Florida FDLE Arrest Records & Jail Lookup
Florida statewide · FDLE criminal history · county jail bookings · court dispositions
Use FDLE for Florida Criminal History—Then Use the County for Live Jail Custody
Florida does not have one FDLE page that performs every arrest-record and live-jail task. FDLE maintains the statewide criminal-history repository and statewide criminal-justice data, while current county jail custody is controlled by the county sheriff or detention agency.
This guide shows exactly when to use FDLE CCHInet, SHIELD, CJDT, the Wanted Persons system, a county jail locator, the county court clerk or Florida Department of Corrections.
FLORIDA RECORD NETWORK
FDLE → COUNTY
FDLE CCHInet
STATE HISTORY
$24 + $1 INSTANT SEARCH
COUNTY DETENTION
Live custody · booking · bail · housing · release
ARREST
IDENTITY
IDENTITY
STATE HISTORY + JAIL VERIFIED
FDLE arrest history is not the same thing as a live jail roster.
If someone was arrested today, start with the county detention agency. If you need that person’s broader Florida criminal history, use FDLE. If you need the final result of the criminal case, use the county Clerk of Court.
FDLE Instant Search
$24 search + $1 card processing fee.
Certified search
$24; processed by FDLE and mailed.
Personal Review
No FDLE fee; fingerprints required.
CJDT
Statewide arrest/booking data—not live custody.
FDC search
State prison/supervision, not county jail.
Choose the right Florida database before you search
FDLE CCHInet
Florida criminal history
Paid name-based public search of FDLE’s Computerized Criminal History files.
Use when you need broader Florida arrest/disposition history.
COUNTY JAIL
Current custody
Sheriff or county detention facility controls current inmate, booking, bond and release data.
Use immediately after an arrest.
FDLE CJDT
Statewide booking research
Florida arrest and county-detention data submitted to FDLE.
Useful for research; not a real-time inmate locator.
COUNTY CLERK
Court outcome
Filed charges, docket events and disposition live in the county criminal court record.
Use to distinguish arrest from conviction.
FDC
State correctional custody
Florida Department of Corrections database covers felony offenders sentenced to state prison or state supervision.
It specifically excludes ordinary county-jail sentences.Run an Instant Florida Criminal History Search
FDLE is the central repository for Florida criminal-history information. CCHInet provides self-service access to the Florida Computerized Criminal History files.
Open FDLE CCHInet
Use the Florida Department of Law Enforcement service—not a third-party background site.
Open FDLE Instant Criminal History Search
Understand the charge before searching
Each name search currently costs $24 plus a $1 credit-card processing fee.
Enter accurate subject information
Accuracy matters because the system performs a name-based candidate search.
Pay the $25 total search charge
The charge applies even when no possible candidate is returned.
Review every possible candidate
CCHInet may return up to five possible matches. You are responsible for deciding which candidate, if any, matches the person searched.
Compare identifiers carefully
Do not use a similar name as proof of identity.
Print or email the result
Instant results can be printed or emailed.
Do not call the instant result “certified”
FDLE specifically states CCHInet instant results are not certified.
No refund just because there is no match.
FDLE states the CCHInet charge applies for each name search regardless of the search result.
Order a certified or staff-reviewed Florida criminal history
Instant CCHInet
- Total current charge: $25.
- Immediate result.
- Print or email.
- Not certified.
- You select from possible matches.
SHIELD certified/non-certified
- Current search charge: $24.
- FDLE staff processes request.
- Results returned by U.S. Mail.
- Certification can be requested.
- Up to 10 aliases can be entered per subject.
| Request | FDLE processing time | Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Non-certified SHIELD | About 5 business days | Regular U.S. Mail after processing |
| Certified SHIELD | About 6–7 business days | Regular U.S. Mail after processing |
FDLE’s published processing time does not include U.S. Mail delivery time.
Open FDLE SHIELD
Start Certified/Non-Certified Search
Enter the mailing address
FDLE sends the finished result to the address you specify.
Enter the subject demographics accurately
Add aliases when they are relevant.
Choose certified when formal certification is required
Do not pay for an instant record first if the receiving organization specifically requires certification.
Pay by debit or credit card
Save the control number and receipt.
