Broward County Arrest Records

Broward County arrest records are managed by the Broward Sheriff's Office, which serves as the primary law enforcement and detention agency for the county. With close to 2 million residents, Broward County is the second most populous county in Florida and handles a high volume of arrests each year. The BSO runs several jail facilities and provides a public search tool for looking up current inmates and their arrest information. Under Florida's Sunshine Law and Chapter 119 of the state statutes, arrest records in Broward County are open to the public.

Broward Sheriff's Office Arrest Search

The Broward Sheriff's Office provides an online arrest search tool. It is name-based. You enter a first and last name, and the system returns matching booking records from Broward County. Results can show booking records, mugshots, charges, bail and bond details, custody status, court data, and release information. The tool covers people who are currently in BSO custody.

You can access the Broward County inmate search portal without any login or fees. It is open to the public around the clock. The data updates on a regular cycle, though there can be short delays between a booking and when it shows up in the system. If you need an arrest report or other documents beyond what the search shows, contact the Records and Warrants Division at (954) 831-8700. They handle copies of arrest reports and related paperwork from Broward County.

Here is the Broward County inmate search page used for looking up arrest records.

The search pulls from all BSO detention facilities across Broward County.

BSO Jail Facilities in Broward County

The Broward Sheriff's Office operates multiple detention sites. All of them feed into the same arrest records system. The Main Jail Bureau is at 555 SE 1st Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. This is the primary intake facility for Broward County. Most people who get arrested here go through this location first.

The Joseph V. Conte Facility sits at 1351 NW 27th Avenue in Pompano Beach. The North Broward Bureau is at 1550 NW 30th Avenue, also in Pompano Beach. The Paul Rein Detention Facility is at 2421 NW 16th Street in Pompano Beach. All four facilities share the same main phone line: (954) 831-5900. It does not matter which one you call. The phone system routes your inquiry to the right place. BSO also runs a Video Visitation Center at 3700 W. Oakland Park Boulevard in Lauderdale Lakes. Video visits run from 8:00 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. daily. Each inmate gets about two hours of visitation per week at the Broward County facilities.

Note: All Broward County jail facilities use the same phone number, so you can call (954) 831-5900 for any arrest record question.

Broward County Arrest Records Access

Florida's public records laws make Broward County arrest records broadly available. Section 943.053 of the Florida Statutes states that criminal history records are public unless they have been sealed or expunged. That means anyone can look up arrest data. You do not need to explain why you want it. An arrest record typically lists the arrest date, the arresting agency, the charges, booking details, and case numbers. But an arrest is not proof of guilt. It only shows that law enforcement took someone into custody in Broward County.

Certain records in Broward County do have restrictions. Juvenile arrest records are not publicly accessible. Victim identities may be protected. Active investigation files can be withheld until the case closes. Personal data like Social Security numbers gets removed from public copies. If someone's arrest record in Broward County has been sealed under Section 943.059 or expunged under Section 943.0585, it will not show up in public search results.

The Broward Sheriff's Office main website has links to various public safety tools and records.

From this page, you can find links to the arrest search tool, warrants information, and other BSO services.

BSO Administrative Offices

The main BSO office is at the Broward County Judicial Complex. The address is 201 Southeast 6th Street, Suite 07150, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301. The general number is (954) 831-6955. This is the administrative hub, not a jail. If you need to file a formal public records request for arrest records in Broward County, this is where you send it. BSO also has a public records portal online for submitting document requests.

The main phone line is (954) 831-6955. Use this for general questions about Broward County arrest records that are not covered by the online search tool. For warrants, call (954) 831-8700. If you want to check on a specific case or need copies of arrest reports, the Records and Warrants Division is the right contact in Broward County.

Statewide Databases for Broward Records

You can also find Broward County arrest records through state-level systems. FDLE's Public Access System runs name-based criminal history checks that pull data from all Florida counties. The cost is $25 per search. Results come back right away for online requests. You need the full name and can add date of birth to get better matches. FDLE also runs the Wanted Persons database through the Florida Crime Information Center.

The Comprehensive Case Information System has over 150 million cases from every Florida county. It shows criminal cases, charges, court events, and sentencing data for Broward County and the rest of the state. If an arrest in Broward County led to a state prison sentence, the FDC Offender Search can track the person through the corrections system. The Florida Department of Corrections handles public records requests under Chapter 119 and Section 945.10 of the Florida Statutes.

Note: FDLE instant searches cost $24 plus a $1 processing fee, and results are available right away online.

Clearing Broward County Arrest Records

If you have an arrest record in Broward County that did not lead to a conviction, or if you meet certain criteria, you may be able to get it sealed or expunged. The FDLE seal and expunge process starts with an application for a Certificate of Eligibility. The fee is $75. Processing takes about 12 weeks from the date FDLE receives the completed packet. They do not rush these. Packets are handled in the order they come in.

The certificate is valid for 12 months. Once you have it, you file a petition with the court in the county where the arrest took place. For Broward County arrests, that means filing with the local clerk. Several types of relief exist. Court-ordered sealing keeps the record from public view but lets certain government agencies still see it. Court-ordered expungement under Section 943.0585 means the record is destroyed by most agencies. Administrative expungement under Section 943.0581 covers arrests that were made by mistake. Juvenile diversion expungement under Section 943.0582 applies if a minor completed an approved diversion program in Broward County.

Cities in Broward County

Broward County has over 30 cities. Many have their own police departments, but all arrests in Broward County end up in BSO custody. The same inmate search covers all of them.

Other cities include Coconut Creek, Margate, Weston, and Oakland Park. All arrest records for these areas go through the Broward Sheriff's Office.

Nearby Counties

Broward County sits between Miami-Dade to the south and Palm Beach to the north. If the arrest took place in a different county, use that county's search tool instead.