State of Florida Criminal Records: Criminal Records Guide
Florida criminal records • Official-source guide
State of Florida Criminal Records: Search FDLE History, Court Cases and Public Records
Looking for a Florida criminal record? Start with the record type. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) handles statewide criminal-history requests, while Florida’s 67 county Clerks maintain most trial-court criminal case files.
You can search many county criminal case indexes without paying for an FDLE report. But an official statewide criminal-history request is a different service, and it normally costs money.
Research checked against official Florida state, court and federal resources: October 16, 2026.
Different agencies maintain different parts of Florida’s criminal-record system.
Start with the answer
Where to Search State of Florida Criminal Records
For an official Florida criminal-history search, use FDLE’s State of Florida Criminal History Record Check. For a criminal case docket, use the Clerk of Court in the county where the case was filed. Florida does not provide one unrestricted public search that combines every Clerk’s full case file, FDLE history, arrest report and federal record.
FDLE criminal history
Florida criminal-history repository results. Use Instant Search or request staff-processed certified/non-certified results.
See the steps ↓County criminal cases
Felony, misdemeanor, criminal traffic, docket and case disposition information through county Clerk systems.
Find your county ↓Prison, registry and appeals
Use FDOC for state prison information, FDLE for sexual offender registry searches, and ACIS for Florida appellate cases.
Choose a source ↓Actual costs
Florida Criminal Records Fees: What Is Free and What Costs Money?
Base public criminal-history request fee.
$24 record search plus $1 card-processing charge.
Public docket viewing commonly is free; official copies and other services may be charged.
| Service | Cost / timing | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| FDLE Instant Search | $24 + $1 processing fee; immediate online result | Printable or emailable, not certified |
| FDLE staff-processed non-certified search | $24; FDLE lists 5 business days processing | Response by regular U.S. mail |
| FDLE certified search | $24; FDLE lists 6–7 business days processing | Certified response; mailing time additional |
| County Clerk paper copies | Statutory photocopy charge generally $1 per standard-size page | Copies from the court file where accessible |
| County Clerk certification | Florida Statutes §28.24 generally specifies $2 for certifying a court-record instrument | Clerk-certified record; copy and delivery charges can be additional |
| FDLE personal review | No FDLE fee for eligible personal criminal-history record review | Own-record accuracy review; not a clearance certificate for employment |
FDLE pricing and processing are from its official request page. County charges are governed by Florida Statutes §28.24, subject to exceptions and the service requested. Verify costs before payment.
Official statewide search
How to Search Florida Criminal History Through FDLE
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Division of Criminal Justice Information Services is the state’s central criminal-history repository. Its public request service is not the same as a county Clerk’s case docket.
- Open FDLE’s criminal history check page.
Read the search options: Instant Search, Certified/Non-Certified Search, and ORI Search. Do not choose ORI merely because an employer asked for a background check.
- Choose Instant Search for an immediate, non-certified result.
Follow the “Instant Florida Criminal History Search” link from FDLE. Review the instructions and payment notice before beginning.
- Enter accurate identifying information.
Use the correct legal name and the identity fields requested on the secure official form. Avoid assuming a common name identifies the right person.
- Review payment and submit.
For FDLE instant searches, the published amount is $24 plus $1 processing. Verify it on the payment screen. Do not pay through an unrelated advertising or directory website.
- Read and preserve the result.
Instant results can be printed or emailed, but they are not certified. Review identifying details and any listed dispositions carefully.
- Need certified or staff-processed results?
Return to FDLE’s entry page, select the “Certified/Non-Certified Search” option, complete the demographic request, pay as instructed and retain the request details. FDLE sends the response by regular mail.
- Need licensing or an employer-specific check?
Ask the agency requiring the check whether an ORI-based process or Level 2 fingerprinting is required. FDLE explicitly says it cannot provide you with an agency’s ORI; obtain that from the requesting organization.
Instant Search vs. Certified Search vs. ORI Search
Immediate research
FDLE’s online non-certified criminal-history response. Best when certification is not required.