For expedited mailing, follow FDLE’s prepaid-label procedure
The current instructions require the PDF shipping label and FDLE control number to be emailed on the same day as the request.
Applicant Services Unit
Monday–Friday: 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Eastern, excluding holidays
850-410-8161
ApplicantChecks@fdle.state.fl.us
Monday–Friday: 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Eastern, excluding holidays
850-410-8161
ApplicantChecks@fdle.state.fl.us
Do not use a random ORI number for an FDLE background check
An ORI search is different from an ordinary public arrest-record search. FDLE states that you must obtain the valid ORI from the agency or entity requiring the screening.
Ask the receiving employer, licensing agency or authorized entity for its ORI
FDLE does not provide the ORI for you.
Confirm what type of screening is required
Do not assume a $25 CCHInet printout satisfies a regulated licensing requirement.
Submit using the authorized ORI route
Search charges vary according to statute, state agency or authorized entity.
Results go to the entity authorized by that ORI
They are not handled like an ordinary public CCHInet result.
Use FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency for arrest and booking research
Florida’s Criminal Justice Data Transparency initiative receives data from county detention facilities, Clerks of Court, Florida Department of Corrections, State Attorneys, Public Defenders and other criminal-justice contributors.
CJDT is not a live inmate search.
It is a statewide analytical/reporting system. For a person who may be in jail right now, confirm with the county detention facility.
Coverage
CJDT generally begins with records from the initiative’s modern collection period starting around 2018, although agencies may submit older records.
Population
The CJDT dataset is adult records and juveniles treated as adults.
Booking date
FDLE states booking date is a required field for county detention facilities.
Open FDLE Arrest/Booking Reports
Open CJDT Arrest Reports
Use county and other dashboard filters
Multiple filtering elements can be selected.
Use the charts to narrow the arrest data
Dashboard elements change as filters are selected.
Reset filters before starting a new search
This avoids unintentionally carrying an old county, age or other filter into the next analysis.
Export filtered data when needed
FDLE publishes dashboard export functionality for Excel/CSV datasets.
For large research projects, use the full dataset download
Full unfiltered arrest reports are also published in CSV files.
Then verify an individual through the responsible agency
CJDT data is excellent for research but should not replace an agency record when identity or current legal status matters.
FDLE states CJDT records reflect information received from reporting agencies and does not warrant that every dataset is comprehensive or complete.
To find someone arrested today, start with the county detention agency
Florida’s live county-jail systems commonly provide information that an FDLE criminal-history search does not: present custody, booking number, booking date, housing facility, bond, holds and release status.
Identify the county where the person was booked
Use the arrest location only as a clue—people can be transported to another detention facility.
Open FDLE’s official Florida Criminal Justice Agency directory
It lists Florida county law-enforcement agencies.
Find the official county agency
Open the county sheriff or detention agency website
Look for Inmate Search, Jail Roster, Who’s in Jail, Booking Search, Arrest Inquiry or Current Inmates.
Search by legal surname first
Add first name and date of birth only as needed.
Open every plausible result
Common names can generate mistaken identities.
Save booking number and arresting agency
These are the two most useful identifiers for the next steps.
Check every charge and hold
One bond amount may not clear another warrant, detainer or no-bond matter.
Continue to the Clerk of Court
Jail charges are allegations. Court records reveal what was formally filed and how the case ended.
New-booking call script
I am trying to verify whether [full legal name], date of birth [date], was booked in your county on or around [date]. Can you confirm whether the person is currently being processed, in custody, released or transferred, and provide the booking number if that information is public?
County jail lookup checklist
Florida jail websites are operated locally. There is no uniform statewide search form, and search fields, booking-photo rules, release data, visitation systems and provider names differ by county.
