Walton County Arrest Records

Walton County arrest records are kept by the Walton County Sheriff's Office at 75 North Circle Drive in DeFuniak Springs. This Panhandle county stretches from the Gulf Coast beaches around Destin and 30A inland to more rural areas. The sheriff's office runs the county jail and maintains an online search tool for current inmates. All arrests across Walton County funnel through this single facility for booking. Florida law makes these records public, so you can look them up through the sheriff's website, by phone, or through statewide FDLE databases. The county sees seasonal fluctuations in arrests due to beach tourism along its southern coastline.

Walton County Sheriff's Office Jail

The Walton County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail and handles all booking for the county. The jail is at 75 N Circle Dr, DeFuniak Springs, FL. Call (850) 892-8186 for information about inmates or arrest records. When someone gets arrested in Walton County, they are processed here. Staff record the charges, take fingerprints and a booking photo, and enter the data into the system. The information then gets reported to FDLE.

Walton County provides an online inmate search. Enter a name and see who is in jail. The system shows charges, bond info, and booking dates. If someone bonded out or was released, they may not appear in the current search. You will need to call the jail or submit a written request. The southern part of Walton County includes beach communities like South Walton and areas near Destin. Arrests in these areas are still processed through the same DeFuniak Springs facility, even though it is a long drive from the coast.

Arrest Record Search Options in Walton County

The FDLE criminal history check covers all 67 Florida counties for $25 per search. Results are instant. If someone has arrest records in Walton County and other parts of Florida, this search shows it all. You need the person's full name to run the search. A date of birth helps if the name is common.

FDLE's Public Access System connects to the Florida Crime Information Center. It covers criminal history and warrant data from across the state, including Walton County. Under Section 943.053 of the Florida Statutes, criminal history records are public unless a court has sealed or expunged them.

The CCIS statewide court database tracks cases from all Florida counties. It has over 150 million entries. You can search by name and see Walton County court cases, charges, and outcomes. Walton County is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit, which also covers Escambia, Okaloosa, and Santa Rosa counties.

The CCIS system provides real-time court case data from all Florida counties, including cases that began with a Walton County arrest.

Note: Walton County shares the 1st Judicial Circuit with three other Florida Panhandle counties.

Public Records Law and Walton County

Arrest records in Walton County are public. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, known as the Sunshine Law, gives you the right to access them. No explanation needed. The sheriff's office must provide the records within a reasonable time frame.

A Walton County arrest record shows the person's name, charges, arrest date and time, and which agency made the arrest. It may include a mugshot. An arrest is not a finding of guilt. Charges can be dropped or reduced. Trials end in acquittals. The arrest record persists unless a judge seals or expunges it. Juvenile records in Walton County are not public. Victim names can be removed. Social Security numbers and home addresses are stripped out before records get released to the public.

Clearing Walton County Arrest Records

To seal or expunge a Walton County arrest record, you need a Certificate of Eligibility from FDLE. Apply through the seal and expunge program. The fee is $75 and it takes about 12 weeks. Get the application at the Walton County Clerk of Courts in DeFuniak Springs. Once you have the certificate, petition the court for the order.

Under Section 943.0585, expungement destroys the arrest record at all agencies except FDLE. Sealing under Section 943.059 hides the record but does not destroy it. After the Walton County court grants the order, the record comes off public databases. The certificate is good for 12 months. For people who ended up in state prison after a Walton County arrest, the FDC Offender Search shows their current location and sentence details.

FDLE's seal and expunge page has all the forms and instructions needed to clear a Walton County arrest record.

Nearby Counties

Walton County borders several other Panhandle counties. If the arrest happened near a county line, check with the correct sheriff's office.