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  1. St. Johns County Court
  2. St. Johns County Arrest Records

St. Johns County, Florida Arrest Records

St. Johns County arrest records are official information documented by a law enforcement agency after an individual is detained. Arrest records begin when a detainee is arrested, and most details are obtained during the booking process. The details of an arrest record do not contain any proof of guilt, as the detainee has not been convicted. This means that detainees are presumed to be innocent until charged and convicted by a court. St. Johns County arrest records are generated and maintained by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, which primarily handles law enforcement.

Arrest records are also contributed to by local law enforcement agencies such as the St. Augustine Police Department and the St. Augustine Beach Police Department, which are the two largest local police departments. These agencies maintain separate arrest records, with the sheriff's office possessing a more consolidated archive. The county’s arrest records are accessible to anyone, but there are provisions that protect a detainee’s full criminal history records. 

According to Florida Statutes § 943.053, the public may access basic booking details from one arrest incident, while a compiled record accross agencies and multiple incidents will be restricted. The public can access the compiled criminal history through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, while records of individual incidents remain at the county level. Arrest records are created when arrests are executed. These records are useful for locating individuals in the county jail or local police custody. They also provide details that are useful for tracking the detainee’s welfare until they are sentenced or released.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in St. Johns, Florida?

Yes, St. Johns County arrest records are publicly accessible according to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. This law states that records from public agencies, such as arrest records, must be made available to the public. The county does not require requesters to be residents or citizens before requesting or accessing these records. While there is no fixed deadline, the custodian must acknowledge a request and provide access promptly. Requesters do not need to provide an ID unless the specific record requires it. It is important to provide some detail about the detainee when making a request, which will be used for an archive search.

What Do Public County Arrest Records Contain?

St. Johns County arrest records generally contain details about the detainee and the detention that can be made publicly available. This includes the basic facts that do not intrude on the detainee’s personal safety or privacy. Some details included in a St. Johns County arrest record include:

  • Full name and all known aliases
  • The detainee’s age and date of birth
  • The detainee’s physical description
  • Booking number and date
  • Mugshot
  • Case number and court status
  • Bond or bail details
  • The criminal charges
  • The arresting agency or officer’s name

There are statutory exemptions to the details that are contained in the arrest records. These exemptions contain information that risks breaching the detainee’s personal safety and right to privacy. They also include details or records that are sealed or restricted by the court. They include juvenile records, active investigation materials, victim information in sensitive cases, identities of witnesses, confession details, and expunged or sealed records. These records are accessible to persons who provide the required documents and meet the requirements, such as an attorney, law enforcement officer, or the detainee.

St. Johns County,  Florida Arrest Search

St. Johns County arrest records can be searched through state agencies such as the Circuit Court, Florida Department of Corrections, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The public can access this search through various channels, such as in person or over the phone. There are also online tools such as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Criminal History Record Check website, which has search options like an ORI Search, Certified/Non-Certified Search, and Instant Search. 

The Department of Corrections also maintains an Offender Search website, which provides access to records of all inmates across the state. Members of the public can use the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Inmate Locator to access a nationwide database of inmates. These platforms generally provide free search access for simple arrest information lookups.

St. Johns County Inmate Locator

St. Johns County inmates can be found through the relevant law enforcement agencies, such as the sheriff’s office. Members of the public can provide details of an individual to the county detention center or the sheriff’s office to find an inmate. This can also be done over the phone by calling the sheriff’s office at 904-824-8304 or the detention center at 904-810-3125. The sheriff’s office also maintains an Inmate Search website where the public can enter a detainee's details to locate them in the system.

Active Warrant Search in St. Johns County

Arrest warrants refer to court-issued documents that authorize peace officers to arrest and detain a named individual. These documents are issued by judges of the Circuit Court after a prosecutor or a law enforcement officer successfully proves probable cause with evidence. An arrest warrant must be signed by the judge for authority before it is issued. They contain details such as the arrestee’s name or identifying details, the criminal charge or charges, the date of issuance, the judge’s information, and any bail or bond conditions. 