Formal documents
Staff-processed request suitable when the receiving organization specifically requires a certified response.
ORI / screening
Use only with a valid ORI and instructions from the agency authorized to receive the result.
County-level court records
How to Search Florida Criminal Court Cases by County
Florida’s felony prosecutions ordinarily proceed in circuit court, while county courts generally handle misdemeanors and qualifying criminal traffic cases. Most trial-court searches begin with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the case was filed. An arrest county and the filing county are not always the same.
- Identify the filing county.
Use the county on a charging document, court notice, citation or existing case number. If unknown, begin with counties where the incident or prosecution may have occurred.
- Select the county from Find a Clerk.
Open the Clerk’s website. Look for “Court Records,” “Case Search,” “Public Records Search” or “Online Court Records.” Do not mistake Official Records (deeds and recorded instruments) for criminal court cases.
- Choose criminal case categories.
Select felony, misdemeanor or criminal traffic as appropriate. The labels differ by county, and some portals combine case types in one search interface.
- Search by case number if available.
Keep the full case identifier, including year and prefixes. Otherwise use the legal name and adjust dates and filters after seeing the results.
- Verify the candidate case.
Compare county, case number, filing date, party role and other lawfully displayed identifiers. A shared name is not proof that two records concern the same person.
- Read the complete docket timeline.
Check charging documents, pleas, amended counts, dismissal orders, adjudication entries, judgment, sentence and later modifications. The initial charge alone is not the outcome.
- Request official documents when needed.
Use the Clerk’s copy/certification process and ask specifically for a certified disposition, judgment and sentence, or other applicable record.
Examples: Finding Criminal Case Records in Major Florida Counties
| County | Official Clerk | Practical next step |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade | Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court and Comptroller | Find Criminal Court records or the official case search, then select the relevant criminal case type. |
| Broward | Broward County Clerk of Courts | Use the Clerk’s case-search system and verify the criminal division. |
| Palm Beach | Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller | Use Court Records Search, not the property Official Records index. |
| Hillsborough | Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller | Find criminal case records by case number or party name. |
| Orange | Orange County Clerk of Courts | Use the criminal case search and inspect the docket and disposition. |
| Duval | Duval County Clerk of Courts | Search public criminal court records by defendant or case identifier. |
| Pinellas | Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller | Use criminal court records search for the filing county. |
| Pasco | Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller | Open the Clerk’s Online Court Records Search, then public access. |
These examples identify the correct county-level custodians, not a statewide combined search. Use the official directory to access the current portal, court address, contact number and office hours rather than relying on potentially outdated third-party contact information.
Interactive source selector
Florida Criminal Records Route Finder
Choose the record you need. This tool does not ask for personal information, query government databases, or store searches.
Records explained
What Counts as a State of Florida Criminal Record?
Arrests and fingerprint records
FDLE criminal history may originate when a person is arrested and fingerprinted. Arrest information and the later case disposition must be read separately.
Felony court cases
Generally handled in Florida circuit courts. Cases may include charging documents, motions, pleas, trials, sentencing and post-judgment activity.
Misdemeanor court cases
Typically handled in county courts. Search the Clerk maintaining the case to learn whether charges were dismissed, adjudicated or otherwise resolved.
Criminal traffic cases
Some DUI, reckless-driving and license-related cases can be criminal matters. Ordinary noncriminal traffic infractions are not equivalent to criminal convictions.
Correctional records
State prison and supervision information comes from corrections systems. County jail booking records are held by local sheriffs or detention agencies.
Appeals and federal prosecutions
Florida state appellate cases use ACIS. Federal cases in Florida use PACER; neither replaces the original county criminal court record.
