How to Access Florida Public Criminal Records: Step-by-Step

Florida public criminal records include information created and maintained by law enforcement agencies, courts, and state or county corrections. These records document events such as arrests, charges, case filings, dispositions, and incarceration or supervision.

Florida's Constitution and Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, often referred to as the Sunshine Law, provide broad public access to government records. Many adult criminal records are accessible, including arrest reports, charging documents, court dockets, case dispositions, and incarceration records, unless a specific exemption applies.

Records that are sealed or expunged under Florida law are not publicly accessible. Certain categories are restricted or redacted:

An arrest record shows that a person was taken into custody or was issued a notice to appear. These records typically list the arrest date, arresting agency, alleged offense, booking details, and case numbers. An arrest record is not a finding of guilt and may be followed by dismissal, diversion, or charges that are never filed.

A conviction record reflects a court's final judgment of guilt and the disposition details. This can include the offense level, statute, sentence, fines, probation, or incarceration.

Florida statewide criminal record searches commonly display arrests and prosecutions reported by law enforcement and the courts:

There are a few things you won’t see on a Florida criminal record:

The steps to request criminal history in Texas differ, depending on whether you’re an individual or an employer. Here’s how to look up criminal records online in Texas:

The FDLE name-based search uses personal identifiers. You'll need the individual’s full name, and you may additionally have to supply their date of birth and gender. Social Security Number is optional but can improve match accuracy when searching for common names.

The official FDLE Criminal History Record Check page is located at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement website. On that page, select "Instant Search" to open the statewide Florida name-based search, review the terms, and continue to the search form.

Enter identifiers exactly as they appear on government-issued identification, including middle name or initial and any known aliases. Pay the nonrefundable fee using a debit or credit card; the FDLE payment system will ask for your billing information on the first page of the search process.

Results may display a single matched record, a "no record found" message, or a list of multiple possible matches. When multiple matches appear, additional identifiers—such as middle name or Social Security Number—help distinguish individuals with similar names and birth dates.

The FDLE instant search costs $24 per search. An additional $1 online processing fee applies per transaction. The total for one online name-based search is $25.

Instant search results display online immediately after payment. Certified and non-certified mail requests are typically processed in 5-7 business days after FDLE receives the request. Processing times can vary during high-volume periods or when additional review is required.

County clerk of court websites often provide free online indexes for criminal cases filed in that county. These searches typically show case numbers, charges, docket entries, and disposition summaries, while document images or certified copies may require registration or fees.

Availability, search fields, and update schedules vary by county, and sealed or expunged records are excluded from all public searches.

Free county searches and general web lookups have important limits when compared with statewide sources:

County sheriff websites commonly host inmate lookup tools, which are typically labeled Inmate Search, Jail Roster, Daily Bookings, or Recent Arrests. Searches typically allow filters by name, booking number, or date range.

Listings may include booking date and time, arresting agency, reported charges, bond amount, housing location, and scheduled release date if available. Entries reflect arrests, not findings of guilt, and update schedules vary by county and facility.

County Clerk of Court portals provide case and docket searches for cases filed in that county's courts. Searches often accept name, case number, citation number, or date of birth and may return case style, charges, and scheduled hearings.

Docket views commonly show filings, minute entries, orders, and disposition information when available. Access to document images, certified copies, or older records may require registration, fees, or an in-person or mailed request.

Florida law provides two court-ordered options: sealing and expunction. Eligibility depends on case outcome, offense type, and prior criminal history.

General requirements commonly include:

The process typically begins with obtaining an FDLE Certificate of Eligibility by submitting the FDLE application, a fingerprint card, required documentation such as certified case disposition, and applicable fees.

After certification, the petitioner files in the court of original jurisdiction with a petition, affidavit, Certificate of Eligibility, and a proposed order, and provides notice to the State Attorney. Local forms, service requirements, and scheduling practices vary by county.

FDLE manages the statewide repository for Florida public criminal records. A record update request or challenge asks FDLE to investigate information that appears wrong or incomplete.

A complete challenge file may include:

FDLE instructs individuals to contact FDLE’s disposition section to have a criminal record updated and provides contact information, including a phone number, mailing address, and physical location.

Courts control case dockets, charges, and official dispositions. Corrections to case-level details occur in the court of original jurisdiction. Common court corrections include fixing the charge description, disposition, dates, or adjudication status.

DIY searches and professional background check services serve different purposes. Conducting one or the other depends on the scope of detail and accuracy you’re looking for, as well as the type of decision you’re making.

DIY searches include FDLE name-based searches, county clerk portals, and sheriff jail rosters. Coverage is often limited to one county or one system at a time and may miss out-of-county or out-of-state records. Identity matching relies on name and date of birth, and common names can create false matches or missed records.

Professional services aggregate records across jurisdictions, including county courts, state repositories, federal courts, and sex offender registries. They use tools such as SSN traces and known aliases to reduce false positives and locate additional counties. While using a professional background check provider doesn’t eliminate the possibility of false matches or errors, it helps consolidate sources and reduce manual work.

Situations where accuracy and completeness are especially important include employment screening and tenant decisions. Screening caregivers, childcare providers, or tutors, who often work with vulnerable individuals, is also an ideal time to work with a background check provider.

Fingerprint-based checks are processed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for authorized purposes, such as licensing or employment that require an ORI number from a qualifying agency. Individuals who need a fingerprint check must get their fingerprints with an FDLE-approved LiveScan provider. The fingerprinting check typically costs between $50 and $100. FDLE also offers a fingerprint-based personal record review for individuals who want to verify their own history.

While the state of Florida doesn’t have specific time limit restrictions on offenses shown on a criminal record, any third-party consumer reporting agency (CRA) conducting a background check for employment purposes must comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Under the FCRA, arrest records that don’t lead to conviction may generally be reported no longer than seven years. Entries are excluded from public view only when a court orders sealing or expunction, or when law restricts display of protected categories.

Dismissed charges can appear as part of the case history, with outcomes listed as dismissed, nolle prosequi, no information, or acquitted. Some entries may temporarily lack a disposition if the court has not reported an update to the state repository.

Background checks are used in employment, housing, licensing, and volunteer screening. Records from Florida agencies can appear in multi-jurisdiction searches. Viewing a personal background check shows what is reported and how that information is labeled.

Checkr Personal allows individuals to preview their own background check or screen others with consent. Available screenings include Social Security number trace, sex offender registry search, global watchlist search, and criminal record searches at the federal, national, state, and county levels.

Individuals can create an account, verify their identity, and request a report to see their results. The platform presents status updates and a dispute path for potential inaccuracies to be corrected on your Checkr report. When you run a background check on yourself, Florida statewide and county-level checks can be included within a broader personal background report. Get started with Checkr today.

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