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  1. Leon County Court
  2. Leon County Arrest Records

Leon County, Florida Arrest Records

Leon County arrest records are official documents created by law enforcement agencies when an individual has been apprehended and taken into custody for an alleged offense. Arrest records are evidence of the fact that the stated offender is in custody of the named law enforcement agency and are used to initiate criminal proceedings. Arrest records typically contain identification information about the offender, description of the offender, photograph, arrest and booking details, case or booking ID, and description of the charges.

Leon County arrest records may be recorded and maintained by county and city police departments. However, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office is primarily responsible for filing and disseminating arrest and inmate records for the county and also reporting these records to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Another reason why arrest records in Leon County are necessary is to ensure transparency in the dealings of law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Records of arrests are considered matters of pubic records guided and regulated by Florida Sunshine Laws (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes).

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Leon, Florida?

Yes, arrest records are public information in Florida. The general rule on public records in Florida is that all state and county records are open for inspection and copying by any person. Every agency is charged with the duty to provide open and reasonable access to public records. This means that agencies in Leon County, like the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and other municipal police departments and law enforcement agencies, are under an obligation to furnish requesters with copies of arrest records upon request (Florida Statutes § 119.01).

The Florida Public Records Law is silent on whether or not access is restricted to residents of Florida. For physical requests or requests for copies of arrest records, individuals may be required to present copies of their identification card, provide a sufficient description of the record sought, and pay applicable administrative fees. Custodians of public records must respond to requests in a reasonable time. Where a portion of a record has been redacted or the record is exempt from public inspection, the custodian must inform the requester of such exception (usually in writing).

What Do Public County Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records typically contain the following information:

  • The full name or alias(es), date of birth, and age of the offender
  • Physical Description: Sex, race, height, weight, hair color, eye color, photograph, and sometimes other prominent/identifiable features.
  • The name of the arresting officer and agency 
  • The date, time, and location of the arrest
  • A brief description of the charges
  • Bail information and bond amount
  • Holding facility
  • Case status

Information that may be exempt from public arrest records is often due to the confidential nature of the record or in compliance with federal or state statute or an order of the court. For such non-disclosure records, a portion of the record may be redacted or the entire record restricted from public access. These exemptions applicable to arrest records may include (Florida Statutes § 119.071):

  • Juvenile records
  • Sealed or expunged arrest records 
  • Where an alleged victim elects not to file a complaint and requests that the records of a complaint remain undisclosed 
  • Information that may reveal the identity of a victim of child abuse 
  • Records where a person below 18 is a victim of human trafficking 
  • Records that may reveal the identity of a victim of any sexual offense or any media evidence of the body of the victim. 

Leon County,  Florida Arrest Search

Interested persons may obtain criminal history information or arrest information through the FDLE. The FDLE is the central repository for criminal history information for the state of Florida. The Leon County Sheriff’s Office reports all arrests and criminal records to the FDLE. One can request criminal history information through an Instant Search or a Certified/Non-Certified Search. Each search costs $24 plus additional processing fees. The instant search results are processed immediately, while the Certified or Non-Certified search pathway may take between 5 - 7 business days and will be sent afterwards by regular mail, US Mail.

Leon County Inmate Locator

The Leon County inmate locator can be used to find arrest records and criminal history information. A person who has been incarcerated was first arrested and booked into jail. An online inmate search can help individuals find information on persons who have been recently arrested and are being held in the Leon County Detention Center. The Leon County Inmate Search tool allows users to search the inmate roster by name, ethnicity, and gender of the offender. Just like arrest records, the Leon County inmate roster provides access to an inmate's photo, full name, arrest and release date, jail status, charges, and name of the arresting agency.

Leon County Sheriff's Office 

2825 Major James Morgan Jr. Way 

Tallahassee, FL 32304 

Phone: (850) 606-3300

Active Warrant Search in Leon County

An arrest warrant is a writ(document)  issued by a magistrate or judge to a police officer or a state, county, or municipal law enforcement officer commanding such officers to arrest the named offender and bring them before the issuing court. A warrant may only be issued where the judge, after examining the complaint, affidavit, and evidentiary documents before him, is satisfied that there is probable cause for the arrest of the named offender for any crime committed within the jurisdiction of that court (Florida Statutes § 901.02). 

