Florida records about 500,000 arrests annually, with over 2,000 of those occurring in Columbia County. The Florida Sunshine Law grants the public the right to access records created and maintained by government agencies, including law enforcement organizations. Hence, members of the public can view and obtain copies of the county's arrest records. Record custodians may charge $1 to $30 for copies of arrest records, depending on the agency and the details in the record.
However, certain arrest records are not publicly accessible due to security, privacy, or sensitivity concerns. The public typically cannot access records relating to ongoing investigations, juvenile arrests, medical and mental health records, or those that potentially endanger public or personal safety. Only authorized entities, like law enforcement agents, judicial officers, the State Attorney for the Third Judicial Circuit of Florida's Office, the individuals identified on the documents, and their legal representatives, are allowed access to the County's exempt records.
Some government organisations, such as the Sheriff's Office, the local Police Department, and the state's law enforcement agencies, provide access to the County's arrest records.
Interested persons may request arrest records from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office by submitting their requests by mail or in-person visit during business hours to:
The Sheriff's Office
4917 US Highway 90 East
Lake City, FL 32055
Police arrest records can be obtained from the Lake City Police Department, the only Police Department in the county. Record seekers can obtain copies of arrest records by mailing a request or visiting the LCPD during business hours at:
Lake City Police Department
225 North-West Main Boulevard
Lake City, FL 32055
Phone: (386) 758-5432, (386) 758-5487
Alternatively, they can use the LCPD's online Police Records Request platform to make the request. They will typically need to provide the arrestee's name and date of arrest. Processing and copying fees may apply for obtaining copies of arrest records.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) compiles and maintains criminal records from Florida's law enforcement agencies, including those from the county. Record seekers can obtain criminal records for $25 through the FDLE's Criminal History Record Check Systems. They may also submit Public Records requests to the FDLE for copies of the records. Certified copies of arrest records may only be obtained by visiting the FDLE Office during business hours at:
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
2331 Phillip Road
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: (850) 410-8161
Records of arrests that led to formal charges can be found in the county's criminal court records. The Columbia County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller maintains all court records in the county. Record seekers can mail or visit the Clerk's Office to request the county's criminal court records at:
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Attn: Public Records Liaison
173 Northeast Hernando Avenue
Lake City, FL 32055
Phone: (386) 758-1342
They can also use the Official Record Search portal provided by the Clerk's Office to search for criminal court records. Furthermore, record seekers can use trustworthy third-party websites like InfoTracer to more conveniently access arrest records from the County.
Columbia County has an arrest rate of 2,788 per 100,000 population. Some arrest figures (adult and juvenile) recorded in the County during this period are shown below:
| Arrest Type | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Murder | 0 |
| Manslaughter | 0 |
| Robbery | 21 |
| Rape | 2 |
| Aggravated Assault | 101 |
| Simple Assault | 203 |
| Burglary | 42 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 33 |
| Larceny | 113 |
| Arson | 0 |
| Kidnap/Abduction | 2 |
| Total Number of Arrests | 1,969 |
Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement
It is situated in Columbia county, Florida with a total number of 183 employees - 11 female, 82 male officers and 90 civilians. Columbia County SO ORI (Originated Agency Identifier) number is FL0120000, it belongs to the South Atlantic division in the South region with a region code of Region III.
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Lake City Police Department | 225 NW Main Blvd Ste 102 | 386-752-4344 |
| Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia Correctional Institution | 216 S.e. Corrections Way | 386-754-7600 |
| Columbia Correctional Institution Annex | 216 S.e. Corrections Way | 386-754-7600 |
| Lake City Correctional Facility | 7906 East Highway 90 | 386-755-3379 |