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  1. Okaloosa County Court
  2. Okaloosa County Arrest Records

Okaloosa County, Florida Arrest Records

In Okaloosa County, arrest records are created by the county’s law enforcement agencies as official documentation on arrest events. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, city police departments (such as Fort Walton Beach Police Department and Niceville Police Department), and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement create these documents during the arrest and booking of individuals suspected of criminal acts. Generally, arrest records display identifying information, booking details, and custody information.

Interested parties can access basic arrest information. However, beyond basic details, Section 943.053 of the Florida Statutes governs how the Florida Department of Law Enforcement disseminates Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI). 

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Okaloosa, Florida?

Yes, Okaloosa County’s arrest records are public. Article 1, Section 24(A) of the Florida Constitution and Chapter 119.07(1) of the Florida Statutes provide the framework for public access to arrest records in Okaloosa County. According to these laws, custodians of arrest records in Okaloosa must make the documents accessible to interested individuals who request them in good faith. Access to Okaloosa County's arrest records is accessible to all interested parties, regardless of residency and citizenship, and does not require ID. Individuals can make oral, written, or electronic requests to access these documents, but will bear the copying costs (if applicable) and reasonable labor fees if access involves extensive searches.

What Do Public County Arrest Records Contain?

While Okaloosa County’s arrest records are public under Florida laws, individuals can access only public-facing information. An Okaloosa County arrest record details who was arrested, where the arrest took place, the charges against the arrestee, and the arrestee's custody status.

A typical Okaloosa County arrest record contains the following categories of information:

Identifying information

  • The name of the arrested person
  • Date of birth
  • Gender and race
  • Physical description, such as height, weight, eye/hair color)
  • Mugshots 

Arrest detail

  • Date, time, and location of arrest
  • Name or badge number of the arresting officer
  • Arresting agency

Charge and offense detail

  • Specific criminal charges filed at the time of arrest
  • Statutory citation (section of Florida law violated)
  • Classification of offense (misdemeanor or felony)

Booking information

  • Booking date and time
  • Booking number and ID
  • Detention facility

Custody and release status

  • Current custody status (in custody, released, or transferred)
  • Bond or bail amount
  • Release date (if it applies)
  • Conditions of release (if any)

Case tracking information

  • Court case number (if charges were filed)
  • Scheduled court date 

Additional information

  • Warrant associated with the arrest
  • Holds from other jurisdictions
  • Previous booking references.

While most of Okaloosa County’s arrest records are public, there is a restriction on public access to juvenile records, sealed and expunged records, and information protected by privacy laws. 

Okaloosa County,  Florida Arrest Search

As alternatives to local search tools, information seekers can use state and federal resources to access information about arrests in Okaloosa County. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) maintains a statewide criminal history repository. Individuals can perform public-name-based searches for criminal information (including arrest records) or background checks through the FDLE Criminal History Search Portal. Likewise, the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) Offender Network provides access to information about individuals serving sentences in state prisons, including individuals arrested or transferred from Okaloosa County. 

Federal resources can also grant access to Okaloosa County’s arrest records. The Federal Bureau of Investigation provides a statewide criminal history check. Interested parties can request their own criminal history records through the FBI’s Identity History Summary Checks. For the arrest information of individuals arrested by Okaloosa County law enforcement agencies, but incarcerated after federal convictions, log in to PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) and access their arrest details, indictment reports, and court proceedings.

Okaloosa County Inmate Locator

Local search tools are practical ways to access arrest records in Okaloosa County. Through the Okaloosa County Department of Corrections Inmate Search, individuals can search for the county’s arrest records using name as a search criterion. The Okaloosa County Inmate Search provides information about persons incarcerated at the Okaloosa County Jail. 

To access arrest records through the Okaloosa County Department of Corrections Inmate Search:

  • Visit the Okaloosa County Department of Corrections webpage.
  • Scroll down and click the “Inmate Search” link.
  • Enter the subject's name into the search tool, select the gender, and provide the date of birth.
  • Click the “Search” button to submit the query.

In Okaloosa County, the Sheriff's Office is not responsible for the county's jail. Individuals seeking offline access to Okaloosa County arrest information through inmate search should contact the Okaloosa County Department of Corrections/Okaloosa County Jail at:

1200 E. James Lee Boulevard,

Crestview,

FL 32536

Phone: (850) 689-5050, (850) 689-5690

Fax: (850) 689-5092.