A–C
Alachua · Baker · Bay · Bradford · Brevard · Broward · Calhoun · Charlotte · Citrus · Clay · Collier · Columbia
D–H
DeSoto · Dixie · Duval · Escambia · Flagler · Franklin · Gadsden · Gilchrist · Glades · Gulf · Hamilton · Hardee · Hendry · Hernando · Highlands · Hillsborough · Holmes
I–M
Indian River · Jackson · Jefferson · Lafayette · Lake · Lee · Leon · Levy · Liberty · Madison · Manatee · Marion · Martin · Miami-Dade · Monroe
N–W
Nassau · Okaloosa · Okeechobee · Orange · Osceola · Palm Beach · Pasco · Pinellas · Polk · Putnam · Santa Rosa · Sarasota · Seminole · St. Johns · St. Lucie · Sumter · Suwannee · Taylor · Union · Volusia · Wakulla · Walton · Washington
Do not confuse an FDLE entry, jail booking and court disposition
| Record field | What it means | What it does not prove | Next check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arrest | Law-enforcement custody/event recorded in qualifying history. | Conviction. | Check disposition. |
| Booking | County detention intake record. | Charge was prosecuted. | Search county clerk. |
| Charge | Offense allegation associated with arrest or booking. | Final filed count. | Read charging document/case docket. |
| Bond | Release condition tied to a particular matter. | No other hold exists. | Confirm every case/hold. |
| Release | Custody episode ended. | Case dismissed. | Find court disposition. |
| Disposition | Outcome reported for a criminal charge. | Every database has updated. | Use certified court record when important. |
| Mugshot | Booking photograph where locally released. | Guilt or identity by itself. | Match DOB, booking and court identifiers. |
A Florida name match is not enough
Legal first and last name
Middle name or suffix
Date of birth or age
Known alias
Arrest date
County of arrest
Booking number
Court case number
Arresting agency
Consistent disposition chronology
FDLE’s instant system can return several possible candidates. The searcher must determine which candidate—if any—is the correct person.
Why an arrest might be missing from FDLE or a jail search
Booking is still processing
A county jail entry may not appear immediately after arrest.
Person was already released
A current-inmate search may no longer display the booking.
Wrong county
Arrest location and booking facility are not always identical.
Name variation
An alias, maiden name, suffix or spelling can change results.
No fingerprint booking
FDLE explains that some notice-to-appear, direct-file or sworn-complaint matters may be absent from CCH when fingerprints were never taken later.
Data has not propagated
Arrest, court and state systems do not necessarily update simultaneously.
Person transferred to FDC
Search state correctional records after a felony sentence or supervision transfer.
Record has been sealed or expunged
Public access can be restricted by law.
After the arrest search, find the county criminal court case
Florida does not have one FDLE statewide public trial-court search that replaces the 67 county Clerks of Court. Florida’s statewide ACIS portal is for appellate court records, not ordinary county trial-level arrest cases.
Identify the county where the criminal case was filed
Usually start with the arrest county, but verify when the incident crosses jurisdictions.
Open the Florida Clerk directory
Find the correct county Clerk
Open that Clerk’s criminal case search
Look for Court Records, Criminal, Case Search or Public Records.
Search by case number when possible
It is safer than a common-name search.
Compare defendant identity and arrest date
Make sure you have the case connected to the FDLE/jail event.
Read every charge separately
One count may be dismissed while another results in conviction.
Find the final disposition
Look for dismissal, no action, acquittal, plea, adjudication withheld, adjudication of guilt or another final result.
Order a certified disposition when the result matters formally
County copy and certification fees differ.
Which judicial circuit contains the arrest county?
1st Circuit
Escambia · Okaloosa · Santa Rosa · Walton
2nd Circuit
Franklin · Gadsden · Jefferson · Leon · Liberty · Wakulla
3rd Circuit
Columbia · Dixie · Hamilton · Lafayette · Madison · Suwannee · Taylor
4th Circuit
Clay · Duval · Nassau
5th Circuit
Citrus · Hernando · Lake · Marion · Sumter
6th Circuit
Pasco · Pinellas
7th Circuit
Flagler · Putnam · St. Johns · Volusia
8th Circuit
Alachua · Baker · Bradford · Gilchrist · Levy · Union
9th Circuit
Orange · Osceola
10th Circuit
Hardee · Highlands · Polk
11th Circuit
Miami-Dade
12th Circuit
DeSoto · Manatee · Sarasota
13th Circuit
Hillsborough
14th Circuit
Bay · Calhoun · Gulf · Holmes · Jackson · Washington
15th Circuit
Palm Beach
16th Circuit
Monroe
17th Circuit
Broward
18th Circuit
Brevard · Seminole
19th Circuit
Indian River · Martin · Okeechobee · St. Lucie
20th Circuit
Charlotte · Collier · Glades · Hendry · Lee
Circuit courts hear felony criminal matters. Florida county courts handle matters within county-court criminal jurisdiction. The county Clerk remains the practical starting point for locating the case record.
