Access Miami Gardens Police Records
Miami Gardens police records come from the Miami Gardens Police Department. The city has around 110,000 residents and is located in north-central Miami-Dade County. The police department handles all law enforcement services for Miami Gardens, which means incident reports, arrest records, traffic crash reports, and other police documents originate with the city department. People who need records from Miami Gardens submit requests to the police department's records unit.
Miami Gardens Quick Facts
Miami Gardens Police Department
Miami Gardens has had its own police department since the city incorporated in 2003. Before that, Miami-Dade Police served the area. The Miami Gardens Police Department operates from its headquarters at 1020 NW 163rd St in Miami Gardens. The department runs patrol, investigations, traffic enforcement, and community policing programs. Officers write incident reports and handle all law enforcement records for the city.
The records unit at MGPD processes public records requests for police reports. You can request incident reports, crash reports, arrest records, and other documents that the department generates. Florida's public records law under Chapter 119 requires agencies to provide access to most police records unless an exemption applies.
Some records stay confidential. Active investigations remain sealed while detectives work the case. Juvenile arrest records have privacy protections. Victims of certain crimes have the right to keep personal information out of public reports. MGPD staff review each request and release what they can under Florida law.
How to Get Police Records
To request police records from Miami Gardens, contact the records unit at the police department. You can submit requests in person at the station, by mail, or by following the department's online procedures if available. Include details like the date of the incident, location, names of people involved, and the report number if you have it.
Most incident reports are ready within a few days. Complex requests or older records may take longer. The department will contact you if they need more information to locate your records or if there is a fee to pay. Processing times depend on the volume of requests and the complexity of what you asked for.
Florida law under Florida Statutes § 119.07 requires agencies to respond to public records requests promptly. If your request is denied or delayed, the agency must explain why. You have the right to challenge denials in court if you believe the records should be public.
For traffic crash reports, you may also use the statewide portal at flhsmv.gov to purchase copies online. Crash reports from Miami Gardens incidents are available through that system for $10 per report. You need the crash date, county, and driver name to search. This is often faster than requesting directly from the police department.
Police Records in Miami Gardens
Police records from Miami Gardens include several types of documents. Incident reports cover crimes like theft, assault, burglary, and vandalism. These reports contain the date, location, victim and suspect information, and a narrative of what happened. People use incident reports for insurance claims, court cases, and personal records.
Arrest records show when someone was taken into custody by MGPD officers. These are public unless sealed by court order. Booking photos and fingerprints from the jail are separate but related. If the arrest led to charges, the court records will be at the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court office.
Traffic crash reports document accidents that happen in Miami Gardens. Officers investigate crashes and write reports that include driver information, vehicle details, and diagrams of the scene. Insurance companies often request crash reports after accidents. You can get these from MGPD or through the state portal mentioned above.
Crime statistics and calls for service data are also public records. These show trends and activity levels across different parts of Miami Gardens. Researchers and journalists request this data to analyze public safety patterns. MGPD may provide this in reports or raw data files depending on what you ask for.
Note: Most routine incident reports in Miami Gardens are released within 3 to 5 business days.
Records Request Fees
Fees for police records in Miami Gardens depend on what you request. Simple requests like a single incident report may have a small copying fee or no charge at all. Larger requests with many pages or extensive research time can cost more.
Florida law limits what agencies can charge for public records. Standard copying costs are 15 cents per page under Florida Statutes § 119.07. Certified copies cost extra. If staff spend significant time searching for records or redacting exempt information, the department may charge for that labor at the rate set by law.
Ask about fees when you make your request. MGPD can give you a cost estimate before processing. Most people pay less than $20 for a single incident report. Crash reports through the state portal cost $10. Background checks from FDLE have their own fee schedule separate from local police records.
Background Checks and Arrest Records
If you need a full criminal background check that includes arrests from Miami Gardens and other places, go to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. FDLE maintains the statewide criminal history database. They process requests for personal background checks and employer screenings.
You can request your own Florida criminal history through FDLE's website or by mail. The fee is $24 for a state check. National checks through the FBI cost more. FDLE's contact page at fdle.state.fl.us has forms and instructions. You can also call the Criminal History Records Unit at (850) 410-8161 for help.
Background checks pull arrest records from across Florida, including any charges that happened in Miami Gardens. Processing time is usually two weeks for personal requests. Third-party requests for employment or licensing may take longer depending on the type of check and current volume.
For a specific incident report from Miami Gardens, contact MGPD. For a complete criminal history search, use FDLE. Most people request police reports for single incidents and background checks for complete records.
State Records Resources
In addition to local police records from Miami Gardens, several state agencies maintain records that may be useful. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement offers a public records portal at fdle.justfoia.com where you can submit requests for state-level law enforcement records. FDLE does not have local police reports, but they do provide statewide data and criminal justice records.
Florida Highway Patrol responds to crashes on state highways that pass through Miami Gardens. If your crash involved FHP, you can request the report through the state portal or by contacting FHP directly. The FHP contact page is at flhsmv.gov.
Miami-Dade County also maintains records that may relate to incidents in Miami Gardens. The county jail holds arrest records for people booked by MGPD and other local agencies. The Clerk of Court has court case records if charges were filed. For county-level resources, see the Miami-Dade County police records page.
Miami-Dade County Police Records
Miami Gardens is in Miami-Dade County. The county has its own police department that serves unincorporated areas, plus countywide resources like the jail and courts. For information on county records, other local agencies, and related services, visit the Miami-Dade County police records page.