Search Miami-Dade County Arrest Records

Miami-Dade County arrest records are kept by the Corrections and Rehabilitation Department, one of the largest jail systems in the Southeast. With a population of over 2.7 million, Miami-Dade County processes thousands of bookings each year across multiple detention centers. The county makes arrest records and inmate data available to the public through an online search tool, and anyone can look up current inmates by name. Florida law treats arrest records as public information under Chapter 119 of the state statutes, so you can access these records without giving a reason for your search.

Miami-Dade Corrections Department

The Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department runs all county jails. This is not the same as the sheriff's office. MDCR handles bookings, inmate housing, and records for every person arrested in Miami-Dade County. The department headquarters is at 3505 NW 107 Avenue in Doral. You can call (786) 263-7000 for general questions or reach the booking line at (786) 263-5312. For inmate records, the direct line is (786) 263-4222.

Miami-Dade County runs three main detention facilities. The Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center sits at 7000 NW 41st Street in Miami and can be reached at (786) 263-5341. The Pre-Trial Detention Center is at 1321 NW 13th Street in Miami, with a phone number of (786) 263-4110. Metro-West Detention Center is the third major site, located at 13850 NW 41st Street in Miami, and the number there is (786) 263-5110. All three hold inmates who have been arrested and booked in Miami-Dade County. Central Records keeps archived arrest files at 2525 NW 62nd Street, Suite 4200, in Miami. You can call Central Records at (786) 263-5892 or (786) 263-6071 for copies of older arrest records in Miami-Dade County.

Note: MDCR runs the jails, but the sheriff's office handles law enforcement and makes arrests in Miami-Dade County.

Miami-Dade Arrest Records Online Search

The inmate search tool for Miami-Dade County is name-based. You type in a first and last name, or just the first three letters of each, and the system pulls up matching records. The Miami-Dade County inmate search portal shows results for people who are currently in custody. This tool does not show past inmates who have been released.

Search results may show several pieces of information for each arrest record in Miami-Dade County. You can see the mugshot or booking photo, the full name used at booking, and the date of birth. The system also shows the inmate's jail number, the booking date, and physical details like height and weight. Charges and case numbers are listed along with bond status. This data gets updated on a regular basis, though some details may lag behind or be missing due to compliance with the Public Records Law. If you need more information on a specific arrest record in Miami-Dade County, contact the detention facility where the person is being held.

The screenshot below shows the Miami-Dade County inmate search portal where you can look up current arrest records.

This search tool is free to use. No account or login is needed to find arrest records in Miami-Dade County.

Arrest Records and Florida Public Law

Florida has some of the broadest public records access in the country. The state constitution and Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, often called the Sunshine Law, give anyone the right to view government records. This includes arrest records in Miami-Dade County. You do not need to be a party to the case. You do not need to give a reason for your request. An arrest record shows that a person was taken into custody. It lists the arrest date, the agency that made the arrest, the charges, booking details, and case numbers. Keep in mind that an arrest record is not a finding of guilt.

Some records have limits on access. Active investigations may not be fully open. Victim names are sometimes redacted. Juvenile arrest records in Miami-Dade County are not available to the general public. Personal data like Social Security numbers and home addresses get removed before records are released. Under Section 943.0585, a person can petition to have arrest records expunged if they meet the criteria. Section 943.059 allows for sealing of records. Both processes require a Certificate of Eligibility from FDLE, and the $75 fee applies.

Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office Records

The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, which was formerly the Miami-Dade Police Department, is a separate agency from the corrections department. The sheriff's office makes arrests and files reports. Once a person is arrested, they get booked into MDCR custody. The sheriff's office keeps its own set of records related to the arrest, such as incident reports and case files.

You can send records requests to the sheriff's office by email at recordsrequest@mdso.com. The public records custodian is Oliver S. Spicer, Jr. The main office is at 9105 NW 25th Street in Doral, FL 33172. Phone is 305-471-2085. The fax number is 305-471-2046. If you need an arrest report or incident report from Miami-Dade County, this is the office to contact.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office contact page lists ways to reach the department for arrest record requests.

Staff can help you file a public records request for arrest details from the sheriff's side of things.

Note: The sheriff handles policing while MDCR handles the jails in Miami-Dade County, so you may need to contact both agencies depending on what you need.

Detention Facilities in Miami-Dade County

Three main jails hold people who are arrested in Miami-Dade County. Each facility serves a different purpose, but all process arrest records the same way. The Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center is the largest. It sits in the western part of Miami near the airport. The fax number there is (786) 263-5690 if you need to send paperwork.

The Pre-Trial Detention Center in downtown Miami holds people who are waiting for court dates. This is at 1321 NW 13th Street. Many people arrested in central Miami-Dade County get booked here first. Metro-West Detention Center is the newest major facility at 13850 NW 41st Street. Its fax is (305) 597-2688. All three sites feed into the same inmate search system, so a single name search can find arrest records across all Miami-Dade County facilities.

The Miami-Dade Corrections contact page provides phone numbers and addresses for each facility.

Use this page to find the right facility if you need to visit or call about an arrest record in Miami-Dade County.

Statewide Arrest Record Resources

Beyond the local search, you can also check statewide databases for Miami-Dade County arrest records. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement runs the Public Access System, which pulls criminal history data from all 67 counties. A name-based search costs $25 total. You need the person's full name, and you can add date of birth or gender to narrow results. FDLE processes instant online searches, and results come back right away. Section 943.053 of the Florida Statutes says that criminal history records are public unless they have been sealed or expunged.

The CCIS system is another statewide tool. It stands for Comprehensive Case Information System. CCIS has over 150 million cases and 400 million names from all Florida counties, including Miami-Dade. It pulls real-time case data. You can find criminal cases, charges, court events, and warrant information through this system. The Florida Department of Corrections offender search is useful if the person ended up in state prison after a Miami-Dade County arrest. You can search by name or DC number.

Note: FDLE charges $24 per search plus a $1 processing fee for online name-based criminal history checks.

Sealing and Expunging Miami-Dade Arrest Records

If you have an arrest record in Miami-Dade County that you want removed, Florida law offers two paths. Expungement under Section 943.0585 means the record is destroyed by most agencies. FDLE keeps one confidential copy, but it is not public. Sealing under Section 943.059 means the record still exists but is hidden from public view. Both options need a Certificate of Eligibility from FDLE's seal and expunge program. The processing fee is $75, and it takes about 12 weeks to get a decision.

You apply through the Clerk of Courts in the county where the arrest happened. For Miami-Dade County arrests, that means filing with the local clerk. The certificate is good for 12 months once issued. After you get it, you petition the court to seal or expunge the arrest record. The court signs an order, and that order goes to all agencies that hold the record. Your Miami-Dade County arrest record is not fully removed until FDLE gets the certified court order. Administrative expungement under Section 943.0581 is available if the arrest was made by mistake or was contrary to law. Juvenile diversion expungement under Section 943.0582 applies to minors who finished a diversion program.

Cities in Miami-Dade County

Miami-Dade County has over 30 cities and many unincorporated areas. City police departments make arrests, but all booking and detention goes through MDCR. The inmate search covers everyone arrested in Miami-Dade County, no matter which city police made the arrest.

Other cities include Coral Gables, North Miami, Aventura, and Opa-locka. All arrest records from these cities are processed through Miami-Dade County Corrections.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Miami-Dade. If you are unsure which county handled a specific arrest, check the booking location on the arrest record.