Home to more than 852,000 residents, Polk County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. This is due to its midpoint location, relative affordability, and access to regional job markets. Located along the I-4 Corridor, the county sits approximately midway between the major metropolitan areas of Tampa and Orlando. In addition to its largest city, Lakeland, other notable communities within the county include Bartow, Winter Haven, Lake Wales, and Haines City.
Per 100,000 residents, Polk County is reported to have an average violent crime rate of 1,098.4, while the average property crime rate is 1,299.7 per 100,000 residents.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office serves as the chief law enforcement agency. The Department of Detention manages the daily operations of the county's detention facilities.
At the county level, Polk County's Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, inmate information, jail bookings, and most warrant records. Within their respective jurisdictions, municipal police departments may also keep records of arrests made by their agencies. This information may be shared with the Sheriff's Office when an arrestee is booked into the county jail.
Within Polk County, law enforcement responsibilities are shared among federal agencies, local police, the county sheriff, and state troopers.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office is the primary source for jail rosters and arrest logs at the county level. The county sheriff's office manages:
Local police departments are authorized to conduct arrests within their respective jurisdictions and maintain the records. When an individual is apprehended by an officer, they are booked into the Polk County jail. Local police departments are located in several municipalities within Polk County, including Lake Hamilton, Lake Alfred, Davenport, Haines City, Bartow, Lakeland, Auburndale, Lake Wales, and Winter Haven.
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), as a state police agency, enforces all state laws, including both criminal and traffic violations. If the individual arrested by the FHP is taken to the local facility, their booking details will be recorded in the county jail roster.
Federal law enforcement agencies, including the ATF, FBI, and Homeland Security, are responsible for investigating and handling violations of federal law. Such cases may involve firearms offenses, white‑collar crimes, or immigration violations. Arrests made by these agencies usually do not appear in county jail records unless the individual is temporarily housed in the county jail.
Other agencies that can handle law enforcement matters within Polk County are the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Arrest records in Polk County contain several key pieces of information, such as:
It is important to note that certain records may be withheld from public access, particularly those related to ongoing investigations or juvenile cases. Additionally, the information contained in arrest records may vary depending on the jurisdiction, the agency maintaining the records, or the type of case involved.
Polk County has an average violent crime rate of 1,098.4 and a property crime rate of 1,299.7 per 100,000 residents.
The table below shows a breakdown of arrest statistics in Polk County:
Arrest Total | Yearly Average |
|---|---|
Arrest Rate per 100,000 | 3,100 |
Adult Arrests | 21,670 |
Juvenile Arrests | 1,550 |
Crime Type | |
Murder | 20 |
Rape | 70 |
Robbery | 100 |
Aggravated Assault | 1,050 |
Burglary | 300 |
Larceny | 1,220 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 210 |
Arson | 10 |
Source:Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Common Warrant Types in Polk County, FL
Several types of warrants may appear in public arrest records in Polk County. Warrants are issued by the courts for different legal reasons and may result in the arrest of an individual and their booking into the county jail. Although the terminology and procedures can vary slightly depending on state law, the following are the most common types of warrants:
An arrest warrant is issued when law enforcement or a prosecutor shows probable cause that a person committed a crime. These warrants often appear in arrest logs and can be executed by authorized officers.
A bench warrant is issued by a judge when someone fails to appear in court or comply with a court order. It is one of the most common warrant types found in county arrest records.
A civil capias warrant is issued in civil court cases when someone disobeys a court order, such as failing to appear or comply. It can lead to arrest and booking despite originating in a civil matter.
A fugitive warrant is issued when a person is wanted in another county or state. Such cases often involve extradition and will show up in county arrest logs if the person is arrested locally.
A governor's warrant is a formal warrant issued by a state governor to initiate extradition between states. While less common, it can appear in arrest or court records for interstate cases.
A search warrant authorizes law enforcement to search property or seize evidence. While not issuing arrest warrants, searches may lead to arrests and be reflected in related cases or arrest reports.
The Jail Information Search website provides access to information about individuals who are currently detained in any of the detention facilities in Polk County. To conduct your search successfully, you may provide the detainee's name, booking date, or alias. Additionally, friends and family may obtain inmate information through the Automated Information System (AIS) by calling (863) 292‑3400.
To find active warrants held by the Polk County Sheriff's Office, you can use the Warrant Search page or call the Warrants Unit at (863) 298-6499 during normal office hours.
The Polk County Clerk of the Circuit Court website offers a court case search that allows users to view arrest information connected to criminal cases.
The following are the local police departments and detention facilities in Polk County:
Agency Name: Polk County Sheriff's Office
City: Winter Haven
Type: County law enforcement agency
Address: 1891 Jim Keene Blvd, Winter Haven, FL 33880
Phone Number: (863) 298-6200
Staffing: The Polk County Sheriff's Office employs over 1,800 personnel
Police Department | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
Lake Hamilton Police Department | 119 N 2nd Street, Lake Hamilton, FL 33851 | (863) 439-4711 |
Lake Alfred Police Department | 190 N Seminole Avenue, Lake Alfred, FL 33850 | (863) 291-5200 |
Lake Wales Police Department | 113 East Tillman Avenue, Lake Wales, FL 38853 | (863) 678-4223 |
Lakeland Police Department | 219 N. Massachusetts Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33801 | (863) 834-6900 |
Winter Haven Police Department | 121 N Lake Silver Drive NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881 | (863) 291-5858 |
Auburndale Police Department | 2 Bobby Green Plaza, Auburndale, FL 33823 | (863) 965-5555 |
Bartow Police Department | 450 North Broadway Avenue, Bartow, FL 33830 | (863) 534-5034 |
Haines City Police Department | 35400 Highway 27, Haines City, FL 33844 | (863) 421-3636 |
Davenport Police Department | 16 W Bay Street, Davenport, FL 33837 | (863) 419-3306 |