Use FDLE PAS for wanted-person research—not as proof that no warrant exists
FDLE’s Florida Crime Information Center Public Access System provides Florida wanted-person records selected for public access by reporting law-enforcement agencies.
FDLE specifically warns that other records may exist even when they are not selected for public display. A no-result search therefore does not prove that no warrant exists.
Open the FDLE Public Access System
Open Florida Wanted Persons Search
Choose the wanted-person search category
Enter accurate identifying information.
Compare the reporting agency
The agency responsible for the record is the best source for questions or corrections.
Check the update timing
FDLE currently states PAS information is updated from FCIC files every 24 hours.
Verify current status directly
Contact the reporting or local law-enforcement agency before acting.
Do not confront or attempt to detain a wanted person.
FDLE specifically tells the public not to take individual action and to contact law enforcement.
Use FDC only after the case reaches state prison or state supervision
Florida Department of Corrections specifically states its public offender database does not contain people sentenced to county jail, county probation or other forms of supervision outside FDC.
County jail search
- Pretrial detention
- Recent county booking
- County bond and holds
- County jail housing
- County release status
FDC offender search
- Felony offenders sentenced to FDC
- State prison custody
- State supervision
- Current and prior offenses
- DC number
- Alias search option
Open FDC Offender Information Search
Search Florida Corrections offenders
Search by last/first name or DC number
The DC number is the primary FDC identifier.
Enable alias searching if needed
The public form provides an alias-search option.
Review the offender detail page
Photos appear on offender detail when available.
Do not use FDC for a county-jail detainee
Return to the county detention search if the person has not entered state correctional custody/supervision.
FDC Bureau of Classification and Central Records:
850-488-9859
Jail visitation, money, calls and mail are county-specific
There is no single Florida statewide county-jail visitation schedule, phone provider, commissary company or mail address.
Visitation
Check whether visits are onsite, video, remote, scheduled or first-come.
Money
Confirm the current vendor, inmate ID and deposit fee before paying.
Phone / tablet
Use only the provider linked by the current county detention page.
Mail
Some jails use off-site scanning addresses; legal mail may use another route.
Recheck custody immediately before using a jail service
A release or transfer can make yesterday’s instructions wrong for that person.
Save the inmate or booking ID
Most providers need it.
Open the county’s official detention page
Avoid provider links from an old private jail directory.
Follow the county’s exact visitor approval and ID rules
These vary substantially.
Verify mail address before every first mailing
Personal, legal and package addresses may differ.
Do not discuss defense strategy on ordinary jail communications
Use the attorney communication route for privileged matters.
Florida Public Defender offices follow the 20 judicial circuits
If a person cannot afford counsel and qualifies for appointed representation, the criminal court determines appointment. Each Florida judicial circuit has an elected Public Defender.
Identify the county and judicial circuit
Use the 20-circuit list above.
Find the criminal case number
Have it available when contacting the office.
Check whether counsel is already appointed
Do not assume the person is unrepresented.
Open the statewide Public Defender office directory
Find the correct Florida Public Defender
Contact that circuit office—not the statewide association coordination number—for case-specific help
Public Defender offices operate independently by circuit.
County-jail and state-prison release alerts use different systems
County jail
Check the specific sheriff/detention agency for its current custody-notification or VINE registration process.
Florida Department of Corrections
Crime victims can register through FDC Victim Services for qualifying state inmate status notifications.
FDC Victim Services assistance:
1-877-884-2846
Monday–Friday: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Eastern
VINE inmate information: 1-877-846-3435
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
1-877-884-2846
Monday–Friday: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Eastern
VINE inmate information: 1-877-846-3435
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Review your own Florida criminal history without paying the $24 FDLE search fee
FDLE Personal Review has no FDLE charge. It is designed so you can examine your own Florida criminal history and challenge inaccurate or incomplete information.