How to Interpret Common Florida Criminal Case Outcomes
| Term | What it commonly indicates | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Nolle prosequi / nolle prossed | Prosecutor declines to continue particular charges. | Whether all counts were dropped, and whether the dismissal is final. |
| No information filed | Prosecution does not file the charging information. | Arrest history may still exist with FDLE. |
| Adjudication withheld | A distinct Florida disposition; court withholds formal adjudication subject to applicable requirements. | Eligibility and reporting consequences depend on the legal context. |
| Adjudicated guilty | Formal adjudication of guilt. | Final judgment, counts, sentence and later appellate action. |
| Acquitted / not guilty | No guilty verdict on specified counts. | All counts and the precise disposition. |
| Case closed | Administrative case status. | Closing a case does not by itself identify the outcome. |
Different record custodians
Search Florida Inmates, Registry Records and Criminal Appeals
Florida Department of Corrections
Use the official DOC site to find its current offender or inmate search resources. After opening, find Offender Search, choose the relevant search, and compare identifiers before assuming a match.
County jail bookings are not necessarily included in the state prison search.
Florida DOC ↗Sexual Offenders and Predators
Open the FDLE registry, choose Offender Search or Neighborhood Search, enter name or location and verify available information. Listings are not complete criminal histories.
FDLE registry information line: 1-888-357-7332.
FDLE Registry ↗Florida ACIS
Use the Appellate Case Information System for Florida Supreme Court and six District Court of Appeal dockets. Open Case Search or Party Search, choose the court, search, then inspect orders and the most recent docket activity.
Open ACIS ↗PACER
Florida federal criminal records are separate from state cases. Register or sign in to PACER, select the federal district court or use Case Locator when the correct court is unknown. Applicable usage charges may apply.
Open PACER ↗Florida relief procedures
How to Seal or Expunge a Florida Criminal History Record
Florida has different statutory processes for sealing and expungement. Court-ordered relief commonly requires obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility from FDLE before filing the petition with the appropriate court. Eligibility is limited; a dismissed case is not automatically eligible for every form of relief.
Nonrefundable application fee for the applicable Certificate of Eligibility process.
FDLE’s stated typical estimate; actual timing can vary.
FDLE eligibility certification alone does not seal or expunge a record.
- Open FDLE’s Seal and Expunge page.
Review the separate processes and choose the applicable Certificate of Eligibility instructions.
- Read the eligibility requirements.
Review the statutes, relevant disqualifications and any prior relief history. For complex situations, obtain qualified Florida legal advice.
- Complete the official application.
Provide the required arrest information, identifying details and supporting documents. Follow FDLE’s current instructions for obtaining an authorized fingerprint card.
- Include the correct payment.
FDLE currently lists a $75 nonrefundable fee and specifies accepted payment forms for this application.
- Submit the completed application packet.
Use the current FDLE instructions for submission and keep copies of the certified disposition and arrest documents before seeking relief.
- After eligibility certification, follow the court process.
If certified eligible, petition the appropriate court. FDLE says a record is not sealed or expunged merely because the eligibility application was approved.
Real-world troubleshooting
Why a Florida Criminal Record May Be Missing or Incorrect
| Problem | What to check | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| No FDLE match | Name variations, identity fields, reporting scope and whether an arrest was fingerprinted. | Follow FDLE’s official correction or personal-review instructions. |
| County case missing | Filing county, criminal case category, older indexing, alias and date filters. | Contact the correct county Clerk. |
| Arrest found, disposition missing | Whether a final disposition was reported to the relevant repository. | Obtain the certified disposition and ask the repository how to correct an incomplete history. |
| A dismissal still appears | Whether the arrest is eligible for a sealing or expungement procedure. | Read FDLE Seal and Expunge instructions; dismissal alone does not delete history. |
| Court document inaccessible online | Remote-public-access rules and case confidentiality. | Ask the Clerk whether lawful in-person inspection or a copy request is possible. |
| Employer requires fingerprinting | The requesting organization’s legal authority, ORI and instructions. | Follow authorized screening instructions rather than ordering a generic public FDLE search. |
Why certain Florida court documents cannot be viewed online
The Florida Courts’ Standards for Access to Electronic Court Records and Access Security Matrix distinguish public access from authorized access. A docket entry may be public while particular document images are confidential, redacted or restricted from remote viewing.
