Highlands County Arrest Records Lookup
Highlands County arrest records are managed by the Highlands County Sheriff's Office based in Sebring, Florida. The sheriff runs the jail and processes all bookings for the county. Highlands County does not currently offer an online inmate search, so you will need to contact the jail by phone or in person for booking details. Under Florida's public records laws, arrest records in Highlands County are open to the public. The county covers a mostly rural area in central Florida, and the sheriff's office serves as the only booking facility for all arrests that happen within Highlands County borders. From Sebring to Avon Park and Lake Placid, every arrest record ends up at the same place.
Highlands County Quick Facts
Highlands County Sheriff Arrest Records
The Highlands County Sheriff's Office operates the county jail at 338 South Orange Street in Sebring. Every arrest in Highlands County gets processed here. The booking process includes fingerprinting, a photo, charge entry, and bond determination. These records then become public under Florida law.
Since Highlands County does not have an online inmate search, the main way to check on an arrest is to call the jail at 863-402-7201. Staff can tell you if someone is in custody and share basic booking data like charges and bond amounts. You can also go in person to the sheriff's office in Sebring to ask for arrest records. Walk-in requests for Highlands County arrest records are handled during regular business hours. If you need copies, bring ID and be ready to pay any copy fees that apply.
Highlands County falls under the 10th Judicial Circuit. The Clerk of Court handles court case files that stem from arrests. But the sheriff's office is the one that holds the original booking and arrest records for Highlands County.
| Jail Address | 338 S Orange St, Sebring, FL 33870 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 863-402-7201 |
| Online Search | Not available |
Public Access to Highlands County Arrest Data
Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes makes arrest records public in Highlands County. Known as the Sunshine Law, this statute gives any person the right to ask for and see government records. You do not need to say why. Section 119.07 puts the duty on the record custodian to make them available. The Highlands County Sheriff's Office is the custodian for arrest and booking records.
An arrest record from Highlands County shows the date of arrest, the charges, the name of the person, the arresting agency, and booking details. It does not mean the person is guilty. It just means they were taken into custody. Under Section 943.053, Florida criminal history records stay public unless a court orders them sealed or expunged. Juvenile records are an exception and are not open to the public in Highlands County. Records tied to active investigations may also be held back.
The FDLE Public Access System is shown below. It can pull up criminal history data from Highlands County and every other Florida county.
A name search on this system costs $25 and returns results right away.
State Databases for Highlands County Records
Because Highlands County does not have its own online search, state databases are especially useful. The FDLE criminal history check lets you run a name-based search that covers all Florida counties. The cost is $24 plus a $1 processing fee. You get results on the spot. Provide the person's full name. Date of birth and gender can narrow the results if the name is common.
The Comprehensive Case Information System is another option. This system has over 150 million court cases and pulls real-time data from every clerk of court in Florida, including Highlands County. You can look up criminal charges, court events, and sentencing information. For people who went from a Highlands County arrest to state prison, the FDC Offender Search tracks them through the corrections system. That tool is free and lets you search by name or DC number.
Sealing Highlands County Arrest Records
People with arrest records in Highlands County may qualify to have them sealed or expunged. The first step is getting a Certificate of Eligibility from FDLE. The application fee is $75. FDLE takes about 12 weeks to process it. They do not rush applications for anyone.
After you get the certificate, you file a petition with the court in Highlands County. Sealing under Section 943.059 keeps the record from public view while letting certain agencies still access it. Expungement under Section 943.0585 goes further. Most agencies have to destroy their copy. FDLE holds one confidential version. The certificate lasts 12 months. Administrative expungement under Section 943.0581 covers Highlands County arrests made by error. Not every arrest qualifies for these options. The statutes list certain offenses that cannot be sealed or expunged.
The FDLE seal and expunge page has all the details and application forms for Highlands County residents.
Section 943.0585 spells out the full criteria for expunging criminal history records in Florida.
Note: The Certificate of Eligibility expires 12 months after it is issued, so file your court petition promptly in Highlands County.
Highlands County Jail Operations
The Highlands County jail holds pretrial inmates and people serving short sentences. Those who receive state prison time transfer to a Florida Department of Corrections facility after sentencing. The FDC handles public records requests under Chapter 119 and Section 945.10. Requests should be as specific as possible. That cuts down on cost and processing time.
Call the Highlands County jail at 863-402-7201 for custody checks or basic arrest information. Staff are available around the clock for phone inquiries about current inmates. For formal records requests, submit them to the Highlands County Sheriff's Office in Sebring during business hours.
Cities in Highlands County
Highlands County includes the cities of Sebring, Avon Park, and Lake Placid. None of these cities have a population over 75,000. All arrest records for every city and unincorporated area in Highlands County are processed and held by the Highlands County Sheriff's Office in Sebring.
Nearby Counties
Highlands County is surrounded by several other counties in central and south Florida. If you need arrest records from a neighboring jurisdiction, check with that county's sheriff.