Arrest records in Marion County, Florida are public documents accessible to all citizens pursuant to Florida's Public Records Law (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes). This legislation, commonly known as the Florida Sunshine Law, establishes that government records, including arrest records, shall be available for inspection by any person. The law specifically states that public records must be open for personal inspection by any person at reasonable times and under reasonable conditions.
The Marion County Sheriff's Office maintains these records in accordance with Florida Statutes § 119.07, which mandates that custodians of public records shall permit the record to be inspected and examined by any person desiring to do so. Requesters are not required to provide identification or state a purpose for their request, as specified in Florida Statutes § 119.01(3).
Public access to arrest records serves several governmental functions:
Marion County arrest records are available through multiple online platforms maintained by governmental agencies. The Marion County Sheriff's Office provides a digital database of current inmate information and recent arrests. This online accessibility is authorized under Florida Statutes § 119.01(2)(a), which encourages agencies to provide reasonable public access to records through electronic means.
The Marion County Clerk of Court also maintains the Comprehensive Case Information System (CCIS), which contains court records related to arrests and subsequent legal proceedings. Access to this system requires registration and may involve nominal fees for certain document retrievals as permitted under Florida Statutes § 28.24.
Online access to these records is subject to certain limitations:
Members of the public seeking Marion County arrest records may utilize several official channels to obtain this information. The following methods are available for conducting arrest record searches:
In-Person Requests:
Online Access:
Written Requests:
Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 119.07(4), agencies may charge a reasonable fee for the duplication of records, not to exceed 15 cents per one-sided copy for duplicated copies of not more than 14 inches by 8½ inches.
Marion County arrest records contain standardized information as required by Florida Statutes § 119.021, which establishes requirements for the maintenance of public records. A comprehensive arrest record typically includes the following components:
Biographical Information:
Arrest Details:
Processing Information:
Case Disposition:
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains standards for arrest record formats pursuant to Florida Administrative Code Rule 11C-4.006, ensuring consistency across jurisdictions.
Under Florida law, certain individuals may qualify to have their arrest records expunged or sealed from public view. The process is governed by Florida Statutes § 943.0585 (expungement) and § 943.059 (sealing). Eligibility criteria for expungement in Marion County include:
Individuals seeking expungement must first obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The application process requires:
The Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida 110 NW 1st Avenue Ocala, FL 34475 Phone: (352) 671-5604
Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 943.0585(4), a person who has secured the expungement of an arrest record may lawfully deny or fail to acknowledge the arrests covered by the expunged record, except when applying for certain positions or licenses as enumerated in the statute.