Gainesville Arrest Records Lookup

Gainesville arrest records are managed through the Alachua County Sheriff's Office, which runs the county jail at 3333 NE 39th Avenue. The Gainesville Police Department makes arrests in the city, but booking and detention happen at the county level. That means when someone gets picked up in Gainesville, they end up at the Alachua County jail for processing. You can search for arrest records through the sheriff's inmate lookup tool or call the jail at 352.491.4444 for help with a specific record. As a college town with the University of Florida, Gainesville sees a mix of arrests that all funnel into the same county system.

Looking Up Gainesville Arrest Records Online

The Alachua County Sheriff's Office provides an online inmate search that covers people arrested in Gainesville and the rest of the county. The search is name-based. Enter a first and last name to pull up results. Each record shows the booking date, charges, bond amount, and custody status. Mugshots are also available in most cases. The system covers people currently in the Alachua County jail.

Once a person is released from jail, they may not appear in the active search. For older Gainesville arrest records, you need to contact the sheriff's records division directly or use a statewide tool. The Alachua County Clerk of Courts also maintains case records connected to arrests. You can search those for court filings, hearing dates, and case outcomes tied to Gainesville arrests.

Call 352.491.4444 for the jail or (352) 955-1818 for the Gainesville Police non-emergency line.

Gainesville Police Department

The Gainesville Police Department website has information on the city's law enforcement operations and public safety resources.

GPD is at 545 NW 8th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601. Officers patrol the city and make arrests within Gainesville limits. The department can help with incident reports and arrest details. For the booking record, mugshot, and bond data, you go through the Alachua County jail system. That split between city police and county jail is how it works across Florida. Under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, both the police report and the jail record are public. Anyone can ask for them.

The University of Florida Police Department also operates in Gainesville. UFPD handles arrests on campus, and those bookings go through the same Alachua County jail. The record ends up in the same system no matter which agency made the arrest.

How Gainesville Arrests Are Processed

An arrest in Gainesville starts with the officer taking someone into custody. The person gets transported to the Alachua County jail at 3333 NE 39th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32609. Booking staff process them. They take a photo, record the charges, and log personal details into the system. The arrest record gets created during this step. It usually shows up in the online search within a few hours.

A first appearance hearing happens within 24 hours of booking. A judge reviews the charges and sets bail. Section 903 of the Florida Statutes governs bail in Florida. The bond amount depends on the offense and the person's record. All of this data ties to the arrest record. Gainesville is a college town, and the jail sees a range of cases from minor offenses to more serious charges. The process is the same for all of them.

Statewide Tools for Gainesville Records

The FDLE Criminal History Record Check covers arrests from all 67 Florida counties, including Alachua. Each search costs $25. Results show up right away for online requests. Under Section 943.053 of the Florida Statutes, criminal history records are public unless sealed or expunged. The CCIS court records system tracks over 150 million cases from every Florida county.

If someone arrested in Gainesville ended up in state prison, the FDC Offender Search has their record. This search is free. The FDLE Public Access System pulls from the Florida Crime Information Center database and covers arrest data from agencies across the state, including the Gainesville Police Department and the Alachua County Sheriff's Office.

Expunging a Gainesville Arrest Record

Under Section 943.0585, a court can order an arrest record destroyed if the person meets certain conditions. Charges must have been dropped, dismissed, or resulted in acquittal. Sealing under Section 943.059 hides the record from public searches but lets some government agencies still see it. The two options work differently, so it matters which one you pursue.

Start by getting a Certificate of Eligibility from FDLE. That costs $75 and processing takes about 12 weeks. Once you have it, file a petition with the Alachua County court. The FDLE seal and expunge page has the forms and instructions. After expungement, all agencies must destroy their copies except FDLE, which keeps one confidential version. Gainesville residents who think they qualify should check that page first.

Nearby Florida Cities

Gainesville is in north-central Florida. These cities in the broader region have arrest record pages on this site.

Alachua County Arrest Records

Gainesville is the county seat of Alachua County. The sheriff's office operates the jail and handles all booking for the area. For a full county breakdown, jail contacts, and more resources, visit our Alachua County arrest records page.