Hardee County Arrest Records

Hardee County arrest records are kept by the Hardee County Sheriff's Office in Wauchula, Florida. The sheriff operates the jail and handles all local bookings. Hardee County is a rural area in south-central Florida known for its agriculture. Arrest records here follow the same public access rules as the rest of the state. You can look up arrest records in Hardee County through the sheriff's online search tool, state databases, or by contacting the jail directly. Florida law gives you the right to search these records without providing a reason.

Hardee County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Hardee County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail at 900 E Summit St in Wauchula. This is where all people arrested in Hardee County get processed. During booking, staff records the charges, takes a photo, and enters the person's information into the system. The data from booking creates a public arrest record. Florida's Chapter 119 makes this record open to public inspection.

Hardee County does have an online inmate search. This lets you check on people in the jail and see what they are charged with. It is a helpful first step when looking for recent arrest records in Hardee County. You can also call the jail at 863-773-0304 for booking information.

The Wauchula Police Department also makes arrests within the city. But all bookings go through the Hardee County jail. The sheriff's office holds the arrest record no matter which agency made the arrest in the county.

Search Hardee County Records Online

State-level tools give you more options for finding Hardee County arrest records. The FDLE Public Access System holds criminal history data from all 67 Florida counties. A name search costs $25 and delivers instant results online. You need the person's full name. Adding date of birth or gender narrows the search if the name is common. A Social Security Number is optional but improves match accuracy.

The CCIS statewide court system is also valuable for Hardee County. It pulls real-time data from the Hardee County Clerk of Court. CCIS has over 150 million records and can show charges, case numbers, court dates, and sentencing details. This is the best way to see what happened after a Hardee County arrest moved through the courts. Certified and non-certified mail requests to FDLE take about 5 to 7 business days.

The FDLE criminal history check page explains how to search for arrest records from Hardee County.

This state tool covers arrest records from Hardee County and every other Florida county.

Hardee County Arrest Record Access

Florida's public records laws are strong. Under Section 119.07, you can ask to see or copy any arrest record held by a Hardee County agency. The custodian of records must comply. No reason is needed. You do not have to be involved in the case to access the records.

An arrest record from Hardee County shows that a person was taken into custody by law enforcement. It is not a conviction or proof of guilt. The record lists the arrest date, the charges, the arresting agency, and booking details. Under Section 943.053 of the Florida Statutes, criminal history records are public unless they have been sealed or expunged by court order. Juvenile arrests are confidential everywhere in Florida, including Hardee County. Records sealed under Section 943.059 or expunged under Section 943.0585 will not appear in searches.

Note: An arrest record in Hardee County does not mean a person was found guilty of anything.

Sealing Hardee County Arrest Records

Certain arrest records from Hardee County can be sealed or expunged. To start the process, you apply to FDLE for a Certificate of Eligibility. It costs $75 and takes about 12 weeks to process. FDLE does not speed up the timeline for any applicant.

Once you have the certificate, you petition the court in Hardee County through the Clerk of Court. Under Section 943.059, sealed records stay in the system but are hidden from the public. Under Section 943.0585, expunged records are destroyed by most agencies. FDLE retains a confidential copy. The certificate is valid for 12 months from when it is issued. Not all Hardee County arrests qualify. The statutes list offenses that cannot be sealed or expunged. The application and details are on the FDLE seal and expunge page.

Hardee County Warrants and State Records

FDLE maintains a statewide Wanted Persons database that includes people wanted in Hardee County. The search is free. It uses data from the Florida Crime Information Center. If someone has an active warrant in Hardee County, it should show up in this system. Contact the Hardee County Sheriff at 863-773-0304 to report a tip about a wanted person.

For people arrested in Hardee County who received state prison sentences, the FDC Offender Search is the tool to use. It covers all state prison inmates and is free to search. You can look up by name or DC number. The FDC handles public records requests under Chapter 119 and Section 945.10 of the Florida Statutes.

The FDC public records page shows how to make formal requests for Hardee County inmates in state custody.

Submit detailed records requests through this page for inmates originally arrested in Hardee County.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Hardee County. Check the arresting agency on any record to confirm which county holds the arrest file you need.