Florida's Uniform Crime Reports indicate that the state records over 500,000 arrests each year, with Lake County accounting for 6,974 of them. Under Florida's Sunshine Law, the public has the right to access records maintained by government agencies, including arrest records. Agencies may charge fees for producing copies of these records, with the standard fee being up to 15 cents per one-sided copy for documents up to 14 inches by 8.5 inches and an additional 5 cents for two-sided copies.
However, certain arrest records, such as those of juveniles, records that might compromise public or individual safety, and records involving ongoing investigations, are typically exempt from public inspection. Only authorized persons such as law enforcement officers, judicial officers, the Lake County Attorney's Office, and persons named on the records with their legal representatives may access confidential records in Lake County.
Lake County arrest records are accessible through various agencies, including the state's law enforcement agencies, municipal police departments, and the county sheriff's office.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office allows the public to request arrest records online through its Public Records Portal. Individuals may also visit the Public Records Unit in person from Monday to Thursday or submit requests by mail to:
Lake County Sheriff's Office
360 W. Ruby Street
Tavares, FL 32778
Phone: (352) 343-2101
The office charges $25 for requests requiring more than 15 minutes of research, with additional fees for copies.
Record seekers may obtain arrest records from local law enforcement agencies in Lake County. They typically need to provide the arrestee's name and the date of arrest. Some police departments allow the public to access online incident logs and arrest records. Below is a list of major police departments in the county:
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) serves as the central repository for criminal history information within the state, including Lake County. Individuals seeking Lake County arrest records may find them through the FDLE's Criminal History Record Check Systems for $24 per record. They may also submit a public records request to the FDLE for specific Lake County arrest records for a fee by contacting FDLE's records custodian in the Office of Open Government by phone at (850) 410-7676. Alternatively, record seekers may mail their requests to:
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Attn: Public Records Section
P.O. Box 1489
Tallahassee, FL 32302-1489
Records of arrests that lead to formal charges in Lake County may be found in the county's criminal court records. The Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller is the custodian of all court records in the county. Record seekers may use the online Court Records Search portal for criminal court records searches. They may also request records by mail or in person at:
Lake County Clerk of Courts
550 W. Main St.
Tavares, FL 32778
Phone: (352) 742-4100
Furthermore, record seekers can use reliable third-party websites such as InfoTracer to access arrest records from Lake County. These platforms provide faster and more convenient access.
Lake County has an arrest rate of 1,901.6 per 100,000 population. Some arrest figures (adult and juvenile) recorded in Lake County during this period are shown below:
| Arrest Type | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Murder | 52 |
| Manslaughter | 3 |
| Robbery | 414 |
| Rape | 53 |
| Aggravated Assault | 334 |
| Simple Assault | 983 |
| Burglary | 177 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 76 |
| Larceny | 749 |
| Arson | 3 |
| Kidnap/Abduction | 6 |
| Total Number of Arrests | 6,974 |
Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement
It is situated in Lake county, Florida with a total number of 331 employees - 77 female, 127 male officers and 127 civilians. Lake County SO ORI (Originated Agency Identifier) number is FL0350000, it belongs to the South Atlantic division in the South region with a region code of Region III.
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Clermont Police Department | 865 W Montrose St | 352-394-5588 |
| Eustis Police Department | 51 East Norton Avenue | 352-357-4121 |
| Fruitland Park Police Department | 506 W. Berckman | (352)343-2101 |
| Groveland Police Department | 408 W. Orange St. | 352-429-4166 |
| Leesburg Police Department | 115 East Magnolia Street | (352)728-9860 |
| Mascotte Police Department | 529 E Myers Blvd | 352-429-3393 |
| Mount Dora Police Department | 1300 N Donnelly St | (352) 735-7130 |
| Tavares Police Department | 201 E. Main Street | (352) 742-6300 |
| Umatilla Police Department | 251 N. Central Avenue | (352)669-3561 |
| Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Correctional Institution | 19225 U.s. Highway 27 | 352-394-6146 |