Lakeland Arrest Records Search

Lakeland arrest records are processed through the Polk County Sheriff's Office, which operates the county jail in Bartow. The Lakeland Police Department makes arrests within city limits, but booking and detention fall to the county. Once someone is arrested by Lakeland PD, they get transported to the Polk County Jail for processing. That is where the official booking record gets created. You can look up Lakeland arrest records online through the sheriff's inmate search system or call the jail at 863.534.6155. The Lakeland Police Department can also be reached at (863) 834-6900 for questions about specific incidents.

Lakeland Police Department

The Lakeland Police Department handles law enforcement inside the city. Officers respond to calls, investigate crimes, and make arrests. The department is at 219 N Massachusetts Ave, Lakeland, FL 33801.

Below is a screenshot of the Lakeland Police Department website, which provides department details and contact info.

The Lakeland Police website is useful for general questions about the department.

The department site covers divisions, community programs, and ways to contact the agency. For actual arrest records, though, you need the county system since Lakeland PD does not run its own jail.

When a Lakeland police officer arrests someone, the person is driven to the Polk County Jail in Bartow. The drive takes about 25 minutes from downtown Lakeland. At the jail, staff handle all the intake work. They take prints, snap a mugshot, and enter the charges. The booking record then becomes part of the county database. Lakeland PD keeps the arrest report and incident details on their end, but the jail booking record lives in the Polk County system.

Polk County Jail for Lakeland Arrests

The Polk County Jail is at 2390 Bob Phillips Road, Bartow, FL 33830. This is where all Lakeland arrest records get created during the booking process. The phone number is 863.534.6155. The Polk County Sheriff's Office runs the facility, which serves the entire county.

Polk County is one of the largest counties in Florida by area. The jail handles bookings from Lakeland, Bartow, Winter Haven, and dozens of other communities. After booking, the person either stays in custody or bonds out. Bond amounts depend on the charges. For misdemeanors, there is usually a standard bond schedule. Felony bonds get set by a judge at the first appearance hearing.

The sheriff's office updates inmate data regularly. You can search by name to see who is currently in the jail. Recent releases also show up for a period of time. The search tool is free and does not need an account. Just type in the name and check the results.

Online Search Options for Lakeland Records

Start with the Polk County Sheriff's inmate search. It covers current inmates and recent bookings. If the arrest happened recently, the record should be there. Older records may drop off the live system, but they still exist in county files.

The FDLE Criminal History Check costs $25 and covers Lakeland arrests as part of its statewide data. You can also use the CCIS court records system, which tracks case information from all 67 Florida counties including Polk. If a Lakeland arrest led to a criminal case, CCIS will have it. The FDLE Public Access System offers another way to check state records.

For state prison records, the FDC Offender Search covers anyone who went from a Lakeland arrest to the state prison system. It shows current inmates and people who have been released.

Lakeland Arrest Records and Florida Law

Arrest records from Lakeland are public under Florida's Sunshine Law. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes gives anyone the right to view government records. That includes booking data, mugshots, and charge information. You do not have to give a reason. Just ask.

There are some exceptions. Records tied to active investigations can be withheld temporarily. Juvenile arrest records are handled differently. And if someone has had their record sealed or expunged, it will not show up in public searches.

Sealing and expunging follow Section 943.0585 of the Florida Statutes. The FDLE seal and expunge process starts with a Certificate of Eligibility. The fee is $75. It takes about 12 weeks to get the certificate. After that, you file a petition with the Polk County court. If approved, the record gets sealed or destroyed depending on what the court orders.

Nearby Cities

Lakeland sits in central Florida between Tampa and Orlando. Several nearby cities have arrest records pages on this site.

Polk County Arrest Records

Lakeland is the largest city in Polk County. All arrest booking records from the city go through the county sheriff's office and jail. For a complete look at Polk County resources, jail details, and the full booking process, visit our Polk County arrest records page.