Miami dade County, FL Arrest Records, Warrants, and Jail Information

Miami-Dade County is the core of the South Florida metropolitan area and has about 2.8 million residents. Its growth is driven by international migration and economic sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, and tourism. Because it sits between the Atlantic Ocean and the Everglades, the county provides access to both coastal and inland ecosystems. Major cities within the county include Hialeah, Miami, Miami Beach, Doral, and Coral Gables.

The Miami-Dade County Sheriff's Office (MDSO) is the main agency responsible for keeping the county safe. It handles crime investigations, public safety duties, and law enforcement training. According to full-year crime reports, the agency records about 67 homicides, 5,091 violent crimes, 196 shootings, and 19,578 property crimes within the county.

Who Keeps Arrest Records in Miami-Dade County, FL

The Miami-Dade County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency in the county. It keeps initial arrest records, comprehensive crime reports, investigative files, administrative and traffic records, civil process records, and criminal history and identification records.

On the other hand, the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department (MDCR) manages inmate intakes and bookings, jail information, and release records.

In addition, agencies like the Florida Highway Patrol and local police departments, make arrests and keep their own initial records. Nonetheless, the MDCR records the official custodial intake when an individual is booked into the Miami-Dade County jail.

Types of Law Enforcement

In Miami-Dade, law enforcement takes several forms including municipal police departments, the county sheriff, federal law enforcement, and other institutional and specialized agencies.

County Sheriff's Office

The Miami-Dade County Sheriff's Office enforces the law and maintains public safety across the county. The County Sheriff's Office maintains:

• Public safety through patrols in unincorporated areas
• Criminal investigations, including property and violent crimes
• Court security and the serving of civil process
• Community outreach and public safety programs

City / Town Police Departments

City or town police departments are municipal agencies that handle arrests within city boundaries and keep their own records. Anyone arrested by these departments is booked into the Miami-Dade County jail. While some police department websites may still note reliance on the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) for law enforcement services, the department is currently transitioning into the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office.

Municipalities with their own police departments, whether fully independent or partially contracted, include El Portal, Hialeah, Homestead, Indian Creek, Golden Beach, Key Biscayne, Biscayne Park, the City of Miami, Miami Beach, Aventura, Bal Harbour, Bay Harbor Islands, Coral Gables, Doral, Florida City, Medley, Miami Gardens, Miami Springs, North Bay Village, Miami Lakes, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay, Miami Shores, North Miami Beach, South Miami, Opa-Locka, Pinecrest, North Miami, Sunny Isles Beach, Surfside, Sweetwater, Hialeah Gardens, West Miami, and Virginia Gardens.

State Police / Highway Patrol

As the state police, the Florida Highway Patrol investigates traffic accidents and supports local police departments. Individuals arrested by the state police in Miami-Dade County are typically booked in the county jail under the MDCR.

Federal Law Enforcement

Federal law enforcement agencies, such as Homeland Security, the U.S. Marshals, and the FBI, can make arrests during federal investigations. Nevertheless, these arrests only appear in county arrest logs if the individual is booked into the county jail.

University / College Police

Campus police handle safety issues, respond to emergencies, and manage incidents on college or university property. Once an arrest is made, the individual is booked at the Miami-Dade county jail. University and college police departments with full-time, sworn officers in Miami-Dade include:

• University of Miami Police Department
• Florida International University Police Department
• Miami-Dade College Public Safety Department

Tribal Police

Unless cross border agreements are in place, tribal police maintain safety within their Native American reservations or tribal lands. When an individual is arrested, the person is typically booked into the tribal jail. Nonetheless, if the case involves a serious criminal offense and the tribe coordinates with nearby authorities, the individual may be transferred to a county jail. In Miami-Dade County, the Miccosukee Tribal Police Department enforces law and protects public safety within the Miccosukee Tribe's lands.

Additional Agency Notes

There are other law enforcement agencies within Miami-Dade County that focus on limited jurisdictions. They handle specific areas like public schools, waterways, or wildlife. These agencies include Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department.

What Miami-Dade County Arrest Records Include

For Miami-Dade arrests, the records contain the following details:

• Full name of the arrested person
• Age and date of birth
• Date and time of the arrest
• Arresting agency
• Location where the arrest occurred
• List of charges filed
• Associated Florida statute numbers
• Booking number or ID
• Bond or bail amount
• Related court case number
• Scheduled court appearance dates
• Current custody or jail status

It is worth noting that information in Miami-Dade County arrest records may differ based on which agency compiled them. This ensures that an individual's private and personal information is protected from public disclosure.

Arrest Statistics in Miami-Dade County, FL

In Miami-Dade, there are approximately 19,500 property crimes, 200 shootings, 70 homicides, and 5,100 violent crimes reported by the county sheriff's office on an annual basis.

The table below shows the breakdown of arrest statistics in Miami-Dade County:

Table: Crime Categories Snapshot

Source:Florida Department of Law Enforcement

Common Warrant Types in Miami-Dade County, FL

Several types of warrants are issued in Miami-Dade County. These warrants can be found in arrest records, and each serves different legal purposes. Warrants are used by judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement to enforce court orders and investigate crimes. Depending on state laws, warrants may have different names and scopes of authority. The following warrants are common in Miami-Dade County:

Arrest Warrant

An arrest warrant is issued when law enforcement or a prosecutor presents probable cause that a person has committed a crime. It is signed by a judge, and it gives law enforcement legal authority to arrest the individual.

Bench Warrant

Bench warrants are issued by judges when a person fails to appear in court or disobeys a court order. These warrants do not require new criminal charges and are often used for missed hearings or unpaid fines.

Civil Capias Warrant

A civil capias warrant is used in civil matters, such as unpaid child support or failure to comply with a subpoena. Although it originates from a civil case, this warrant can still lead to arrest and temporary detention until the issue is resolved.

Fugitive Warrant

Also called an out-of-county or out-of-state warrant, a fugitive warrant is issued when someone wanted elsewhere is located in Miami-Dade County. Local authorities detain the individual until they can be transferred back to the jurisdiction that issued the original warrant.

Governor's Warrant

A governor's warrant is a formal document signed by the governor authorizing the arrest and transfer of a person wanted for prosecution or to serve a sentence in another state.

Search Warrant

A search warrant allows law enforcement to enter and search a specific location for evidence related to a suspected crime. Issued by a judge based on probable cause, it is not an arrest warrant but may lead to one if illegal items or evidence are found during the search.

How To Search Miami-Dade County Arrest Records?

Miami-Dade County arrest records are not maintained in a single centralized system. Municipal police departments keep their own records and often provide access online, by mail, email, or through an in person visit.

You can complete a Miami-Dade inmate search by entering the individual's last and first name. This search returns a list of matching individuals and may include details such as name, sex, date of birth, location, booking date and time, jail number, an available mugshot, and the charges recorded at intake.

To obtain arrest forms detailing a person's initial arrest and charges filed by the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, you may visit the Central Records Bureau during weekday office hours. Alternatively, you may submit a request through the Public Records Request Portal, which saves both time and money. It costs $0.15 for a single sided page and $0.20 for a double sided page, while certified copies cost $1 each.

The Sheriff's Office Warrants Bureau oversees all outstanding and active warrants and may provide warrant status information upon request. If an arrest leads to formal charges, you may also find arrest related information by searching criminal cases or requesting certified copies from the Miami-Dade Clerk of Court and Comptroller.

Miami-Dade County Jail & Detention Facilities

The correctional facilities and municipal police departments in Miami-Dade are as follows:

Miami-Dade County Sheriff's Office

Police Departments in Miami-Dade County