Broward County, FL Public Records
Florida grants access to public records via the Sunshine Law. Enacted in 1995, it enables residents to access public records, including documents, images, and print material. Applicants also do not have to indicate purposes or special interests to gain access to public records. These include property records, criminal records, certain vital information, court records, arrest records, and inmate searches. Vital records entail marriage, birth, divorce, and death records. Marriage records are accessed via the Clerk of the courts either in person or by mail. Divorce records are public information, as well, and are requested at the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. Both birth and death records are restricted to eligible individuals. These records are only made public 100 and 50 years after the events, respectively.
Courts in Broward County
Court Records in Broward County, Florida
Broward County court records are typically considered public information. For cases heard in the county and circuit courts, requesters can visit the specific courthouses to get the records. That is by applying to the court's keeper of records. Records for the finalized cases within the Florida Supreme Court are usually transferred to the State Archives. Alternatively, they may be returned to the Clerk of court in the county. Applicants may also get records from the Clerk of the court for electronic viewing. A public case search portal allows requesters to get both civil and criminal case records. Though the records do not include documents for juvenile or probate court cases, they are usually designated confidential.
Jails and Prisons in Broward County
Find Inmate Search and Jail Records in Broward County, Florida
Broward County inmate records are public information though these are accessed at the Sheriff’s office. The department has a database of every inmate booked into the jails. Inmate records are conducted through the county search tool. At present, inmate visits are not available at the facilities. Rather visitation is done remotely via smartphone or the video visitation center. The visits are also scheduled 24 hours in advance. Broward County also offers an offender alert system that shows residents when certain ex-convicted people move close to any area in Florida. Broward County has 14 jails and prisons serving a population of $ 1.931 million. The county is ranked 65th out of 67 counties in the state in jails per capita.
Police Departments and Sheriff Offices in Broward County
Arrest Records in Broward County, Florida
Broward County arrest records include felonies or misdemeanors committed, court dates, and other information. Per the Florida statute section 943.053, criminal records for those above 18 are available to the public unless the records are sealed. These records are accessed at the Broward County sheriff’s office so individuals can request local documents and incident reports. The Sheriff’s office does accept online requests via a Public Records Online Portal. Alternatively, requesters can pick up the records in person by visiting the records division at the Broward Sheriff’s Office. Electronic copies are issued at no cost. To get a paper copy of an arrest record or incident report, the sheriff’s office will charge 15 cents a page. Broward County has 32 police departments, and the crime rate is 74.97 for every 1000 residents.
Other Counties in Florida
- Alachua
- Baker
- Bay
- Bradford
- Brevard
- Calhoun
- Charlotte
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- Clay
- Collier
- Columbia
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- Indian River
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- Santa Rosa
- Sarasota
- Seminole
- Sumter
- Suwannee
- Taylor
- Union
- Volusia
- Wakulla
- Walton
- Washington
Popular Cities in Broward
- Coconut Creek
- Coral Springs
- Dania
- Deerfield Beach
- Fort Lauderdale
- Hallandale
- Hollywood
- Lighthouse Point
- Margate
- Pembroke Pines
- Plantation
- Pompano Beach