Arrest warrants will remain active till they are executed or recalled by the court. The public can search for active arrest warrants through the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, which manages warrant execution. The sheriff’s office has a Records Unit through which warrant-related inquiries can be resolved. The state’s courtaccess portal, which provides court case records, may also contain arrest warrant details related to certain cases. Individuals in the county can approach the St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller to search for active warrants in person.

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in St. Johns County

Arrest records in St. Johns County are mostly accessible for free. The public can approach the County Clerk of Court and Comptroller or the sheriff’s office to find arrest records in person. Simple arrest records searches at these offices will be done for free. Arrest records can also be searched by phone in the county at no cost. Individuals with a computer and internet connection can use the Inmate Search website provided by the sheriff’s office for a free online arrest records search. The county Clerk and Comptroller’s records can also be accessed online through the state’s courtaccess website. These channels do not require you to provide a photo ID and will not give access to restricted or older records. Sealed records by court orders will also be excluded from arrest records available for free.

St. Johns County Arrest Report

St. Johns arrest reports refer to a written narrative of the event of the arrest. This is also called an incident report or a police report. Arrest reports provide a full story of how the arrest was executed, which will generally contain more information about the detainee and the circumstances of the arrest. An arrest record provides details about a detainee that is obtained during the booking process. This is limited to information required for identifying the detainee, documenting the charges, and providing details for tracking the detainee’s custody status. Arrest records generally contain publicly accessible information about the detention and detainee, while arrest reports may contain some restricted or sealed information, such as the detainee’s address. These documents are maintained by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office through its Records Unit. However, arrest records are more accessible as they are generally public records. Arrest reports usually become publicly available after all investigations relating to the case is concluded.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in St. Johns County

St. Johns County arrest records can be removed from public access according to state laws. Individuals who meet the requirements can seal their arrest records according to § 943.059, Florida Statutes, while expungement is available according to § 943.0585, Florida Statutes. Sealing refers to the removal of arrest records from public access while the records continue to exist and remain accessible to certain government agencies. Expungement refers to the complete deletion of the arrest records. Individuals who meet these conditions will be granted a court order to seal their arrest records:

  • The individual has no prior criminal record
  • The individual has not previously sealed or expunged a record under Florida law or in any other jurisdiction
  • All court supervision related to the arrest has been completed
  • The charge is not a disqualifying offense according to § 943.059(1)(a)

Individuals who meet these conditions are eligible to apply for expungement:

  • The individual was not charged, the case was dismissed, he was acquitted, or the charges were dismissed
  • The individual has not been convicted of an offense in any jurisdiction
  • The individual has never has a record sealed or expunged

There are also offenses that will automatically disqualify an applicant from sealing or expungement, such as any sex offense that prompts registration as a sex offender, domestic violence offenses, child abuse or offenses involving minors, murder, manslaughter, or offenses involving death, and all offenses listed in § 907.041. The process for both sealing and expungement begins with completing an application, which will be filed with a $75 processing fee. This application will be filed at the Circuit Court where the case was handled or where the arrest occured. After a review of the application, if approved, an order will be issued for sealing or expungement. The required forms can be obtained from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Seal and Expunge website.

How Do You Remove St. Johns County Arrest Records From the Internet?

St. Johns arrest records can be removed from the internet using a court order. After a successful petition for an expungement or sealing of records, you can obtain a certified copy of the court order. This order will be sent to the relevant law enforcement agencies and the Circuit Court Clerk to remove the arrest records from the government websites. 

According to Florida Statutes § 943.059 and § 943.0585, government bodies are not allowed to disclose expunged or sealed records to the public. While the removal is automatic for government agencies, third-party websites may not comply immediately. You can reach out to the website with a request for removal supported by your court order. If you are being charged a fee for the removal, you can report the matter to the Florida Attorney General’s consumer protection office to prevent extortion.