Florida Criminal Records Search: Cases & Public Records

Independent Florida criminal records guide

Florida Criminal Records Search: Court Cases, Public Records, FDLE Checks and Official Lookup Routes

Use this guide to search Florida criminal court cases, clerk records, appellate dockets, FDLE criminal-history records, Florida Department of Corrections offender records, sexual offender/predator registry records and federal PACER cases without mixing up one record type with another.

Florida criminal records are not stored in one single public database. A county criminal case, appellate docket, FDLE criminal-history check, jail or prison record, registry entry, sealed/expunged record question and federal case each has a different official route.

Official Florida sources reviewed October 13, 2026

County clerk route FDLE CCH search FDC offender lookup FDLE registry search No HTML H1

FDLE Florida Criminal History Florida Courts Florida Corrections Search

Independent website notice: CriminalCourtRecord.org is an independent public-information guide. It is not the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Courts, Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers, Florida Department of Corrections, PACER, any county clerk, sheriff, police department or background-check company. This page does not run a background check, does not provide legal advice and does not guarantee that any record exists.

Choose the Right Florida Record Route First

Use the county clerk or court portal when you need a Florida criminal case or docket. Use FDLE when you need Florida criminal-history information. Use the Florida Department of Corrections for state prison or supervision records. Use the county sheriff or jail for local booking records. Use FDLE’s sexual offender/predator search for registry information. Use PACER for federal criminal cases.

Do not treat an arrest, charge, booking page, docket entry or offender record as proof of conviction. Always verify the final disposition with the official court or proper record custodian.

Choose Record Type Official Links Responsible Use

Quick Answer: How To Search Florida Criminal Records

For Florida criminal court cases, start with the county clerk of court where the case was filed. For appellate dockets, use Florida’s Appellate Case Information System. For Florida criminal-history records, use FDLE’s Criminal History Records options. For state prison or supervision information, use Florida Department of Corrections offender search. For local jail bookings, use the county sheriff or detention facility. For federal criminal cases, use PACER.

Court case Use the county clerk/court portal where the case was filed.

Criminal history Use FDLE CCH, certified/non-certified search, ORI search or personal review.

Offender or jail Use FDC for state offenders and sheriff/jail sites for local bookings.

Federal case Use PACER or PACER Case Locator, not a Florida county portal.

Most common mistake: People search one Florida system and assume it covers everything. Florida clerk case records, FDLE criminal history, county jail bookings, FDC offender records, registry records and PACER federal cases are separate routes.

Which Florida Criminal Records Source Should You Use?

The best source depends on the record you need. A court docket is useful for case activity. FDLE is the state criminal-history route. FDC is the state corrections route. A sheriff or jail page is usually the local arrest/booking route.

Need	Use this official route	What it can show	What it does not prove by itself
Florida criminal court case	County clerk of court or local court case-search portal	Case number, charges, events, hearings, filings, disposition and public case documents when available	Complete statewide criminal history or every arrest record
Florida appellate docket	Florida Appellate Case Information System	Supreme Court and District Court of Appeal dockets and filings where available	Complete trial-court criminal history
Florida criminal-history search	FDLE Criminal History Records / CCHInet	Florida criminal-history information according to FDLE search type and rules	Federal, out-of-state, sealed/expunged or every local jail detail
Arrest or jail booking	County sheriff, jail, detention facility or arresting agency	Booking date, charge at booking, bond, custody status or arresting agency when available	Conviction or final court disposition
State prison or supervision record	Florida Department of Corrections offender search	State inmate, release, supervision or corrections information when available	Full court history or all arrests
Sexual offender or predator search	FDLE Sexual Offender and Predator Search	Public registry information reported to FDLE	Complete criminal-history information
Federal criminal case	PACER or PACER Case Locator	Federal district, bankruptcy and appellate case information	Florida state court cases

Official Florida Criminal Records Links With Micro-Steps

Use these official routes for final searches, official copies, criminal-history checks, offender lookups, registry searches, seal/expunge questions and federal court records.

