Okeechobee County Arrest Records

Okeechobee County arrest records are kept by the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office in Okeechobee, Florida. This inland county sits along the northern shore of Lake Okeechobee in south-central Florida. The sheriff runs the county jail and handles all local bookings. Okeechobee County does have an online inmate search, which lets you check recent arrest records from home. You can also reach the jail by phone at 863-763-3117. Florida's public records laws make arrest records in Okeechobee County open to anyone, and no reason is needed to request access to them.

Okeechobee County Sheriff Records

The Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office serves as the main law enforcement body for the entire county. The city of Okeechobee has its own police department that handles calls within the city, but all jail bookings go through the county facility. The jail sits at 504 NW 4th St, Okeechobee, FL 34972. When a person is arrested anywhere in Okeechobee County, they go to this jail for processing. Staff record the charges, take a booking photo, and enter all the data into the system. Every booking creates a public arrest record under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes.

You can reach the jail at 863-763-3117. Staff will check if someone is in custody and can share basic booking details. Walk-in requests work during regular hours. The jail runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

How to Find Okeechobee County Arrest Records

The sheriff's online inmate search is the quickest way to check recent arrest records in Okeechobee County. Enter a name and the system pulls up bookings with charges, bond info, and dates. For older records or for a broader search, state-level tools are the way to go.

The FDLE Public Access System is Florida's criminal history database. It covers all 67 counties. A name search costs $25 and comes back right away for online requests. You need the person's full name. A date of birth makes the search more accurate for common names. The FDLE system pulls arrest records from every law enforcement agency in Okeechobee County and across the state, going back years. This makes it the most thorough tool for older Okeechobee County arrest records that are no longer on the local jail roster.

The Section 943.0585 statute page from the Florida Legislature governs the expungement of criminal records, including Okeechobee County arrest data.

This statute controls when and how arrest records in Okeechobee County can be expunged from public view.

The CCIS statewide court system connects to the Okeechobee County Clerk of Court and pulls data in real time. With over 150 million records, CCIS shows charges filed, case progress, dispositions, and sentencing tied to Okeechobee County arrests. It covers criminal, civil, and traffic cases.

Note: State databases cover all of Florida, not just Okeechobee County records.

Okeechobee County Public Records Laws

Arrest records in Okeechobee County are public under Florida law. The Sunshine Law gives broad access to government records. Section 119.07 says anyone can ask to see or copy a public record without giving a reason. Section 943.053 confirms that criminal history records are public unless sealed or expunged by a court. This applies to all Okeechobee County arrest records, whether they are held by the sheriff locally or by FDLE at the state level.

An arrest record means someone was taken into custody. It does not mean they are guilty. The record shows the arrest date, the agency, the charges, and booking info. Juvenile arrests in Okeechobee County are restricted from public access. Records sealed under Section 943.059 or expunged under Section 943.0585 will not come up in searches. Active investigation files may be withheld until the case closes. But the bulk of adult arrest records in Okeechobee County are fully public.

Warrants in Okeechobee County

The Okeechobee County Sheriff issues arrest warrants for people who fail to appear in court or who are charged with crimes. FDLE runs a statewide Wanted Persons database that includes people wanted in Okeechobee County. You can search it for free. The system pulls data from the Florida Crime Information Center, which gets input from all local agencies including the Okeechobee County Sheriff.

If you have a tip about a wanted person in Okeechobee County, call the sheriff at 863-763-3117 or reach out to Crime Stoppers. Active warrants will stay on a person's record until they are resolved through a court appearance or an arrest.

Removing Okeechobee County Arrest Records

Some people with arrest records in Okeechobee County can have them sealed or expunged. Sealing hides the record from public view. Expunging means the record is destroyed by most agencies, though FDLE keeps a confidential copy. Both options start with an application to FDLE for a Certificate of Eligibility. The cost is $75 and it takes about 12 weeks to process.

After you get the certificate, file a petition with the court in Okeechobee County. The clerk handles it. The certificate lasts 12 months. Not all Okeechobee County arrests can be sealed or expunged. The state lists charges that do not qualify. Learn more and get the forms at the FDLE seal and expunge page. Under Section 943.059, sealed records cannot be viewed by the general public. Under Section 943.0585, expunged records are physically destroyed.

The FLHSMV homepage is shown below. While it mainly handles driving records and traffic crashes, DUI arrests in Okeechobee County may involve records held by this agency as well.

Traffic-related arrests in Okeechobee County can generate records at both the sheriff's office and the FLHSMV.

State Inmate Records from Okeechobee County

People arrested in Okeechobee County who go on to serve time in a state prison have their records with the Florida Department of Corrections. The FDC Offender Search is free and lets you search by name or DC number. This covers current and former state inmates from every county, including Okeechobee. For more detailed records, file a public records request with the FDC under Chapter 119 and Section 945.10.

Note: The FDC only tracks state prison inmates, not people in the Okeechobee County jail awaiting trial.

Nearby Counties

Okeechobee County is surrounded by several counties in the Lake Okeechobee region. If an arrest happened near a county line, the booking agency on the record tells you which county holds the file.