Miami Criminal Records Search: Cases & Public Records

Where to Search Miami Criminal Records Online

For most people searching a criminal case in Miami, the correct agency is the Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court and Comptroller, not the City of Miami Police Department. Miami is located within Miami-Dade County, and criminal prosecutions are filed through the appropriate county or circuit criminal court.

How to Search Miami Criminal Records by Name or Case Number

The Miami-Dade Clerk’s current Criminal Justice Online Case Search offers several distinct search methods. Choosing the right one can help avoid unrelated name matches.

1. Open the official Miami-Dade criminal search

   Go to www2.miamidadeclerk.gov/cjis/. You can also enter through the Clerk’s Criminal Records page.

2. Select Case Search

   The navigation provides options such as Case Number, State Case Number, Citation/Police Number, Defendant, Background Check and Jail Number. Choose the identifier you actually have.

3. Enter the required information

   For a defendant search, use the person’s correct first and last name and any additional fields required by the system. For a numbered case, enter the case identifier in the appropriate format.

4. Review the results

   The updated search interface presents matching results as selectable records. Open the appropriate record and compare the name, case category, filing date and available identifiers.

5. Open the case docket

   Inspect the Dockets or equivalent case-history section. Look for charging documents, hearings, motions, orders, pleas and disposition information.

6. Check document availability

   Some court document images may be accessible after registration. The Clerk states that account registration is free, although restricted documents remain unavailable to unauthorised users.

7. Verify the final outcome

   Check whether the charge was dismissed, adjudicated, resulted in withheld adjudication or remains pending. Do not treat the initial charge as the final case result.

8. Order certified copies if necessary

   Where an eligible document image is available, the Clerk’s system allows users to expand the docket entry and select the image icon to begin a certified-copy order.

Which Miami Criminal Records Search Option Should You Choose?

The public system supports more than a basic defendant-name search. These choices are particularly useful when a person has only a citation, arrest document or court hearing notice.

Miami-Dade criminal case number prefixes

The Clerk’s published electronic criminal-record data documentation identifies these categories:

• F: Felony case.
• M: Misdemeanor, civil infraction or municipal ordinance case.
• B: Misdemeanor, civil infraction or municipal ordinance case heard in a branch court.

These prefixes are useful for recognising a possible case type, but an M or B prefix does not automatically mean the matter involves a criminal conviction. Some entries are noncriminal civil infractions or ordinance violations. Always inspect the actual charge and disposition.

Miami Criminal Court Dockets, Hearings and Case Status

Miami-Dade’s criminal court system operates through two principal divisions: Circuit Criminal and County Criminal.

How to check a Miami criminal hearing date

1. Open the Criminal Justice Online Case Search

   Use the official Clerk portal, then select the court calendar or case search.

2. Choose the correct calendar

   Use the Judge Hearing Calendar or First Appearance Calendar as appropriate.

3. Confirm the case and assigned court

   Review the defendant, case number, judge and scheduled proceeding where available.

4. Verify any uncertain setting

   If a court notice or attorney’s instructions differ from the online calendar, contact the court before the hearing.

The Eleventh Judicial Circuit also provides court-related hearing information, including virtual appearance instructions. The Clerk’s website links to e-Notify, which can send eligible court hearing reminders by email or text message.

How to Get Certified Miami Criminal Court Records

If you need a certified judgment, dismissal order, plea document, arrest affidavit or other official case document, use the Miami-Dade Clerk’s Criminal Cases Certified Copies service.

The Clerk permits requests through its online system and by mail or email. Fees depend on the document and request method.

For misdemeanor domestic violence records, the Clerk additionally lists cocdomesticviolence@miamidade.gov. For criminal traffic documents, the published mailing location is 1351 NW 12th Street, Suite 124, Miami, FL 33125.

Step-by-step certified copy request

1. Locate the case

   Search the official criminal portal. Record the case number, year, defendant name and court division.

2. Identify the document

   Common requests include the judgment and sentence, information or indictment, affidavit of arrest, probation order, dismissal order or other filed court record.

3. Check online availability

   Open the docket entry and select the document image where accessible. The portal may permit a certified copy order directly.

4. Use the correct clerk division if needed

   If the image is not available, contact the felony or misdemeanor division using the published details above.

5. Confirm fees and delivery

   For mailed requests, include the required identifying details, requestor information, payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Miami Criminal Records Search Fees and Copy Charges

Basic public case lookup and certified records are different services. These fees are published by the Miami-Dade Clerk and FDLE; they should not be combined into one background-check price.

Always verify the actual payment instructions with the relevant agency. Online services may have different delivery options or service charges.

Miami Criminal History Disposition Letter vs. Statewide Background Check

A frequently overlooked Miami-specific distinction is the difference between the Clerk’s certified criminal history disposition letter and an FDLE criminal-history report.

Miami Police Arrest Reports and Public Records Requests

For a copy of an incident report, arrest report, police narrative or related law-enforcement record, begin with the agency that created the report.

City of Miami Police and the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office are separate agencies. Their public-records request channels are not interchangeable.

What to include in a police record request

Florida’s public records law generally provides access to nonexempt records, but active investigation information, protected victim details, juvenile information and other legally confidential material may be restricted or redacted.

Miami-Dade Arrest and Jail Inmate Search

The Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department maintains an online inmate-search service. This is useful for checking available custody information, but it is not the same as a criminal conviction record.

How to use the inmate search

1. Open the official inmate search

   Go to the Miami-Dade Corrections Inmate Search at miamidade.gov.