Active Warrant Search in Okaloosa County

An Okaloosa County arrest warrant is a judicial document issued by judges of the Okaloosa County courts authorizing the arrest and detention of individuals who committed or are suspected of committing crimes. After the Okaloosa County and Circuit Courts issue arrest warrants, the county's Sheriff's Office coordinates with other law enforcement agencies to execute the orders. The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office does not provide a comprehensive online database for arrest warrants. Nonetheless, these documents are accessible as part of inmate records through the Okaloosa County Department of Corrections Inmate Search or as part of criminal case files.

Typically, a valid arrest warrant details:

  • The name of the defendant 
  • The alleged offense and applicable Florida statute 
  • A statement establishing probable cause 
  • Name and signature of the issuing judge
  • Date of issuance 
  • The geographical jurisdiction where the warrant is applicable.

Individuals who seek access to active arrest warrants in Okaloosa County should contact the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office or the Okaloosa County Clerk of Court & Comptroller at the following addresses:

Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office 

50 2nd Street,

Shalimar,

FL 32579

Phone: (850) 651-7410

Okaloosa County Clerk of Court & Comptroller 

101 E. James Lee Boulevard,

Crestview,

FL 32536

Phone: (850) 689-5000.

Information seekers can also log in to the Okaloosa County Department of Corrections Inmate Search or the Clerk of Court & Comptroller’s Court Records Inquiry portal and search for executed arrest warrants as part of criminal or inmate records.

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Okaloosa County

For free access to arrest records in Okaloosa County, log in to the Okaloosa County DOC Inmate Search and access the information through inmate records. The Okaloosa County Court Records Inquiry portal and Public Access Terminals at the Okaloosa County Courthouse also provide free access to arrest information through criminal case records.

Free access to Okaloosa County's arrest records does not require an ID. However, free-tier search through online tools may return only recent records. Additionally, searchers may find only redacted records.

Okaloosa County Arrest Report

In Okaloosa County, arrest reports are narrative accounts of arrest events. These documents are created by arresting officers in the aftermath of arrests. 

Unlike arrest records, which are summary entries into judicial/custody databases, Okaloosa County arrest reports provide more comprehensive details of arrests. A typical Okaloosa County arrest report includes the arresting officer's first-hand account of what they observed, the defendant’s statements, witness interviews, and the description of evidence from the arrest scene.

By comparison, an Okaloosa County arrest record is administrative data that tracks an individual's status within the custodial/judicial system. Generally, an arrest record contains information such as the arrested person’s name, date of birth, mugshot, criminal charges, bond amount, and court dates.

While Okaloosa County arrest records are publicly available online, access to the county's arrest reports requires a formal request through the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Public Records Request portal.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Okaloosa County

Florida operates a dual system whereby individuals can expunge or seal arrest records. Expungement physically destroys a record and removes it from official databases. After the expunction of an Okaloosa County arrest record, the owner can legally claim that it never existed. In comparison, sealing an Okaloosa County arrest record hides it from the public, but it is still accessible to law enforcement agencies, the courts, and certain licensing agencies.

Under Section 943.0585 of the Florida Statutes, the owner of an Okaloosa County arrest can petition for its expungement if:

  • The charges were dismissed or dropped, or the court found the accused not guilty.
  • The individual was not adjudicated guilty of the associated offense. 
  • There are no previous disqualifying convictions.

Likewise, per Section 943.059 of the Florida Statutes, an Okaloosa County arrest record may qualify for sealing if adjudication was withheld, the owner of the arrest record fulfills all conditions, and has no disqualifying convictions.

To expunge or seal an Okaloosa County arrest record:

  • Apply for and obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. 
  • File a petition with the Okaloosa County Clerk of Court and Comptroller. The application should include the Certificate of Eligibility, the case disposition documents, and completed expungement forms.
  • The court will review the petition and schedule a hearing if there are objections to the expungement or sealing. 
  • After expunction of the records, the court will order the relevant agencies to expunge or seal the arrest record.

How Do You Remove Okaloosa County Arrest Records From the Internet?

Sealing or expunging an arrest record removes it from official databases. However, expungement alone does not totally remove the information from the internet. Removing an Okaloosa County arrest requires additional steps.

The following steps outline the procedures for removing an Okaloosa County arrest record from the internet.

  • Expunge or seal the record through the Okaloosa County Circuit Court 
  • Confirm the record's removal from government websites
  • Identify all the websites where the record appears, and also list the URLs
  • Submit removal requests to these platforms. Each request for removal should include a copy of the expungement/sealing order, government-issued ID, and the URLs of the contents 
  • Emphasize that the court has sealed the record, and it is no longer public 
Okaloosa County Arrest Records Search | Okaloosa County Court