State criminal history

FDLE Florida Criminal History Record Check

Use for: Florida criminal-history search options, including instant search, certified/non-certified search and ORI search.

After opening: Review search options → choose Instant Search, Certified/Non-Certified or ORI Search → enter accurate identifiers → read result limits before using the record.

Check before relying: A name-based search can match the wrong person when identifiers are incomplete.

Open FDLE Florida Checks

Court records

Florida Courts

Use for: Florida court system information, court locations and appellate docket access.

After opening: Use court-location or case-search resources → identify whether the case is trial-level or appellate → go to the county clerk or ACIS route as needed.

Check before relying: Trial criminal records are usually searched through the clerk/county court portal that holds the case.

Open Florida Courts

Appellate records

Florida Appellate Case Information System

Use for: Dockets for the Florida Supreme Court and District Courts of Appeal.

After opening: Search by case number, party name or court when available → open the docket → confirm the appellate court and lower-tribunal case reference.

Check before relying: ACIS is not the main route for ordinary trial-court criminal case files.

Open ACIS

County clerk route

Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers

Use for: Finding the clerk route for county court records, official records and local clerk services.

After opening: Find the county clerk → open the county clerk website → choose case search, court records, criminal records or records request → search by case number or name.

Check before relying: Clerk access can differ by county, case type, document type and access level.

Open Florida Clerks

State offender route

Florida Department of Corrections

Use for: Florida state inmate, release and supervision information.

After opening: Choose offender search → search by name or DC number if available → compare identifiers carefully → verify serious questions with FDC or the court file.

Check before relying: FDC records are not a complete court record or FDLE criminal-history report.

Open Florida Corrections

Registry route

FDLE Sexual Offender and Predator Search

Use for: Florida sexual offender and predator registry searches.

After opening: Search by name, location or available registry filters → read registry limitations → compare identity details before assuming a match.

Check before relying: Registry information is not a full criminal-history report.

Open FDLE Registry Search

Personal review

FDLE Personal Review

Use for: Reviewing your own Florida criminal history for accuracy and completeness.

After opening: Follow FDLE personal review instructions → submit required information/fingerprints as instructed → use FDLE correction guidance if something is inaccurate.

Check before relying: Personal review records are for personal accuracy review and may not be usable for employment, licensing or immigration purposes.

Open FDLE Personal Review

Seal or expunge

FDLE Seal and Expunge Process

Use for: Florida certificate-of-eligibility and court-ordered sealing or expungement information.

After opening: Review eligibility information → read certificate instructions → prepare the application → file with the court if FDLE issues eligibility.

Check before relying: Eligibility is fact-specific; this page is not legal advice.

Open FDLE Seal/Expunge

Federal cases

PACER Federal Court Records

Use for: Federal criminal cases filed in U.S. district or appellate courts.

After opening: Register or sign in → search by federal court if known → use PACER Case Locator when you do not know the court.

Check before relying: PACER does not replace Florida state court, FDLE or county jail searches.

Open PACER

Step-by-Step: How To Search Florida Criminal Records Safely

Use this process before you rely on a Florida name search. The right route depends on whether you need a court case, FDLE criminal history, arrest/booking record, corrections record, registry record or federal case.

Identify the record type

Decide whether you need a Florida court case, FDLE criminal-history check, jail booking, FDC offender record, registry result, sealed/expunged record question or federal case.

Use the office that owns the record

Use the county clerk for court files, FDLE for Florida criminal history, sheriff/jail for bookings, FDC for state corrections, FDLE registry for sexual offender/predator search and PACER for federal cases.

Search by the strongest identifier

Case number, citation number, booking number, DC number, ORI, date of birth or exact county can reduce wrong-person matches. Name-only searches need extra caution.

Confirm identity and jurisdiction

Compare county, court, case number, name, age clues, date range, charge, arresting agency and disposition before assuming the record belongs to a specific person.