2. Enter the person’s name

   The search provides first-name and last-name fields. The interface requires a minimum of three characters in the name fields.

3. Review the available custody record

   Compare the name and other available identifying information before assuming a match.

4. Find the related court case separately

   If the purpose is to determine whether charges were formally filed or how the case ended, search the Miami-Dade Clerk’s criminal case portal.

Florida FDLE Criminal Background Check for Miami Residents

Florida Department of Law Enforcement is the state’s central repository for criminal-history information. It provides different search services depending on the requester’s purpose.

FDLE instant criminal-history search

1. Open Florida Criminal History Record Checks

   Visit FDLE’s official public record-check page.

2. Choose Instant Search

   This is the public name-based search option. Follow the required identification fields and service instructions.

3. Pay the search fee

   FDLE lists $24 for each instant public criminal-history search plus a $1 credit-card processing charge.

4. Review the response

   Results can be available immediately and may be printed or emailed. FDLE states these instant results are not certified.

5. Use another FDLE option if certification is required

   FDLE offers separate Certified/ Non-Certified and ORI-based search processes. An ORI-based request requires the valid identifier supplied by the authorised requesting agency.

How to review your own Florida criminal history

FDLE provides a separate Personal Review procedure for individuals who wish to inspect the accuracy and completeness of their own Florida criminal-history information.

The request requires the official Personal Review form and fingerprint submission according to FDLE instructions. FDLE does not charge a fee for the personal record review itself, although an outside fingerprinting provider may charge for collecting prints.

This procedure cannot be used by an unrelated member of the public to obtain another person’s confidential personal-review result.

Miami Criminal Traffic Cases: DUI, Reckless Driving and Suspended Licenses

A common reason Miami criminal records searches fail is that the user is looking for a traffic-related offense under the wrong court category.

The Miami-Dade Clerk distinguishes criminal traffic violations from ordinary civil traffic infractions and parking citations.

Examples of criminal traffic offenses listed by the Clerk include:

• Driving under the influence (DUI).
• Reckless driving.
• Knowingly driving with a suspended driver’s license.
• Leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage.

For a criminal traffic citation, the Clerk explains that a court appearance is required. The appropriate court date can be checked through the traffic citation search system.

The published Traffic Division voice response number is 305-275-1111.

Miami Criminal Appeals, Federal Cases and Sex Offender Records

Some records associated with Miami are maintained outside Miami-Dade’s trial-court case-search system.

Miami Criminal Records Sealing and Expungement

In Florida, a criminal case that was dismissed or resulted in no conviction may still leave a publicly accessible criminal-history record. Dismissal does not necessarily mean the record automatically disappears.

Florida provides different forms of relief, including court-ordered sealing, expungement and certain automatic sealing procedures. Eligibility depends on the offense, case result and applicable statutes.

How the regular court-ordered process works

1. Check eligibility requirements

   Review FDLE’s seal and expunge rules and any disqualifying conditions.

2. Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility

   For applicable court-ordered sealing and expungement, FDLE reviews an application and supporting records.

3. File the appropriate court petition

   If FDLE issues the certificate, the applicant must still follow the required court procedure.

4. Obtain a qualifying court order

   The certificate alone does not seal or expunge a criminal-history record.

5. Verify implementation

   FDLE states that court-ordered relief takes effect under the applicable procedure after the proper certified court order is received.

Read the official FDLE Seal and Expunge Process and consult a qualified Florida attorney for case-specific eligibility questions.

Why Can’t I Find a Miami Criminal Record Online?

A search that returns no matches does not prove that a person has no criminal-history records. The source, record type, filing stage and search terms all matter.

What does “no action” or “nolle prosequi” mean?

Some Miami criminal docket records may contain terms describing a prosecutor’s decision not to proceed with a particular charge.

A nolle prosequi generally refers to a decision to discontinue a prosecution or charge. A no action disposition can indicate that formal charges were not filed or pursued in the specified proceeding.

Neither term automatically proves that the original arrest record was expunged. Review the actual record and applicable Florida legal rules.

Using Miami Criminal Public Records Responsibly

Criminal records can affect employment, housing, professional licensing, immigration proceedings and personal reputation. A name-based search may return a different person with similar identifying details.

• Verify identity using lawfully available details.
• Distinguish an arrest from a formally filed criminal case.
• Read the complete disposition rather than the original charge alone.
• Respect confidential, sealed, expunged and juvenile records.
• Use certified court records for purposes that require official documents.
• Follow applicable FCRA and Florida requirements for regulated background screening.

The Clerk expressly states that its online case information is not the official court record and cannot be guaranteed to be complete or current. For a consequential decision, verify the result through the proper records custodian.

For employment screening, consult the Federal Trade Commission’s background-check guidance.

Official Miami Criminal Records Resources

Use these official court, county, city, state and federal sources for the actual records or application process.

Miami-Dade Criminal Courts

• Miami-Dade Criminal Justice Online Case Search
• Miami-Dade Clerk Criminal Records
• Miami-Dade Criminal Court and Disposition Letters
• Criminal Case Certified Copies
• Criminal History Check Certified Copies
• Miami-Dade Criminal Traffic Violations
• Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida

Police and Jail Records

• City of Miami Public Records Requests
• Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Public Records
• Miami-Dade Corrections Inmate Search

Florida State and Federal Records

• FDLE Florida Criminal History Record Checks
• FDLE Personal Criminal History Review
• FDLE Seal and Expunge Process
• Florida Sexual Offender and Predator Registry
• Florida Appellate Case Information System
• U.S. District Court — Southern District of Florida
• PACER Federal Criminal Case Search