Lake County Arrest Records

Lake County arrest records are held by the Lake County Sheriff's Office, based in Tavares, Florida. The sheriff manages the county detention center and processes all bookings for arrests made within Lake County. An online inmate search is available, which makes it possible to check on recent arrests from any device. Under Florida's public records laws, arrest records in Lake County are open for public access. With over 400,000 residents spread across cities like Clermont, Leesburg, Eustis, and Tavares, the Lake County Sheriff's Office handles a steady volume of arrest bookings each year. All of those records are stored in one system.

Lake County Sheriff Arrest Search

The Lake County Sheriff's Office operates the county detention center at 551 West Main Street in Tavares. All arrests in Lake County get booked here. The process includes fingerprinting, a booking photo, charge entry, and bond determination. Each booking creates a public arrest record under Florida's Sunshine Law.

Lake County does offer an online inmate search. You can look up people currently held at the detention center by entering a name. Results show charges, bond amounts, and booking information. The search is free. No login or account is needed. Data updates on a regular cycle, so there may be a short delay between a new arrest and when it appears in the Lake County system.

For records of people who have already been released from the Lake County jail, contact the sheriff's records division. The phone number for the jail is 239-742-4000. Staff can help with custody status checks and point you in the right direction for older arrest records. Lake County is part of the 5th Judicial Circuit along with Citrus, Hernando, Marion, and Sumter counties.

Lake County Arrest Records and Public Access

Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes makes arrest records in Lake County public. The Sunshine Law requires agencies to provide access to government records when someone asks. Section 119.07 puts the burden on the record custodian. For Lake County arrest and booking records, that custodian is the sheriff's office in Tavares. You do not need to give a reason for wanting to see the records.

Arrest records from Lake County show the person's name, the date they were taken into custody, charges, the arresting agency, and booking details. An arrest record is not proof of a conviction. It shows that law enforcement acted, not that the person is guilty. Section 943.053 says Florida criminal history records are public unless a court has ordered them sealed or expunged. Juvenile records are not public in Lake County. Victim data may be protected. Active investigation files can be held back from release.

The FDLE Public Access System is shown here. It pulls criminal history data from Lake County and every other Florida county.

A name search on this system costs $25 and delivers instant results for Lake County records.

Statewide Databases for Lake County Records

Beyond the sheriff's local search, several state systems can help find Lake County arrest records. The FDLE criminal history check runs name-based searches that cover all 67 Florida counties. The fee is $24 plus $1 for processing. Results appear right away for online requests. Enter the person's full name. Date of birth improves the match quality.

The CCIS system holds court case data from every Florida county. It has over 150 million records. For Lake County, you can look up criminal charges, court events, sentencing details, and case outcomes. The data feeds from each county clerk in real time. If someone was arrested in Lake County and later sent to state prison, the FDC Offender Search tracks them through the corrections system. That tool is free and covers all state inmates. FDLE also maintains a Wanted Persons database that includes warrants from Lake County and beyond.

Note: State-level searches pull data from all Florida counties, so results may include records from outside Lake County.

Sealing Lake County Arrest Records

People with arrest records in Lake County may be able to get them sealed or expunged. The process begins at the state level. You apply to FDLE for a Certificate of Eligibility. The fee is $75. It takes about 12 weeks for FDLE to review the application. They process them in order with no way to expedite.

After getting the certificate, you file a petition with the Lake County court. Under Section 943.059, sealing blocks public access to the arrest record but still lets certain government agencies view it. Expungement under Section 943.0585 requires most agencies to destroy their copies. FDLE holds a confidential version. The certificate is valid for 12 months from the date it is issued. Administrative expungement under Section 943.0581 covers Lake County arrests that were made by mistake. Not all offenses qualify for sealing or expungement. The statutes list specific exceptions.

Forms are on the FDLE seal and expunge page. The Lake County Clerk of Court in Tavares also has applications available.

Section 943.0585 sets out the criteria for expunging criminal history records in Florida, including those from Lake County.

Lake County Detention and State Corrections

The Lake County detention center holds people awaiting trial and those serving shorter sentences. When a Lake County arrest leads to a state prison sentence, the inmate transfers to the Florida Department of Corrections. The FDC runs a free Offender Search tool and handles public records requests under Chapter 119 and Section 945.10.

For someone currently at the Lake County jail, call 239-742-4000. Staff can check custody status and provide basic arrest details. For formal records requests, contact the Lake County Sheriff's Office in writing. Specify what you need. That helps the office locate the right records and speeds things along.

Cities in Lake County

Lake County has many cities and towns, including Clermont, Leesburg, Eustis, Mount Dora, and Lady Lake. None currently exceed 75,000 in population. All arrests in these areas are processed at the Lake County detention center in Tavares through the sheriff's office.

Nearby Counties

Lake County is in central Florida and borders several other counties. Each has a separate sheriff's office and arrest records system. Check the booking agency name if you are not sure where an arrest was processed.