West, FL 33040
305-292-3423Monroe County Sheriff's Office5525 College Rd
Key West, FL 33040
305-292-7000
Nassau CountyNassau County Judge76347 Veterans Way # 456
Yulee, FL 32097
904-548-4500Nassau County Sheriff's Office76001 Bobby Moore Circle
Yulee, FL 32097
904-225-5174
Okaloosa CountyOkaloosa County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller101 E James Lee Blvd
Crestview, FL 32536
850-689-5000Okaloosa County Sheriff296 Brackin Ave
Crestview, FL 32539
850-689-5650
Okeechobee CountyOkeechobee County Judge's Office304 NW 2nd St #123
Okeechobee, FL 34972
863-763-3193Okeechobee County Sheriff Office504 NW 4th St
Okeechobee, FL 34972
863-763-3117
Orange CountyOrange County Court425 N Orange Ave
Orlando, FL 32801
407-836-2050Orange County Sheriff's Office2500 W Colonial Dr
Orlando, FL 32804
407-254-7000
Osceola CountyOsceola County Courthouse2 Courthouse Sq
Kissimmee, FL 34741
407-742-3500Osceola County Sheriff's Office - Sheriff Russ Gibson2601 E Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy
Kissimmee, FL 34744
407-348-1100
Palm Beach CountyPalm Beach County Courthouse205 N Dixie Hwy
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
561-355-2431Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office3228 Gun Club Rd
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
561-688-3000
Pasco CountyPasco County East Courthouse38053 Live Oak Ave STE 205
Dade City, FL 33523
352-523-2411Pasco County Sheriff’s Office8700 Citizens Dr
New Port Richey, FL 34654
727-847-5878
Pinellas CountyPinellas County Courthouse14450 49th St N
Clearwater, FL 33762
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office14250 49th St N #1000
Clearwater, FL 33762
727-582-6200
Polk CountyPolk County Clerk of Courts and Comproller255 N Broadway Ave
Bartow, FL 33830
863-534-4000Polk County Sheriff’s Office1891 Jim Keene Blvd
Winter Haven, FL 33880
863-298-6200
Putnam CountyPutnam County Clerk of Courts410 St Johns Ave
Palatka, FL 32177
386-326-7600Putnam County Sheriff's Office130 Orie Griffin Blvd
Palatka, FL 32177
386-329-0800
Santa Rosa CountySanta Rosa County Clerk of Court - Court House6865 Caroline St
Milton, FL 32570
850-981-5554 ext. 0Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office5755 E Milton Rd
Milton, FL 32583
850-983-1100
Sarasota CountySarasota County Court Administration2002 Ringling Blvd
Sarasota, FL 34237
941-861-7800Sarasota County Sheriff's Office2071 Ringling Blvd
Sarasota, FL 34237
941-861-5800
Seminole CountySeminole County Clerk of Courts301 N Park Ave
Sanford, FL 32771
407-665-4300Seminole County Sheriff's Office100 Eslinger Way
Sanford, FL 32773
407-665-6600
St. Johns CountySt Johns County Courthouse4010 Lewis Speedway # B
St. Augustine, FL 32084
904-209-0655St Johns County Sheriff's Office4015 Lewis Speedway
St. Augustine, FL 32084
904-824-8304
St. Lucie CountySt. Lucie County Courthouse218 S 2nd St
Fort Pierce, FL 34950
772-462-6900St. Lucie County Sheriff4700 W Midway Rd
Fort Pierce, FL 34981
772-462-7300
Sumter CountySumter County Circuit Judge225 E McCollum Ave
Bushnell, FL 33513
352-569-6920Sumter County Sheriff's Office7361 Powell Rd
Wildwood, FL 34785
352-569-1600
Suwannee CountySuwannee County Clerk of the Circuit Court200 Ohio Ave S
Live Oak, FL 32064
386-362-0500Suwannee County Sheriff's Office200 Ohio Ave S
Live Oak, FL 32064
386-362-2222
Taylor CountyTaylor County Courthouse108 N Jefferson St
Perry, FL 32347
850-838-3506Taylor County Sheriff's Office108 N Jefferson St #103
Perry, FL 32347
850-584-4225
Union CountyUnion County Courthouse55 W Main St
Lake Butler, FL 32054
Union County Sheriff1654, 55 W Main St # 102
Lake Butler, FL 32054
386-496-2501
Volusia CountyVolusia County Courthouse101 N Alabama Ave
DeLand, FL 32724
386-736-5915Volusia County Sheriff's Office123 W Indiana Ave 4th floor
DeLand, FL 32720
386-736-5961
Wakulla CountyWakulla County Clerk of Court3056 Crawfordville Hwy
Crawfordville, FL 32327
850-926-0905Wakulla County Sheriff's Office15 Oak St
Crawfordville, FL 32327
850-745-7100
Walton CountyCircuit Court Clerk of Courts31 Coastal Centre Blvd # 500
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
850-267-3066Walton County Sheriff's Office24221 US-331
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
850-892-8186
Washington CountyWashington County Court1293 W Jackson Ave # 100
Chipley, FL 32428
850-638-6009Washington County Sheriff's Office711 3rd St
Chipley, FL 32428
850-638-6111

 

If you’re worried that someone you know or love has a criminal record and maybe hiding it from you, run a quick background check online with ArrestRecords.com. Thanks to public records laws, almost all Florida arrests, criminal and civil records are available online, as well as comprehensive background checks and secret data. You can even find Florida marriage records, secret divorce records as well as birth and death records.

Violent Crime rate 

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