Alachua County Arrest Records

Alachua County arrest records are held by the sheriff's office in Gainesville. The county jail keeps data on every person booked, and the sheriff provides an online inmate search tool for the public. Whether you need to look up a recent booking or check on someone in custody, the Alachua County system lets you search by name from any device. Arrest records in this county are public under Florida's Sunshine Law, so you can access them without stating a reason. The sheriff's office processes thousands of bookings a year across the Gainesville area and the rest of Alachua County.

Alachua County Sheriff's Office

The Alachua County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail and handles all bookings. The jail sits at 3333 NE 39th Avenue in Gainesville, FL 32609. You can call them at (352) 491-4444. Every person arrested in Alachua County goes through this facility for processing. That includes people picked up by the Gainesville Police Department, the University of Florida Police, and any other local law enforcement agency in the county.

When someone gets arrested in Alachua County, their information goes into the booking system. This record includes the person's name, date of birth, charges, booking date and time, and bond amount. The arresting agency is listed too. Most of this data is public. Under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, arrest records are open to anyone who asks. You do not need to give a reason for your search, and the sheriff's office cannot ask why you want the information. This is true for all 67 Florida counties, and Alachua County is no exception.

The jail also takes phone calls from the public during business hours if you need help with a specific arrest record.

Alachua County Arrest Records Online

The Alachua County Sheriff's Office provides an online inmate search. This tool shows people who are currently in custody at the county jail. You can search by first and last name. Results show the booking photo, charges, bond information, and the date the person was booked. The system gets updated as new arrests come in and inmates are released.

There are a few things to keep in mind when using the Alachua County inmate search. The data reflects current inmates only. Once a person bonds out or is released, they may no longer show up in the search results. If you need records for someone who is no longer in custody, you will need to make a public records request to the sheriff's office. You can call (352) 491-4444 or visit the jail in person at 3333 NE 39th Avenue in Gainesville. Section 943.053 of the Florida Statutes confirms that criminal history records are public unless they have been sealed or expunged, so the sheriff's office must provide these records when asked.

The FDLE Public Access System is another way to search for arrest records tied to Alachua County.

This statewide tool pulls criminal history data from all counties, including Alachua County bookings and charges.

Statewide Records for Alachua County

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains a statewide criminal history database. You can run a name-based criminal history check through FDLE for $25. This search covers all Florida counties, not just Alachua. You need the person's full name. Adding a date of birth helps narrow results. The search is instant and results come back right away. FDLE's system may show arrest records from Alachua County along with any other county where the person has a record.

The Comprehensive Case Information System is another statewide resource. CCIS holds over 150 million cases from all 67 Florida counties. It pulls real-time court data and can show criminal cases, charges, court events, and warrants. For Alachua County cases, you can see how charges moved through the court system. The Florida Department of Corrections offender search is helpful if the person was sentenced to state prison after an Alachua County arrest. You can search that database by name or DC number.

FDLE also runs a wanted persons database through the Florida Crime Information Center. This can show active warrants tied to Alachua County cases.

Note: FDLE instant searches cost $24 plus a $1 processing fee per transaction.

Alachua County Arrest Record Access

Getting arrest records in Alachua County is straightforward. You have three main options. First, use the online inmate search for current bookings. Second, call or visit the sheriff's office for older records. Third, run a statewide search through FDLE. Each method has its own scope and cost.

For in-person requests, go to the Alachua County jail at 3333 NE 39th Avenue in Gainesville. Bring a valid ID if you plan to pick up copies. The sheriff's office charges copy fees in line with Florida public records law. Phone requests can be made at (352) 491-4444. You can also write a letter and mail it to the jail address. Be as specific as you can about who you are looking for and what dates you need. The more details you give, the faster the staff can pull the right records.

The FDLE seal and expunge program can help if you have an Alachua County arrest record you want removed from public view.

The application for a Certificate of Eligibility is available through the Alachua County Clerk of Courts or directly from FDLE.

Sealing or Expunging Alachua County Records

Florida law allows people to seal or expunge certain arrest records. Under Section 943.0585, expungement means the record gets destroyed by most agencies. FDLE keeps a single confidential copy. Section 943.059 covers sealing, which hides the record from public searches but does not destroy it. Both paths start with getting a Certificate of Eligibility from FDLE. The fee is $75 and processing takes about 12 weeks.

For Alachua County arrests, you file the application through the local Clerk of Courts in Gainesville. The certificate lasts 12 months once it is issued. After you get it, you petition the court to order the seal or expungement. The court sends the order to all agencies that hold the arrest record. Your Alachua County arrest record is not fully removed until FDLE gets the certified court order and processes it. Administrative expungement under Section 943.0581 is also available if the arrest was made by mistake or was against the law.

Cities in Alachua County

Gainesville is the largest city in Alachua County and the county seat. The Gainesville Police Department makes many of the arrests in the city, but all bookings go through the Alachua County jail. Other towns like Newberry, Hawthorne, and Archer have their own small police departments, and those arrests also end up in the county system.

Nearby Counties

If the arrest took place near the county line, check these neighboring counties. Each has its own jail and booking system.