Personal Review is not a certified background check and cannot be used for immigration, employment, licensing or certification.
Open the Personal Review application
Open FDLE Personal Review form
Complete the requestor information
Only the individual or designated attorney can use Personal Review for that person’s record.
Have fingerprints taken
FDLE requires fingerprints taken by a law-enforcement or criminal-justice agency.
Ask the fingerprinting agency about its rolling fee
FDLE itself does not charge for Personal Review, but the local fingerprint provider may.
Mail the completed form and fingerprint card
Use the address below.
Review every arrest and disposition
Compare questionable items with the original agency and court file.
FDLE Criminal History Record Maintenance
P.O. Box 1489
Tallahassee, FL 32302-1489
Attn: Criminal History Record Maintenance Section
Phone: 850-410-7898
Email: chrm@fdle.state.fl.us
P.O. Box 1489
Tallahassee, FL 32302-1489
Attn: Criminal History Record Maintenance Section
Phone: 850-410-7898
Email: chrm@fdle.state.fl.us
Fix the originating arrest or court record before chasing every database
Get your FDLE Personal Review
This identifies what FDLE actually maintains.
Identify exactly what is wrong
Wrong person, wrong charge, duplicate arrest or missing disposition require different evidence.
Find the arresting agency
Use the booking/court file to identify who submitted the arrest information.
Find the final court disposition
Obtain a certified disposition when it is necessary to prove a correction.
Correct the originating agency or Clerk record when that source is wrong
State repositories frequently depend on data contributed by those local agencies.
Contact FDLE Criminal History Record Maintenance
Explain the inaccurate or incomplete FDLE record and follow its challenge instructions.
Recheck the public record after correction
Local and statewide systems may not update simultaneously.
Copy-ready correction request outline
I am requesting review of an inaccurate or incomplete Florida criminal-history entry associated with [full legal name and identifying information]. The disputed arrest occurred on [date] in [county] and relates to agency case/booking number [number] and court case number [number]. The entry currently states [incorrect information]. The attached official record shows [correct information]. Please advise what additional documentation is required to update the record.
FDLE Certificate of Eligibility is only the first step in court-ordered sealing or expungement
An FDLE Certificate of Eligibility does not itself seal or expunge the criminal record. The person must still petition the proper court, and FDLE must ultimately receive the certified court order.
Certificate fee
$75, nonrefundable.
Typical FDLE eligibility processing
About 12 weeks after a complete packet is received.
Expedite?
FDLE states application packets are not expedited.
Standard Certificate of Eligibility packet
Completed FDLE application
Full name and date of birth
Race and sex
Mailing and permanent address
Arresting agency
Date of arrest
Charge information
Completed fingerprint form/card
$75 payment
Attorney representation letter if applicable
Get the arrest report and certified court disposition before sealing anything
FDLE strongly recommends keeping the important records for yourself.
Open the FDLE Seal and Expunge application
Open Certificate of Eligibility application
Complete every application field
Missing arresting-agency, charge or date information can delay review.
Get fingerprinted by an authorized law-enforcement or criminal-justice agency
The fingerprint card must contain required applicant and official/agency information.
Prepare the $75 nonrefundable fee
FDLE accepts money order, cashier’s check or personal check under its current instructions. Do not send cash, gift cards or temporary personal checks.
Mail the completed eligibility packet to FDLE
Keep a full copy before mailing.
Wait for FDLE’s eligibility determination
Current published typical processing is about 12 weeks.
If FDLE issues the Certificate, file the petition with the court having jurisdiction over the arrest
This is usually in the county where the arrest occurred.
Follow that county court’s filing requirements
Court forms, filing method and hearing practice can differ.
If the judge grants relief, make sure a certified order reaches FDLE
The criminal history is not finally relieved merely because a Certificate was issued.
Keep copies permanently
FDLE warns that an expunged record generally cannot later be released—even to the person—without a qualifying court order.
Florida has several different relief routes
Court-ordered seal / expunge
Standard Certificate of Eligibility process under §§943.059 and 943.0585.
Administrative expungement
For qualifying arrests made contrary to law or by mistake.
Automatic sealing
FDLE can automatically seal qualifying state history after receiving an eligible certified disposition electronically from the Clerk.