Do not try to bypass a portal’s access restrictions. Contact the Clerk about the correct authorized process.
Florida Court Access Standards ↗Own-record review
How to Check or Correct Your Own Florida Criminal History
FDLE recognizes a Personal Review procedure for people who want to check the accuracy or completeness of their own Florida criminal history. FDLE states that it does not charge for this service. It is different from the paid public criminal-history request and cannot be used as a substitute for an employment, immigration, licensing or certification background check.
- Open FDLE’s Criminal History Records page.
- Find the section named Personal Review.
- Read the official identity and fingerprint instructions, if applicable.
- Request your own history through that process.
- If something is inaccurate, follow FDLE’s challenge instructions and obtain certified court documents to support the correction where necessary.
Screening compliance
Can Florida Criminal Records Be Used for Employment or Tenant Screening?
Public records are not automatically equivalent to a legally compliant consumer background report. Employers, landlords, licensing bodies and regulated organizations should determine which laws and authorizations apply. FCRA requirements can apply when a consumer-reporting agency supplies the report.
Before making an adverse decision, verify the person’s identity, the final disposition, the currency of the information and any applicable notice and dispute requirements. Florida and federal rules may differ according to the purpose and agency.
Common Florida questions
State of Florida Criminal Records FAQs
1. How do I search State of Florida criminal records?
Use FDLE’s official criminal-history check service for statewide repository records. For an individual felony, misdemeanor or criminal traffic case, search the Clerk of Court in the filing county.
2. Are Florida criminal records free to search?
Many county court docket searches can be viewed without charge, but FDLE public criminal-history requests are fee-based. FDLE currently lists $24 plus a $1 processing fee for instant online searches.
3. What is the official Florida criminal background check website?
FDLE provides the official Florida criminal-history check entry page at fdle.state.fl.us/criminal-history-records/florida-checks. Select the appropriate public, certified or ORI-based request option.
4. Does an FDLE instant search provide certified results?
No. FDLE explains that instant results can be printed or emailed but are not certified. Choose its certified search process when official certification is required.
5. Can I search Florida criminal court cases by name?
Many county Clerks offer public name searches. The correct portal depends on the county where the case was filed. Use case number, filing date and other identifiers to avoid mistaken identity.
6. How do I get a certified Florida criminal court disposition?
Contact the Clerk maintaining the criminal case and request the certified disposition or judgment. Florida’s statutory service charges and any additional copy or delivery costs may apply.
7. Do dismissed Florida charges remain on criminal history?
They can. FDLE says an arrest and fingerprint history may remain even when charges are dismissed or no information is filed. Sealing or expungement requires an applicable legal procedure.
8. Where do I search Florida prison and inmate information?
Start with the Florida Department of Corrections for state prison and supervision resources. For county jail bookings, use the relevant county sheriff or detention agency.
9. How do I seal or expunge a Florida criminal record?
Review FDLE’s Seal and Expunge Process and eligibility instructions. Court-ordered processes commonly begin with a Certificate of Eligibility application, followed by the appropriate court petition if eligible.
10. Does FDLE criminal history include federal and out-of-state records?
A public Florida repository request should not be assumed to be a complete national check. Use legally authorized FBI or other jurisdiction-specific processes when federal or out-of-state records are required.
Primary source library
Official Florida Government Resources
- FDLE — State of Florida Criminal History Record Check
- FDLE — Criminal History Records and Personal Review
- Florida Clerks & Comptrollers — Find a Clerk
- Florida Appellate Case Information System
- Florida Department of Corrections
- FDLE Sexual Offender and Predator Registry
- FDLE Seal and Expunge Process
- FDLE Certificate of Eligibility Instructions
- Florida Courts Electronic Access Standards and Security Matrix
- 2026 Florida Statutes §28.24 — Clerk Service Charges
- PACER — Federal Case Records