Florida Public Records

Florida Arrest Records: The Complete Guide

Florida has one of the most transparent public-records regimes in the United States. The Florida Sunshine Law (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes) makes arrest records, booking photos, charge information, and case dispositions available to the public unless specifically exempted. This page covers every source for Florida arrest records, what each source shows, how to correct errors, and how to remove arrests from public view when legally possible.

Governing law: Florida Sunshine Law, Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. Arrest records are public under F.S. 119.071 with specific exemptions for confidential investigations, victim information, and sealed/expunged records.

Where to Find Florida Arrest Records

Florida arrest information lives in several overlapping systems. The authoritative source depends on what you need to know.

1. County Sheriff Booking Records (First Stop)

When someone is arrested in Florida, they are booked at the county jail, which generates a booking record including a photo (mugshot), charges, bond amount, and case number. These are immediately available on most county sheriff websites. Our 67-county directory links directly to every Florida sheriff's inmate search. This is the fastest source for recent arrests, typically updated within 2 to 6 hours of booking.

2. Clerk of the Circuit Court (Case Records)

Once charges are formally filed by the State Attorney, the Clerk of the Circuit Court in each county maintains the case record. Most Florida clerks have online case search portals showing filings, hearing dates, dispositions, and sometimes PDFs of documents. The clerk's site is the authoritative source for case status after charges are filed.

3. FDLE Criminal History Check

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains the statewide Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC). A full FDLE criminal history check covers all arrests reported to FDLE by any Florida law enforcement agency, plus dispositions reported by courts. Cost: $24 online or $25 by mail. Available at fdle.state.fl.us. Required for many employment background checks, licensing, and legal proceedings.

4. FBI Background Check (For Federal Arrests)

Federal arrests and convictions are not in FDLE. The FBI maintains the Identity History Summary, available through fbi.gov. Required for many federal employment, security clearance, and immigration purposes. Cost: $18 online.

5. Private Background-Check Services

Many commercial services aggregate Florida public records including arrests. Quality varies significantly. Paid services are often more current; free aggregators frequently show stale information (old arrests appearing "current" years after they were resolved). For legal or employment purposes, always use FDLE directly rather than a commercial aggregator.

What Shows Up in a Florida Arrest Record

A standard Florida arrest record includes:

Personal Info

  • Full legal name
  • Aliases
  • Date of birth
  • Physical description
  • Booking photo (mugshot)

Arrest Details

  • Arrest date and time
  • Arresting agency
  • Arrest location
  • Charges (with statute citations)
  • Booking number

Custody Info

  • Current facility
  • Bond amount (if set)
  • Hold status
  • Cell/pod assignment (sometimes)

Case Info

  • Case number
  • Court assignment
  • First appearance date
  • Disposition (if closed)

Note that arrest records show charges filed, not guilt. An arrest is not a conviction. Florida Rule 3.850 presumes innocence until guilt is proven beyond reasonable doubt at trial or admitted by plea. "Conviction" requires a formal adjudication of guilt; withheld adjudication, while sometimes confused with conviction, is not the same.

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Florida Mugshots and Privacy

Florida is one of the few states where booking photos remain public record under the Sunshine Law, even years after an arrest. The Florida Supreme Court has upheld this access. The state has passed some limited protections over the years, but the general rule remains: if you were arrested in Florida, the photo can be published, republished, and aggregated by commercial sites.

Commercial "mugshot" websites that demand payment to remove photos have been restricted under Florida Statute 843.23 (2018 amendments), which prohibits charging fees to remove arrest booking photos when the charges were dismissed, nolle prossed, or resulted in acquittal. The state attorney or a civil attorney can pursue these sites if they refuse to comply. Private sites that publish without demanding payment are generally protected by First Amendment precedent.

Correcting Errors in Florida Arrest Records

If your arrest record contains factual errors (wrong name, wrong charge, wrong disposition), the correction process depends on the source:

  1. Sheriff booking record errors: Contact the arresting agency's Records Division. Provide documentation (court orders, identification, correct information). Most corrections take 30-90 days.
  2. FDLE criminal history errors: Submit a challenge to FDLE's Biometric Identification Services. Process and forms available at fdle.state.fl.us. Fingerprints may be required to resolve identity issues.
  3. Clerk of Court errors: File a motion in the underlying case to correct the court record. An attorney can file on your behalf.
  4. Private aggregator errors: Contact the site directly with documentation. If they refuse and the underlying case was dismissed, send a 119.071 demand letter citing Florida public records law.

Sealing or Expunging Arrest Records

Under Florida Statutes 943.059 and 943.0585, eligible individuals can petition the court to seal (remove from public view) or expunge (physically destroy) an arrest record. Eligibility is strict:

The process requires first applying to FDLE for a Certificate of Eligibility ($75 fee), then filing a petition with the sentencing court. Full end-to-end timeline is typically 6 to 9 months. See our complete Florida Sealing & Expungement Guide for step-by-step instructions.

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Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions, Florida Arrest Records

Yes. Under the Florida Sunshine Law (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes), arrest records are public and searchable by anyone. Booking photos, charges, and case dispositions are all public record. Narrow exceptions apply for confidential investigations, victims of certain crimes, juvenile records (mostly), and records that have been sealed or expunged.
Yes, unless you seal or expunge it. An arrest record does not automatically age off Florida databases. Cases decades old still appear in FDLE and clerk searches. Florida has no automatic expungement provision for dismissed or acquitted cases; you must petition.
Yes. Most employment background checks in Florida include FDLE data showing arrests even if charges were dropped. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act limits some pre-employment reporting, but Florida arrests are generally visible. The Florida Civil Rights Act and local fair-chance hiring ordinances in some cities provide some protection against automatic disqualification for past arrests. Sealed or expunged records are not generally visible to most employers, with narrow licensing-agency exceptions.
For commercial mugshot sites that charge fees to remove photos when charges were dismissed, F.S. 843.23 prohibits the practice. Send a demand letter citing the statute. For legitimate news outlets or blogs that published an arrest photo, First Amendment protections generally prevent forced removal. Sealing or expunging the underlying record does not automatically force private sites to remove existing photos, though it can strengthen a takedown request.
For most purposes, yes. F.S. 943.0585(4) allows a person with a sealed or expunged record to lawfully deny the arrest for most employment, housing, and licensing purposes. Exceptions apply for applications to criminal justice agencies, The Florida Bar, certain healthcare/education licensing agencies, and applications involving children or vulnerable adults. See our Sealing & Expungement Guide for the full list.
For a certified copy of an arrest affidavit and related booking documents, contact the arresting agency's Records Division. Fees typically range from $1 to $5 per page plus any certification fee. For a certified Florida criminal history, order from FDLE at fdle.state.fl.us for $24 online. For court records, contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court where the case was filed.
For arrests made "contrary to law" or "by mistake," Florida Statute 943.0581 provides Administrative Expungement. This is faster and free compared to court-ordered expungement, but requires the arresting agency to certify in writing that the arrest was unlawful or in error. If the agency agrees, they submit the request to FDLE for expungement. If they refuse, you may need to pursue court-ordered expungement or a civil wrongful-arrest claim.
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Need Help Accessing Florida Records?

If you need help locating an arrest record or understanding what you have found, call our free 24/7 line. We can walk you through the process for any of Florida's 67 counties.

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