>Lee County Arrest Records Online

Lee County, Florida Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Lee County, Florida?

Arrest records are public in Lee County, Florida, pursuant to Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, commonly known as the Florida Public Records Act. This legislation establishes that all records made or received by any public agency in the course of its official business are available for inspection, unless specifically exempted by law. The Lee County Sheriff's Office maintains these records as part of their statutory obligations under Florida law § 119.07, which mandates public access to government records. This transparency measure serves multiple public interests, including:

Ensuring accountability of law enforcement agencies
Providing citizens with information about criminal activity in their communities
Supporting the constitutional right to access government proceedings and documents
Facilitating background checks for employment and housing purposes

Members of the public should be aware that while arrest records are generally accessible, certain information may be redacted to protect privacy interests as specified in § 119.071, such as the identities of victims of certain crimes and personal information of law enforcement officers.

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Lee County?

Lee County arrest records are available online through several official government portals. The Lee County Sheriff's Office maintains a searchable database of current and recent arrests as mandated by Florida's commitment to government transparency under § 119.01(2)(a), which encourages agencies to provide remote electronic access to public records. The online availability of these records is governed by the following provisions:

Records must be provided in the format requested if maintained in that format
Agencies may charge a reasonable fee for remote electronic access
Certain exempt information must be redacted before online publication
Records must be updated regularly according to agency retention schedules

The Lee County Clerk of Court also maintains court records related to arrests through their official website, providing case information for arrests that have proceeded to court proceedings. These online systems operate 24 hours per day, facilitating public access outside of normal business hours.

How to Look Up Lee County Arrest Records in 2025

Multiple official channels exist for accessing Lee County arrest records. Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 119.07(1)(a), which states that "every person who has custody of a public record shall permit the record to be inspected and copied," the following methods are available to the public:

Visit the Lee County Sheriff's Office Records Division in person: Lee County Sheriff's Office Records Division 14750 Six Mile Cypress Parkway Fort Myers, FL 33912 (239) 477-1350 Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Official Website
Access the Lee County Clerk of Court for court records related to arrests: Lee County Clerk of Circuit Court 2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33901 (239) 533-5000 Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Utilize the online inmate search portal maintained by the Lee County Sheriff's Office
Submit a public records request via mail, email, or fax to the Records Division

When requesting records, individuals must provide sufficient information to identify the specific records sought, as required by § 119.07(1)(c). Requestors may be required to pay reasonable fees for duplication of records as authorized by § 119.07(4).

Contents of a Lee County Arrest Record

Lee County arrest records contain standardized information as prescribed by Florida Department of Law Enforcement guidelines and Florida Statutes § 943.05. These records typically include the following elements:

Subject's full legal name and any documented aliases
Date of birth and demographic information (age, gender, race)
Physical description including height, weight, and identifying marks
Residential address at time of arrest
Date, time, and location of the arrest
Statutory charges filed, including Florida Statute numbers
Arresting agency and officer identification
Booking photograph (commonly known as a mugshot)
Fingerprint information and unique identification numbers
Case disposition information, if available
Bond amount and status

Pursuant to § 119.071(5), certain personal identifying information such as social security numbers may be redacted from public versions of these records. Additionally, if the arrest involved a juvenile, different rules regarding confidentiality may apply under Florida Statutes § 985.04, potentially limiting public access to such records.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Lee County

Florida law provides mechanisms for the expungement or sealing of arrest records under specific circumstances. Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 943.0585 and § 943.059, individuals may petition for expungement or sealing if they meet statutory eligibility requirements. The process involves:

Obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Filing a petition with the court that handled the case
Attending a hearing before a judge who will determine if the petition meets legal requirements

Eligibility criteria generally include:

No prior adjudications of guilt for any criminal offense
No prior sealing or expungement of records
Completion of all court-ordered sanctions
Case disposition favorable to the petitioner (e.g., charges dropped, acquittal)

The expungement process is administered through:

Lee County Clerk of Circuit Court 2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33901 (239) 533-5000 Official Website

Individuals seeking expungement should be aware that certain offenses are statutorily ineligible for expungement under § 943.0584, including sexual offenses, violent crimes, and certain drug trafficking offenses.

Search Arrest Records in Lee County

Cities

Cape Coral Fort Myers