Highlands County, FL Arrests & Jail Records
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How To Search Highlands County Arrest Records?
Florida has more than 500,000 arrests annually, with about 2,000 of those occurring in Highlands County. The Florida Sunshine Law grants the public the right to access records created and maintained by governmental organizations, including law enforcement authorities. Therefore, anyone can view and obtain copies of the county's arrest records. Upon request, record custodians may charge $1 to $30 for copies of arrest records.
However, certain arrest records are not publicly accessible due to privacy, sensitivity, or security concerns. The public typically cannot access records relating to ongoing investigations, juvenile arrests, or those that potentially endanger public or personal safety. Only authorized personnel, like law enforcement agents, judicial officers, the County Attorney's Office, and the individuals identified on the documents and their legal representatives, are permitted access to the County's exempt records.
How To Look Up Highlands County Arrest Records?
Some institutions, such as the Sheriff's Office, local Police Departments, and the state's law enforcement agencies, provide access to the County's arrest records.
Sheriff Arrest Records
The Highlands County Sheriff's Office allows the public to request the county's arrest records. The request can be made online by completing and submitting the Criminal Records Request Form. It can also be made by fax or in-person visit during business hours to:
The Sheriff's Office
400 Eucalyptus Street
Sebring, FL 33870
Phone: (863) 402-7200
Fax: (850) 436-9784
Alternatively, record seekers can access the Inmate Search portal to view persons arrested and incarcerated in the county jail.
Police Arrest Records
Police arrest records can be obtained from various local Police Departments within the county. Alternatively, individuals can obtain copies by mailing a request to the appropriate Police Department or visiting their Offices in person during business hours. In addition, most of these Police Departments provide online platforms where requesters can access and request arrest records. Below are the major local Police Departments in the County:
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) compiles and maintains all criminal records from Florida's law enforcement agencies. Anyone can obtain arrest records for $25 each through the FDLE's Criminal History Record Check Systems. They can also submit a Public Records request 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
Highlands County Criminal Court Records
Records of arrests that lead to formal charges can be found in the county's criminal court records. The Highlands County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller is the custodian of all court records in the county. Record seekers can visit the Clerk's Office to request the county's criminal court records at:
Clerk of the Circuit Court
590 South Commercial Avenue
Sebring, FL 33870-3867
Phone: (863) 402-6565
They can also use the online 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.
Highlands County Arrest Statistics
Highlands County has an arrest rate of 2,129 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 | 3 |
| Manslaughter | 1 |
| Robbery | 23 |
| Rape | 7 |
| Aggravated Assault | 100 |
| Simple Assault | 454 |
| Burglary | 60 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 21 |
| Larceny | 242 |
| Arson | 0 |
| Kidnap/Abduction | 3 |
| Total Number of Arrests | 2,232 |
Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Highlands County Sheriff’s Office
It is situated in Highlands county, Florida with a total number of 263 employees - 9 female, 127 male officers and 127 civilians. Highlands County SO ORI (Originated Agency Identifier) number is FL0280000, it belongs to the South Atlantic division in the South region with a region code of Region III.
- Agency Name: Highlands County Sheriff's Office
- State: Florida
- City: Sebring
- Type: County
- Address: 434 Fernleaf Ave
- Phone Number: 863-402-7200
- Fax: 863-402-7296
- Website: http://www.highlandssheriff.org/
Police Departments in Highlands County
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Placid Police Department | 8 North Oak Avenue | 863-699-3757 |
| Sebring Police Department | 307 North Ridgewood Drive | 863-471-5108 |
Highlands County Jail
- Agency Name: Highlands County Jail
- State: FL
- City: Sebring
- Type: County
- Address: 338 South Orange Street
- Phone Number: 863-402-7201
- Fax: 863-402-7271
- Website: http://www.highlandssheriff.org/community_relations/detention.php