Columbia County Arrest Records

Columbia County arrest records are handled by the sheriff's office in Lake City, Florida. The county does not have a public online inmate search, so you will need to contact the jail by phone or in person to look up arrest records. Columbia County is in north-central Florida where I-75 and I-10 cross, and the sheriff's office processes all bookings at the county jail. If you want to find arrest records here, calling the jail is the quickest route. State-level databases from FDLE also cover Columbia County and give you another way to search from home.

Columbia County Sheriff and Jail

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office runs the jail at 389 NW Quinten Street in Lake City, FL 32055. The phone number is (386) 755-7000. This is the only jail in the county. Every arrest, whether by sheriff's deputies or the Lake City Police Department, goes through this facility for booking.

The booking process creates the arrest record. Staff log the person's name, date of birth, charges, arresting agency, bond amount, and take a mugshot. Fingerprints are recorded and submitted to FDLE for the statewide criminal history database. That means Columbia County arrests show up in both local and state-level records. Under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, these records are public. The sheriff's office must provide them when you ask. You do not need to give a reason, and you do not need to be connected to the case in any way.

The jail staff can answer basic questions about who is in custody when you call.

Getting Columbia County Arrest Records

Columbia County does not have a public-facing online inmate search. This is typical for smaller Florida counties. Your main options are phone, mail, and in-person visits.

Call (386) 755-7000 and ask about a specific person. Give the full name and date of birth if you have it. Staff can confirm custody status and share basic booking information over the phone. For official copies of a Columbia County arrest record, you may need to file a public records request. Put it in writing and send it to the jail at 389 NW Quinten Street, Lake City, FL 32055. You can also walk in during business hours. The sheriff's office charges standard copy fees allowed under Florida law but cannot charge for search time. Section 943.053 says these records are public. The Columbia County Sheriff's Office complies with that law.

Statewide databases fill the gap left by the lack of a local online search. The FDLE criminal history check costs $25 and gives you instant results online. It covers all 67 Florida counties, so Columbia County arrest records will show up alongside anything else on the person's state record.

Note: Columbia County is one of the Florida counties that does not offer an online inmate search tool.

FDLE Databases for Columbia County

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement keeps the state's central criminal history records. Every Columbia County arrest that goes through the fingerprint process gets reported to FDLE. You can search this data through the Public Access System. The cost is $24 plus a $1 online fee. You enter the person's full name and can add a date of birth to narrow results. Results are instant.

The Comprehensive Case Information System is another statewide tool. CCIS has over 150 million court cases from all Florida counties. For Columbia County, it shows criminal charges, court dates, events, and case outcomes. The data updates in real time. The Florida Department of Corrections offender search is useful if the person was sent to state prison after a Columbia County arrest. You can search by name or DC number.

FDLE also runs a wanted persons search that can show active warrants from Columbia County cases.

The FDLE Public Access System is one of the best ways to look up Columbia County arrest records without going to the jail in person.

Public Records Law in Columbia County

Florida's public records laws are among the broadest in the country. The state constitution and the Sunshine Law make government records open. Arrest records in Columbia County fall under this law. An arrest record shows that a person was taken into custody or issued a notice to appear. It lists the date, charges, the arresting agency, and booking information. An arrest record does not prove guilt.

There are exceptions to what you can access. Juvenile records are not public in Columbia County. Records from ongoing investigations may be withheld. Victim information can be redacted. If someone has had a Columbia County arrest record sealed under Section 943.059 or expunged under Section 943.0585, the record will not appear in public databases. That person can legally deny the arrest in most situations. The FDLE seal and expunge program handles the process for all Florida counties.

Sealing Columbia County Records

To seal or expunge a Columbia County arrest record, you first need a Certificate of Eligibility from FDLE. The fee is $75. Processing takes about 12 weeks. Apply through the Columbia County Clerk of Courts in Lake City. The certificate lasts 12 months once it is issued.

With the certificate in hand, you petition the circuit court in Columbia County. Expungement under Section 943.0585 destroys the record at most agencies. FDLE keeps one confidential copy. Sealing under Section 943.059 hides the record from public view. The court reviews the petition and issues an order if you qualify. That order goes to all agencies that hold your Columbia County arrest record, and the record is not fully removed until FDLE processes the certified court order. Administrative expungement under Section 943.0581 is available for arrests made by mistake.

Start the seal or expunge process for a Columbia County arrest record by visiting the FDLE page and getting the application packet.

Nearby Counties

Columbia County sits at the crossroads of north-central Florida. These counties share borders with Columbia and maintain their own arrest records.