Read the disposition, not just the charge

An arrest, charge or docket event is not a conviction. Look for dismissal, adjudication, adjudication withheld, plea, judgment, sentence, acquittal or other final outcome language.

Request official copies when needed

For legal, licensing, immigration, employment or formal use, contact the clerk or agency that maintains the official record and ask for certified copies or certified disposition documents.

Use FDLE or PACER when local search is not enough

Use FDLE for Florida criminal-history routes and PACER for federal cases. Do not expect a county clerk or jail page to replace either one.

Search tip: If a Florida name search returns several matches, stop and narrow by county, date, case number, birth date if lawfully available, court type and final disposition.

Florida Criminal Records Problem Finder

Select what you need and why you need it. This helper runs only in your browser and does not collect names, dates of birth, case numbers or private identity details.

Find the right official route

What are you trying to find?

Why do you need it?

Florida Criminal Court Records: County Clerk, Trial Court and ACIS

For most Florida criminal trial-court cases, the county clerk of court is the practical starting point. Some counties provide online criminal case search and document access; others may require account access, in-person viewing, records requests or certified-copy orders.

Use the county clerk when you need

Criminal felony or misdemeanor case lookup
Case number or docket history
Hearing date or court event history
Certified disposition
Certified court document copy
Older or restricted case access questions

Use ACIS when you need

Florida Supreme Court docket
District Court of Appeal docket
Appellate filings where available
Appeal case number lookup
Appellate party search
Lower-tribunal appellate reference

Important: Online case information may not show every document or every access level. For official proof, certified copies or complete file questions, contact the clerk that maintains the record.

FDLE Criminal History Search, Certified Search and Personal Review

FDLE is the state criminal-history route for Florida. Depending on your purpose, you may need an instant search, a certified/non-certified search, an ORI search, a personal review or a fingerprint-based authorized process.

Need	Likely FDLE route	Check before starting
Quick Florida criminal-history search	FDLE CCHInet Instant Search	Fees, identifiers, result limits and name-match risks
Certified or non-certified criminal-history result	FDLE Certified/Non-Certified search	Whether your requesting agency requires certification
Agency-specific background screening	FDLE ORI search or authorized fingerprint route	Correct ORI, requesting agency instructions and live scan requirements
Review your own record for accuracy	FDLE Personal Review	Processing time, fingerprint requirements and personal-use limitations
Court document or disposition	County clerk of court	Case number, county, copy fee and certification needs

Open FDLE Florida Checks Open CCHInet Search

Florida Arrest Records, Jail Bookings and Sheriff Inmate Searches

Arrest and booking records are usually local. Start with the county sheriff, jail, detention facility or city police department where the arrest happened. A booking result is not a final court outcome.

Need	Likely office	What to click after opening
Current jail booking	County sheriff or detention facility	Look for “Inmate Search,” “Jail,” “Bookings,” “Arrest Search,” “Current Inmates” or “Corrections.”
Arrest report	Arresting police department or sheriff records unit	Look for “Records,” “Public Records Request,” “Police Reports” or “Incident/Arrest Report.”
Bond or custody status	County jail, sheriff, clerk or court	Review the booking page, bond section or court docket, then call the official office if status is unclear.
Final court outcome	County clerk of court	Search the criminal case number or ask the clerk for a certified disposition.

Arrest warning: A Florida arrest or jail booking record can show an allegation or custody event. It does not prove guilt, conviction or final disposition.

Florida Department of Corrections Offender Search

The Florida Department of Corrections route is useful for state prison, release and supervision information. It is not a full criminal-history report and does not replace the court file or FDLE record.

Use FDC search for

Florida state inmate information
Release information when available
Supervised population information
DC number-based lookup
State corrections status research

Do not use it as

A complete court case search
A complete FDLE criminal-history check
A county jail search for every county
A federal inmate or PACER search
Proof of conviction without court verification

Open Florida Department of Corrections

Florida Sexual Offender and Predator Registry Search

FDLE’s sexual offender and predator search is the official registry route. Registry information is specific to registry duties and status; it is not the same as a complete criminal-history report.