Juvenile diversion
Separate statutory process for qualifying juvenile diversion cases.
Lawful self-defense
Separate certificate route when statutory conditions and prosecutorial certification are satisfied.
Human trafficking
Separate relief exists for qualifying offenses connected to human-trafficking victimization.
Automatic FDLE sealing is not necessarily local sealing.
FDLE specifically warns that the automatic-sealing process under §943.0595 does not itself seal records at the local level.
FDLE Seal and Expunge Section
P.O. Box 1489
Tallahassee, FL 32302-1489
Attention: Expunge Section
Phone: 850-410-7870
Email: SEinfo@fdle.state.fl.us
P.O. Box 1489
Tallahassee, FL 32302-1489
Attention: Expunge Section
Phone: 850-410-7870
Email: SEinfo@fdle.state.fl.us
Use the right FDLE unit for the problem
FDLE Headquarters
2331 Phillips Road
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Applicant Services
Criminal History Record Maintenance
Seal and Expunge
Crime Information Bureau
FDLE Arrest Section
Statistical Analysis Center
FDLE Public Records
FDC Offender Records
FDC Main
501 S. Calhoun Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Tallahassee, FL 32399
FDLE Headquarters map
Use the shortest official route for your Florida search
| Question | Start here | Then verify |
|---|---|---|
| Was someone arrested today? | County jail / sheriff | Court case after filing |
| Need broader Florida arrest history? | FDLE CCHInet | Confirm possible match identity |
| Need instant non-certified result? | CCHInet | $24 + $1 processing |
| Need certified Florida history? | FDLE SHIELD | Allow processing + mail time |
| Need statewide arrest-data research? | FDLE CJDT | Verify person through source agency |
| Need final disposition? | County Clerk | Order certified record if required |
| Need Florida wanted-person check? | FDLE PAS | Confirm with reporting agency |
| Need state-prison offender? | FDC Offender Search | Use court for conviction details |
| Need to review your own FDLE record? | Personal Review | Fingerprint-based review; no FDLE fee |
| Your FDLE record is wrong? | Personal Review + source records | Criminal History Record Maintenance |
| Want record sealed/expunged? | FDLE Certificate of Eligibility | Petition proper county court |
Florida FDLE arrest-record and jail-lookup questions answered
How do I search Florida FDLE arrest records?
Use FDLE CCHInet for an instant public Florida criminal-history search. The current total charge is $25: a $24 search fee plus a $1 credit-card processing fee.
Is FDLE a live Florida jail lookup?
No. Live county jail custody is controlled by the county sheriff or detention agency. FDLE maintains statewide criminal-history and criminal-justice data.
How much does FDLE Instant Search cost?
$24 for the search plus a $1 credit-card processing fee, for a current total of $25 per name search.
Where do I find someone currently in a Florida jail?
Identify the booking county, open FDLE’s Florida Criminal Justice Agency directory and then use the official sheriff or county detention inmate search.
What is the FDLE CJDT arrest dashboard?
It is Florida’s statewide Criminal Justice Data Transparency arrest and county-detention reporting system. It is useful for statewide arrest/booking research but is not a live inmate roster.
Where do I find the final court outcome?
Use the Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller in the county where the criminal case was filed. Search the criminal docket and review each charge’s final disposition.
Does every Florida arrest appear in FDLE criminal history?
Not necessarily. FDLE’s CCH is fingerprint based, and FDLE notes that some matters involving a notice to appear, direct filing or sworn complaint can be absent when no fingerprint booking occurred and fingerprints were not taken later.
Can I review my own FDLE record without the $24 search fee?
Yes. FDLE Personal Review has no FDLE fee, although you must submit qualifying fingerprints and the fingerprinting agency may charge a rolling fee.
Does FDLE have a wanted-person search?
Yes. FDLE PAS provides wanted-person records selected for public access. A no-result search does not prove no warrant exists, so current status should be verified with the reporting or local agency.
Can a Florida FDLE arrest record be sealed or expunged?
Some records qualify. For the standard court-ordered process, start by applying to FDLE for a Certificate of Eligibility. The current application fee is $75 and FDLE states typical eligibility processing is about 12 weeks for a complete application.
