Search Alachua County Police Records
Police records in Alachua County are managed by the Alachua County Sheriff's Office and local police departments. The county serves over 270,000 residents across Gainesville and surrounding areas. Law enforcement agencies maintain incident reports, arrest records, and crash documentation. You can request these records online through public portals or in person. Most reports become public after the active investigation ends. The sheriff's office uses an online system for faster processing of public record requests in Alachua County.
Alachua County Quick Facts
Alachua County Sheriff's Office
The Alachua County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for areas outside city limits. This office keeps records of all arrests, incident reports, and investigations. Staff handle public records requests through an online portal. The sheriff's office serves rural parts of the county and provides backup to city police when needed in Alachua County.
You can request police records from the Alachua County Sheriff's Office using the online records portal. This system lets you submit a request and track its status. Most records are ready in a few days. Some cases take longer if they involve active investigations. You do not need to go to the office in person for basic requests. The portal works 24 hours a day and you get email updates when records are ready in Alachua County.
The Alachua County Sheriff's public records portal provides a straightforward way to request incident reports, arrest logs, and other law enforcement documentation.
This portal streamlines access to police records for residents and legal professionals throughout Alachua County.
| Agency | Alachua County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Phone | (352) 955-1818 |
| Records Portal | alachuasheriff.justfoia.com/publicportal |
How to Request Police Records
The process for getting police records in Alachua County depends on which agency handled the case. The sheriff's office uses an online portal. City police departments have their own request systems. Most agencies follow Florida public records law under Chapter 119. This law requires agencies to respond fast to requests for police records in Alachua County.
To request a police report, you need basic information about the incident. Have the date, location, and names of people involved. A case number speeds up the process if you have one. The agency searches its database and finds the report. Staff review it to make sure no exempt information is included. Then they send you a copy or tell you the cost of copies in Alachua County.
What you need to request police records in Alachua County:
- Date of the incident
- Location where it happened
- Names of involved parties
- Case number if available
- Type of report needed
Some records are exempt from disclosure under Florida law. Active criminal investigations are often closed until the case is done. Records about juveniles may be restricted. The agency tells you if a record is exempt when you make a request. Copy fees apply in most cases. The first page often costs more than extra pages in Alachua County.
Note: Police reports from active investigations may not be available until the case is closed in Alachua County.
Florida State Police Records Resources
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains statewide criminal records. FDLE's public records office handles requests for state-level information. You can also use the FDLE records portal to submit online requests. These systems serve all counties including Alachua County.
For traffic crash reports, visit the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles crash report page. This site lets you order crash reports from any location in the state. The Florida Highway Patrol also keeps records of traffic incidents on state roads. Contact FHP through the FHP contact page for reports on state highways in Alachua County.
Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes governs public records access across the state.
This law sets the rules for how agencies must respond to public records requests in Alachua County and throughout Florida.
Types of Police Records Available
Police records in Alachua County come in several forms. Incident reports document crimes or events that officers respond to. These show what happened, who was there, and what officers did. Arrest records list people who were taken into custody. They include the charges, booking date, and bond amount. Both types of records are public unless an exemption applies in Alachua County.
Traffic crash reports show vehicle accidents investigated by law enforcement. The report has driver names, vehicle info, and how the crash happened. Most crash reports are available within a few days of the incident. Agencies charge a fee for copies. You can get them from the agency that worked the crash or from the state system for crashes in Alachua County.
Common police records in Alachua County include:
- Incident and offense reports
- Arrest reports and booking records
- Traffic crash reports
- 911 call logs
- Police response logs
- Citation and ticket records
Body camera footage and in-car video may also be available under public records law. These requests often take longer to process. The agency must review the video to protect privacy before release. Fees for video records can be high due to the time it takes to process them in Alachua County.
Public Records Fees in Alachua County
Agencies in Alachua County charge fees for copying public records. Florida law allows agencies to charge for the actual cost of duplication. The first page usually costs 15 cents. Each extra page costs 15 cents too. Certified copies cost more and include an official seal. These fees apply to police reports and other records in Alachua County.
For extensive records requests, agencies can charge for staff time. This applies when a request takes more than a few minutes to fill. The agency tells you the estimated cost before they start work. You can narrow your request to lower the fee. Digital copies may cost less than paper ones in Alachua County.
Note: Fees vary by agency and type of request in Alachua County.
Legal Framework for Police Records
Florida's public records law is one of the broadest in the nation. Chapter 119, Florida Statutes requires agencies to provide access to most records. This includes police records in Alachua County. The law has few exceptions, and agencies must prove an exemption applies before withholding records.
Law enforcement agencies must respond to requests promptly. There is no set deadline, but unreasonable delays violate the law. If an agency denies a request, they must explain why in writing. You can challenge denials in court. Most disputes are resolved without litigation in Alachua County.
The FDLE criminal history records section provides state-level background check services. This office handles formal criminal history requests that go beyond local police records in Alachua County.
Statewide criminal history records supplement local police records for comprehensive background information in Alachua County.
Cities in Alachua County
Alachua County includes several cities and towns. Gainesville is the largest and has its own police department. Smaller cities contract with the sheriff's office for law enforcement services. Each city files police reports based on where the incident occurred in Alachua County.
Other cities in Alachua County include Alachua, High Springs, Newberry, Waldo, Hawthorne, Archer, and Micanopy. Law enforcement services are provided by the Alachua County Sheriff's Office for most of these areas.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Alachua County. Each has its own sheriff's office and police records system. If an incident happened near a county line, check which agency responded before requesting records.