Arrest Records in Jefferson County

Jefferson County arrest records are kept by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office in Monticello, Florida. The county is one of the smallest in the state by population, and the sheriff's office handles all law enforcement and detention duties. There is no online inmate search for Jefferson County, so checking on a recent arrest requires a phone call or an in-person visit. Florida's Sunshine Law makes arrest records public, and anyone can request access to Jefferson County booking data without providing a reason. Monticello is the county seat and the location of the only jail facility for the entire county.

Jefferson County Sheriff Booking Data

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office runs the jail at 171 Industrial Park in Monticello. All arrests in Jefferson County are booked at this facility. The staff take a photo, log the charges, and enter the data into the system. This creates the public arrest record.

Jefferson County does not have an online search tool for inmates. The best way to check on someone is to call the jail at 850-997-5094. Staff can confirm if a person is in custody and share basic booking information like charges and bond amounts. For copies of arrest records, visit the sheriff's office in Monticello during business hours or send a written request. Since Jefferson County is small, record requests tend to get processed fairly quickly compared to larger counties.

Jefferson County sits in the Big Bend region of north Florida, just east of Tallahassee. It is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit, which also includes Leon, Gadsden, Liberty, and Wakulla counties. Court cases that result from Jefferson County arrests are handled by this circuit.

Jefferson County Arrest Records Under Florida Law

Florida's Chapter 119 is the public records law that governs access to arrest records in Jefferson County. Known as the Sunshine Law, it makes government records open to the public. Section 119.07 requires the custodian of the records to let you inspect or copy them. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is that custodian for arrest and booking data.

An arrest record from Jefferson County shows the date, the person's name, the charges, the arresting agency, and booking details. It documents that someone was taken into custody. It does not prove guilt. Under Section 943.053, criminal history records in Florida are public unless sealed or expunged by a court. Juvenile records are restricted in Jefferson County. Victim information may be redacted. Files tied to open investigations can be withheld.

The screenshot below shows the FDC Offender Search page, which can help trace people arrested in Jefferson County who went on to state prison.

This tool is free and covers every inmate in the Florida state prison system.

Online Tools for Jefferson County Arrest Records

Since Jefferson County lacks its own online lookup, statewide databases fill the gap. FDLE runs the Public Access System for criminal history checks. A search costs $24 plus a $1 processing fee. Results come back right away. You type in the person's name and can add date of birth or gender to get a better match. This covers arrest records from Jefferson County and every other county in the state.

The CCIS system has court case data from all 67 Florida counties. Over 150 million cases sit in this database, with real-time feeds from each clerk of court. For Jefferson County, you can find charges, court events, and case outcomes tied to arrests. If someone went from a Jefferson County arrest to state prison, the FDC Offender Search tracks them through the Department of Corrections. FDLE also runs a Wanted Persons search for active warrants across the state, including Jefferson County.

Note: FDLE's instant search covers all Florida counties, not just Jefferson County, so you may see results from other jurisdictions.

Expunging Jefferson County Arrest Records

Some people with arrest records in Jefferson County can get them sealed or expunged under Florida law. The first step is applying to FDLE for a Certificate of Eligibility. The application fee is $75. It takes about 12 weeks to process. FDLE works through applications in the order they arrive.

After you get the certificate, file a petition with the court in Jefferson County. Sealing under Section 943.059 removes public access but lets certain government agencies still see the record. Expungement under Section 943.0585 requires most agencies to destroy their copies. FDLE retains one confidential copy. The certificate lasts 12 months from the issue date. Administrative expungement under Section 943.0581 applies to arrests made by error in Jefferson County. Juvenile diversion under Section 943.0582 covers qualifying minors.

Get the forms at the FDLE seal and expunge page or from the Jefferson County Clerk of Court in Monticello.

The FDC public records page explains how to request state prison records for people originally arrested in Jefferson County.

Jefferson County Jail Operations

The Jefferson County jail holds pretrial inmates and people serving short sentences. Those who receive state prison time get transferred to the Florida Department of Corrections. The FDC processes public records requests under Chapter 119 and Section 945.10 of the Florida Statutes.

To check on someone at the Jefferson County jail, call 850-997-5094. The staff can confirm whether a person is in custody. For older Jefferson County arrest records that are no longer active, submit a formal request to the sheriff's office. Include as much detail as you can, like the person's full name and an approximate date of arrest. This helps the small Jefferson County staff locate the right records faster.

Cities in Jefferson County

Jefferson County includes the city of Monticello and a handful of small unincorporated communities. No cities in the county have a population over 75,000. All arrests in Jefferson County are processed at the one jail facility in Monticello.

Nearby Counties

Jefferson County sits between Tallahassee (Leon County) to the west and Madison County to the east. Each neighboring county has its own sheriff and jail. Contact the right county if the arrest happened outside Jefferson County.