>Miami-Dade County Arrest Records Online

Miami-Dade County, Florida Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Miami-Dade County, Florida?

Arrest records are public in Miami-Dade County, Florida, pursuant to Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, commonly known as the Florida Public Records Act. This legislation establishes that all government records, including those pertaining to arrests, shall be open for personal inspection by any person unless specifically exempted by law. The Florida Constitution, Article I, Section 24, further reinforces this right of access to public records.

The Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts maintains these records in accordance with Florida Statute § 28.13, which mandates that clerks of the circuit court shall be the recorder of all instruments that may be recorded by law. Members of the public seeking arrest records may obtain them through various county agencies, including the Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Court and Comptroller and the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office.

Certain exceptions to public disclosure exist under Florida Statute § 119.071, including:

Active criminal intelligence information
Records pertaining to juvenile offenders (with specific exceptions)
Information that would reveal the identity of confidential informants
Records sealed or expunged pursuant to court order

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Miami-Dade County?

Arrest records can be accessed online through several official Miami-Dade County portals. The Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts maintains a comprehensive online database pursuant to Florida Statute § 28.2221, which authorizes clerks to provide access to public records via electronic means. The Miami-Dade County Clerk Criminal Justice portal allows members of the public to search for criminal cases, including arrest information.

Additionally, the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department maintains the MDCR Inmate Search database, which provides information on currently incarcerated individuals and those recently released. This service is provided in accordance with Florida Statute § 951.23(9), which requires that information concerning inmates in county detention facilities be available to the public.

Online access to these records is subject to the same exemptions and limitations that apply to physical records under Florida law. Certain sensitive information may be redacted from online records pursuant to Florida Statute § 119.071, including social security numbers, bank account information, and other personal identifying information.

How to Look Up Miami-Dade County Arrest Records in 2025

To obtain Miami-Dade County arrest records in 2025, individuals may utilize several official channels:

Visit the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts Records Division in person: Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts 73 W. Flagler Street, Room 242 Miami, FL 33130 305-275-1155 Official Website Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Access the Criminal Records online portal maintained by the Clerk of Courts, which allows searches by name, case number, or other identifiers.
Contact the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office Records Section: Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office Records Section 9105 NW 25th Street Doral, FL 33172 305-471-2900 Official Website Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Submit a public records request through the Miami-Dade County Records portal, pursuant to Florida Statute § 119.07, which establishes procedures for making public records requests.
Utilize the OCS Search system for civil, family, and probate court records that may contain information related to arrests.

Requestors should be prepared to provide specific information to facilitate the search, including the full name of the individual, approximate date of arrest, and, if available, date of birth or case number. Pursuant to Florida Statute § 119.07(4), agencies may charge a reasonable fee for the duplication of records, not to exceed 15 cents per one-sided copy.

Contents of a Miami-Dade County Arrest Record

Miami-Dade County arrest records typically contain comprehensive information about the arrest event and the arrested individual. In accordance with Florida Statute § 119.021, which establishes requirements for the maintenance of public records, these documents generally include:

Full legal name and any known aliases of the arrested individual
Date of birth and demographic information (age, gender, race)
Physical description, including height, weight, eye color, hair color, and identifying marks such as scars or tattoos
Residential address at the time of arrest
Date, time, and location of the arrest
Arresting agency and officer information
Specific charges filed, including Florida Statute citations
Case number assigned by the court
Booking photograph (mugshot)
Fingerprint information
Bail or bond amount, if applicable
Court appearance dates
Disposition of the case (if available)

The Miami-Dade County Sheriff's Office maintains these records in compliance with Florida Administrative Code Rule 11B-27.0011, which establishes standards for criminal justice agency records. Certain sensitive information may be redacted from public arrest records pursuant to exemptions under Florida Statute § 119.071, including social security numbers and information that might compromise ongoing investigations.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Miami-Dade County

Individuals may petition for the expungement or sealing of arrest records in Miami-Dade County under specific circumstances outlined in Florida Statute § 943.0585 (expungement) and § 943.059 (sealing). The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) administers this process in conjunction with the Miami-Dade County court system.

To qualify for expungement, the following criteria generally must be met:

Charges must have been dismissed, dropped, or resulted in acquittal
The petitioner must not have been adjudicated guilty of any criminal offense
The petitioner must not have previously sealed or expunged another record in Florida
The offense must not be among those enumerated in Florida Statute § 943.0584 as ineligible for expungement

The expungement process requires:

Obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility from the FDLE
Filing a petition with the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts
Serving the petition on the State Attorney's Office and arresting agency
Attending a hearing before a circuit court judge

Miami-Dade County Courthouse 73 W. Flagler Street Miami, FL 33130 305-275-1155 Official Website

Pursuant to Florida Statute § 943.0585(4), an expunged arrest record is physically destroyed by all criminal justice agencies possessing such record, except the FDLE, which maintains a confidential copy. After expungement, the individual may lawfully deny the arrest occurred except in specific circumstances outlined in statute.

Legal Restrictions on Access to Certain Arrest Records

Florida law establishes several categories of arrest records that are exempt from public disclosure or subject to special handling. Pursuant to Florida Statute § 119.071, these protected categories include:

Juvenile arrest records, which are generally confidential under Florida Statute § 985.04, with limited exceptions for serious offenses
Records pertaining to victims of sexual offenses, as protected under Florida Statute § 119.071(2)(h)
Information that would reveal the identity of undercover personnel or confidential informants
Records related to ongoing criminal investigations, as specified in Florida Statute § 119.071(2)(c)
Arrest records that have been ordered sealed or expunged by a court

Additionally, Florida Statute § 943.0525 establishes the Criminal Justice Information Program, which governs the dissemination of criminal history information. This program ensures that certain sensitive information is protected while maintaining appropriate public access to records.

The Miami-Dade County Sheriff's Office and Clerk of Courts must comply with these statutory exemptions when responding to public records requests. Violations of these confidentiality provisions may result in penalties as outlined in Florida Statute § 119.10.

Search Arrest Records in Miami-Dade County

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