Search carefully

Use the official FDLE registry route.
Search by name, location or available filters.
Compare identity details before assuming a match.
Read registry notes and public-use limitations.

Understand the limitation

Registry status is not every criminal record.
Registry information does not replace court documents.
Not every criminal conviction creates a registry entry.
Use official channels for corrections or verification questions.

Open FDLE Registry Search

Federal Criminal Records in Florida: Use PACER

Federal criminal cases filed in Florida are not searched through county clerk pages, FDLE CCHInet, FDC offender search or sheriff jail rosters. Use PACER or PACER Case Locator for federal district and appellate case records.

Use PACER when

The case is in a U.S. District Court, U.S. Court of Appeals or another federal court system.

Search by court if known

If you know the federal court, search that court after signing in to PACER.

Use Case Locator if unsure

If you do not know the court, use the PACER Case Locator as the nationwide federal index.

Federal/state split: A person can have a Florida state case, federal case, both or neither. One search does not automatically cover the other.

Open PACER Open PACER Case Locator

Florida Seal, Expunge and Restricted Records

Some Florida criminal-history records may be sealed, expunged, confidential, restricted or not available through a public search. FDLE’s seal and expunge route explains the certificate-of-eligibility step for court-ordered sealing or expungement.

Records may be unavailable when

The record was sealed or expunged.
The case involves confidential information.
The record is juvenile or restricted by law.
The online portal does not display the document type.
The official custodian requires in-person or registered access.

Use official help when

You need a certificate of eligibility.
You need to know whether a case can be sealed or expunged.
You believe a public record is inaccurate.
You need certified copies before filing.
You have employment, licensing or disclosure questions.

Legal warning: Florida sealing and expungement eligibility is fact-specific. Use FDLE/court resources and qualified legal help for case-specific decisions.

Open FDLE Seal/Expunge Process Certificate Instructions

What To Do When You Cannot Find a Florida Criminal Record

A no-result search does not always mean no record exists. You may be searching the wrong county, wrong court, wrong agency, wrong spelling, wrong identifier, state record instead of federal record, or a restricted/sealed record.

Problem	Possible reason	Best next step
No clerk result by name	Wrong county, spelling, alias, maiden name, old case or access restriction	Try case number, citation number, county filter and spelling variations; contact the clerk if needed
FDLE result is unclear	Name-based search may match multiple people or lack identifiers	Use more accurate identifiers, certified route or personal review where appropriate
Booking appears but no conviction	Case pending, dismissed, no-filed, transferred or not updated	Search the clerk case record and request certified disposition if needed
FDC has no match	County jail custody, federal custody, no state prison/supervision record or wrong identifier	Search sheriff/jail, county clerk, FDLE or PACER based on record type
Federal case missing locally	Federal records are searched through PACER, not Florida county portals	Search PACER or PACER Case Locator
Old record not visible	Sealed, expunged, confidential, archived, not digitized or access-limited	Contact the official record custodian or use FDLE seal/expunge guidance

Better search habit: Search by official identifier whenever possible. In Florida, a name-only search is not enough to safely identify a criminal record.

Responsible Use, FCRA and Identity-Matching Warnings

Florida criminal record searches can affect jobs, housing, licensing, reputation and safety. Use official sources, verify identity and check the final disposition before relying on any result.

Do not assume

An arrest means conviction.
A charge means guilt.
A booking page means final court outcome.
A name match is the correct person.
An FDC result is a full court history.
A registry result is a full criminal-history report.

Be careful for screening

Employment and tenant screening may trigger FCRA obligations.
Use authorized consumer-reporting processes when required.
Give required notices when the law requires them.
Allow correction or dispute rights when applicable.
Do not use sealed, expunged, stale or mismatched records unfairly.
Consult qualified counsel for regulated screening decisions.

