Access The Villages Arrest Records

The Villages arrest records are primarily handled by the Sumter County Sheriff's Office. The Villages is a large retirement community that spans parts of Sumter, Lake, and Marion counties, but the majority of the community sits in Sumter County. Most of the area is unincorporated, so the sheriff's office provides law enforcement. When someone is arrested in The Villages, they typically go to the Sumter County Jail at 7368 Powell Road in Wildwood for booking. You can call the jail at 352.569.1600 to check on an arrest or ask about records. The Villages does not have its own city police department.

The Villages Arrest Record Search

The Sumter County Sheriff's Office handles most arrest records for The Villages. Since the community is mostly unincorporated, the sheriff's deputies patrol the area and make arrests. After someone is picked up, they go to the Sumter County Jail in Wildwood. The booking record gets created there.

The Villages spreads across three counties. If an arrest happens in the Lake County portion, the Lake County Sheriff's Office processes the booking. Same for the Marion County section. So depending on exactly where in The Villages an arrest occurs, the record could be at one of three county jails. Most of the population lives in Sumter County, so that is the most common place to start looking.

For a recent arrest, call the Sumter County Jail at 352.569.1600. Staff can check the booking log and tell you if someone is in custody. The Sumter County Clerk of Courts handles the court records side once charges get filed.

Statewide Criminal History Check

The FDLE Criminal History Record Check covers arrest records from The Villages area and all of Florida. It is especially helpful here since The Villages crosses three counties.

A statewide search costs $25. Results come back right away. This tool is useful for The Villages because it pulls from a single database that covers all three counties. Instead of searching Sumter, Lake, and Marion separately, you can check the FDLE system once. It covers arrests from sheriff's offices and local police departments across the state. Under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, arrest records in Florida are public.

Three Counties, Three Sets of Records

The Villages straddles Sumter, Lake, and Marion counties. This makes the arrest record search a bit different from other cities. An arrest on one side of the community goes to one jail. An arrest a few streets over might go to a different county jail entirely.

Sumter County handles the largest portion of The Villages. The jail in Wildwood is at 7368 Powell Road, phone 352.569.1600. Lake County runs a jail in Tavares. Marion County has its jail in Ocala. If you are not sure which county covers the arrest you are looking for, try the FDLE statewide search first. It combines data from all three counties into one result.

The CCIS court records system is another good option. It has over 150 million cases from all 67 Florida counties. You can search by name and see if there are cases in Sumter, Lake, or Marion County tied to a Villages arrest.

Law Enforcement in The Villages

The Villages has its own Public Safety Department that handles some community services. But actual law enforcement, arrests, and criminal records fall to the county sheriff in whichever county the incident happens. For most of The Villages, that means Sumter County deputies.

The Sumter County Sheriff's Office main number is 352.569.1600. Deputies respond to calls, investigate crimes, and make arrests throughout the unincorporated areas. The Villages Community Development District provides some supplemental security, but they do not have arrest powers. Only sworn deputies and officers can arrest someone and create an official arrest record.

Clearing a Villages Area Arrest Record

Under Section 943.0585 of the Florida Statutes, eligible arrest records can be expunged. The charges must have been dropped, dismissed, or ended in acquittal. Sealing under Section 943.059 hides the record from most public searches but still lets law enforcement see it.

Start with a Certificate of Eligibility from FDLE. That costs $75 and takes about 12 weeks. Then file a petition with the court in the county where the arrest happened. For most Villages arrests, that means the Sumter County court. The FDLE seal and expunge page has the forms and full instructions.

Other State Resources

The FDLE Public Access System pulls from the Florida Crime Information Center database. It covers arrests from sheriff's offices in Sumter, Lake, and Marion counties. The FDC Offender Search covers state prison inmates, including anyone from The Villages area who received a state prison sentence.

These statewide tools are particularly useful for The Villages because of the multi-county situation. Local online search tools only cover one county at a time. The state databases cross county lines. That saves time when you are not sure which county handled the arrest.

Nearby Cities

These cities in central Florida also have arrest record pages on this site. Gainesville and Orlando are within driving distance of The Villages.

Sumter County Arrest Records

The Villages is primarily in Sumter County. Most arrests in the community are processed through the Sumter County Jail in Wildwood. For the full county overview and resources, visit our Sumter County arrest records page.