DeSoto County Arrest Records

DeSoto County arrest records are kept by the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office in Arcadia, Florida. The sheriff handles all bookings and runs the county jail at 208 E Cypress St. You can search for arrest records through the sheriff's online inmate search or by calling the jail. DeSoto County is a smaller county in south-central Florida, but its arrest records are just as public as those in any large metro area. Florida's Sunshine Law gives everyone the right to look up arrest records in DeSoto County without giving a reason.

DeSoto County Sheriff Arrest Records

The DeSoto County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. It patrols the unincorporated areas and runs the jail in Arcadia. When someone is arrested in DeSoto County, they get taken to the county jail for booking. The jail staff records the charges, takes a booking photo, and enters the data into the system. This creates a public arrest record under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. The DeSoto County Sheriff's Office does offer an online inmate search tool, which makes it easier to check on recent arrests.

The jail sits at 208 E Cypress St in Arcadia. You can call 863-993-4710 to ask about someone in custody. Staff can tell you if a person is held there and share basic booking info for DeSoto County arrest records. Walk-in requests are also accepted during business hours.

How to Search DeSoto County Arrest Records

There are several ways to find arrest records in DeSoto County. The sheriff's online inmate search is the quickest option for recent arrests. It covers people who are still in jail or were booked within the past few days. For older arrest records in DeSoto County, you may need to use state-level tools or submit a public records request to the sheriff's office. Each method has its own costs and limits.

The state runs two large systems that include DeSoto County arrest data. The FDLE Public Access System holds criminal history records from across Florida. You can run a name-based search for $25 total. Results come back right away for online searches. The other option is CCIS, which is the statewide court case system. CCIS has over 150 million case records from all 67 Florida counties. It pulls data in real time from the DeSoto County Clerk of Court. This tool is best for finding court outcomes tied to DeSoto County arrests, such as charges filed, case status, and sentencing details.

The FDLE website provides criminal history check tools that cover all Florida counties including DeSoto County.

Use this state portal to search for arrest records that go back years in DeSoto County.

Note: FDLE name searches cover all of Florida, not just DeSoto County records.

DeSoto County Arrest Record Access Laws

Florida has very strong public records laws. The Sunshine Law makes most government records open to the public, and arrest records in DeSoto County fall under this rule. Under Section 119.07 of the Florida Statutes, you can ask to see or copy any public record. The agency must give you access. You do not have to say why you want the record.

An arrest record in DeSoto County shows that a person was taken into custody by law enforcement. It is not proof of guilt. The record typically lists the arrest date, the agency that made the arrest, the charges, booking details, and the case number. Under Section 943.053 of the Florida Statutes, criminal history records are public unless a court has ordered them sealed or expunged. This applies to all DeSoto County arrest records held by the sheriff or by FDLE at the state level. Some records do have limits, though. Juvenile arrests are not public. Records that have been sealed or expunged under Section 943.0585 or Section 943.059 will not appear in public searches for DeSoto County.

Sealing DeSoto County Arrest Records

Some people can have their arrest records sealed or expunged in DeSoto County. This takes the record out of public view. The process starts with an application to FDLE for a Certificate of Eligibility. The fee is $75. It takes about 12 weeks for FDLE to process the application. They do not speed it up for anyone.

Under Section 943.059, sealed records stay on file but are hidden from the public. Under Section 943.0585, expunged records are destroyed by most agencies. FDLE keeps one confidential copy. The certificate is good for 12 months after the date it is issued. You then file a petition with the court in DeSoto County. The DeSoto County Clerk of Court handles the filing. Not all arrests qualify for sealing or expunging. The statutes list offenses that cannot be removed from public view. You can learn more and get the application from the FDLE seal and expunge page.

DeSoto County State Inmate Records

If someone was arrested in DeSoto County and then sent to a state prison, the Florida Department of Corrections holds their records. The FDC Offender Search lets you look up inmates in the state system. You can search by name or by DC number. This is useful when you know someone was arrested in DeSoto County but can no longer find them in the local jail system.

The FDC offender search tool is shown on the state's website below.

People who were arrested in DeSoto County and sentenced to state prison can be found through this tool.

The FDC handles public records requests under Chapter 119 and Section 945.10 of the Florida Statutes. Be specific in your request to keep costs down. They will redact any exempt information before releasing records. For basic location and status info, the online search is the easiest way to check on a DeSoto County inmate in state custody.

Warrants and Wanted Persons in DeSoto County

The DeSoto County Sheriff's Office issues arrest warrants for people who fail to appear in court or who are charged with crimes. FDLE runs a statewide Wanted Persons database that includes people wanted in DeSoto County. You can search this list for free. It pulls from the Florida Crime Information Center, which gets data from all local agencies including the DeSoto County Sheriff.

If you have a tip about a wanted person in DeSoto County, contact the sheriff's office at 863-993-4710. You can also call Crime Stoppers to report information anonymously. Outstanding warrants in DeSoto County do show up in background searches, so they can affect a person until the warrant is resolved.

Note: Active warrants can be cleared only by turning yourself in or being arrested in DeSoto County.

Nearby Counties

These counties border DeSoto County. If you are not sure where an arrest took place, check the booking agency on the record. The arresting agency determines which county holds the arrest record.