Practical rule: For serious decisions, use certified court records, FDLE processes, PACER records or legally compliant background-check processes—not a copied screenshot from a name search.

FTC Employer Background Check Guidance FTC Landlord Screening Guidance

Local Florida Help: Clerk, Sheriff, Police and Records Custodian

Local details matter because the official record usually belongs to the office that created or maintains it.

For court records

Use the county clerk or court where the criminal case was filed. Ask for criminal records, certified copies or certified disposition.

For arrest records

Use the sheriff, jail or arresting police department. Ask for booking records, arrest reports or public records requests.

For state history

Use FDLE criminal-history routes. Ask the requesting agency whether it needs instant search, certified search, ORI, live scan or personal review.

Micro-step: Search “[County Name] Florida clerk criminal case search,” “[County Name] sheriff inmate search,” or “[City Name] police records request” only after confirming the county or city involved.

Florida Criminal Records Glossary

FDLE: Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the state route for Florida criminal-history information.
CCHInet: FDLE’s Computerized Criminal History Internet search route for Florida criminal-history information.
County clerk of court: The local office that maintains many trial-court criminal case records and certified copies.
Disposition: The court outcome or status of a charge, such as dismissal, conviction, adjudication withheld, acquittal, plea or sentence.
FDC: Florida Department of Corrections, the official route for many state inmate and supervision records.
ACIS: Florida Appellate Case Information System for Supreme Court and District Court of Appeal dockets.
Sealed or expunged record: A record with restricted public access under Florida law or court order.
PACER: The federal judiciary’s system for electronic access to federal court records.

Florida Criminal Records Search FAQs

How do I search Florida criminal records?

First identify the record type. Use the county clerk for criminal court cases, FDLE for Florida criminal-history searches, FDC for state offender records, sheriff/jail sites for bookings, FDLE registry for sexual offender/predator searches and PACER for federal cases.

Is there one statewide Florida criminal case search?

Not for every trial-court criminal case and document. Trial-court records are generally handled by the county clerk or court where the case was filed. Appellate records use ACIS.

Where do I get a Florida criminal-history check?

Use FDLE Criminal History Records options, including CCHInet instant search, certified/non-certified search, ORI search or personal review depending on your purpose.

Does a Florida arrest record mean someone was convicted?

No. An arrest or booking record is not the same as a conviction. Check the court disposition or certified court record before relying on the result.

Where do I search Florida jail bookings?

Start with the county sheriff, detention facility or arresting agency where the arrest happened. Look for inmate search, booking search, jail roster or public records request pages.

Where do I search Florida state offender records?

Use the Florida Department of Corrections offender search route for state inmate, release or supervision information when available.

Where do I search Florida sexual offender or predator records?

Use the official FDLE Sexual Offender and Predator Search. Registry information is not a complete criminal-history report.

Where do I search federal criminal cases in Florida?

Use PACER or PACER Case Locator. Federal cases are separate from Florida county court records, FDLE records and FDC records.

Can sealed or expunged Florida records appear in public search?

Public access may be limited for sealed, expunged, confidential, juvenile or otherwise restricted records. Use FDLE seal/expunge information, the court of record or qualified legal help for case-specific questions.

Can I use a free name search for employment or tenant screening?

Be careful. Employment and tenant screening may trigger FCRA or state-law duties. Use legally compliant processes when a consumer report or official background check is required.

Official Sources and Final-Action Links

Use these official links for final searches, certified requests, background checks, offender lookups, registry searches, seal/expunge information and federal case research.

Editorial Accuracy and Use Note

This guide separates Florida county court cases, appellate dockets, FDLE criminal-history searches, arrest and jail booking records, FDC offender records, registry records, seal/expunge questions and federal PACER cases. It avoids implying that one search covers every Florida criminal record.

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Last reviewed: October 13, 2026