An arrest warrant contains the nature and description of the offense, the name of the person to be arrested or a description of the offender where the name is not known, an order that the suspect is to be arrested and brought before a judge, the date, time, and county the warrant was issued, the signature and title of the office of the judge or other person authorized by law to administer oaths, bail amount and conditions of release (Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.121).

The Warrants/Civil Unit of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for maintaining and processing active warrant files and all judicial processes served and executed in Leon County. Individuals who wish to obtain warrant information must visit the Sheriff’s Office with a government-issued ID to obtain warrant information, as it is not issued over the phone. Alternatively, one can perform a warrant search online through the Florida Wanted Persons public access system. The wanted persons database contains warrant information reported to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) by all law enforcement agencies in the state.

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Leon County

The Leon County Sheriff’s Office does not maintain an online arrest records database; members of the public may obtain free arrest records online by searching the Leon County inmate search roster. Likewise, residents of Leon County may obtain free arrest information by submitting a records request online to the Sheriff’s Office or visiting the Sheriff’s Office and local police department to make enquiries or inspect records in-person.

Researchers may experience roadblocks in their search online because these databases do not host records that contain confidential information, or even older records. Also, online records are purely informative and not comprehensive. Please be aware that In-person searches at law enforcement offices would require the searcher to provide a means of identification upon request and make payment for requests for physical copies of arrest records.  

Leon County Arrest Report

An arrest report is not necessarily the same as an arrest record. An arrest report is more akin to a police report written by a law enforcement officer or officers that documents the incident or event they responded to or intervened in leading up to the arrest of the offender. It is an official record of an event from the officer’s perspective, which is used for investigation or future reference. An arrest report can include the date, time, and location of the incident, names and contact information of the parties and witnesses, statement of the parties and witnesses, a detailed description of the event, all evidence collected, the officer’s statement, and observations.

An arrest record, on the other hand, primarily contains information about the arrested person and all details that connect the offender to the crime. It is a document that simply states that person A has been arrested, on a stated date, time, and location, for a stated offence or list of offences, by a named officer, and is held at the County detention center or has been released on certain bail terms. While both documents can be used in court, an arrest report is an officer's report of the incident, while an arrest record documents the offender’s arrest and booking process and is used to initiate criminal proceedings.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Leon County

There are several types of sealing and expungement procedures under the law in Florida. The most common type is Court-Ordered Sealing or Expungement. Under this category, a person applies to the FDLE for a Certificate of Eligibility to Seal orExpunge his/her arrest record. Before issuing a Certificate of Eligibility, the FDLE will determine if the applicant is statutorily eligible to have his/her Florida arrest or criminal history record sealed or expunged. 

In line with Florida Statutes § 943.0585, a person will be eligible to petition a court to expunge their arrest records if an information, indictment or charging document was not filed or issued in the case giving rise to a criminal record, or where any such cahrging document is filed, it was dismissed, or a verdict of not guilty was enetered, or nolle prosequi by a the state attorney or statewide prosecutor.

Other types of sealing or expungement processes authorized by law in Florida are:

  • Juvenile Diversion expungement
  • Lawful Self-Defense Expungement
  • Human Trafficking Expungement
  • Automatic Juvenile Expungement
  • Early Juvenile Expungement, and
  • Automatic Sealing

How Do You Remove Leon County Arrest Records From the Internet?

Privately owned websites that upload arrest information are not subject to or mandated by law to comply with an order for the expungement of arrest records. The record holder may write to these websites and request that their information be taken down. Furthermore, the Florida Criminal Procedure and Corrections Law provides that a person whose arrest booking photograph (mugshot) has been published on the internet, or his legal representative, may make a request in writing to the entity that published or disseminated the photograph for the removal of that photograph. (Florida Statutes § 901.43).

The written request for the removal of the arrest booking photograph must be sent by registered mail and include sufficient proof of identification of the person whose mugshot was published, and specific information identifying the mugshot that the written request is seeking to be removed. Within 10 days after receipt of the written request for removal of the mugshot, the publishing entity or person shall remove the photograph without charge and is prohibited from republishing or redistributing that photograph.