Access Union County Police Records

Union County police records are kept at the Union County Sheriff's Office in Lake Butler. This small North Florida county relies on the Sheriff for all law enforcement services. Deputies patrol the area, investigate crimes, and make arrests throughout Union County. Records from these activities are stored at the main office and available for public inspection under Florida law. You can request incident reports, arrest logs, and case files by contacting the Sheriff's Office.

Union County Sheriff's Office Records

The Union County Sheriff's Office maintains all police records for the county. Union County is one of the smallest counties in Florida by both population and land area. Despite its size, the Sheriff's Office handles all aspects of law enforcement. Deputies respond to calls, patrol the roads, and conduct investigations across Union County. Records from these activities are kept at the Sheriff's Office in Lake Butler.

Public records requests in Union County go through the Sheriff's Office. You can call, mail, or visit in person to request police reports. Staff will search for the records you need and provide copies of available documents. Some records may be exempt from disclosure under Florida law if they involve active investigations or protected victim information. The Sheriff's Office will explain what records can be released in Union County.

The phone number for the Union County Sheriff's Office is (386) 496-2501. Call during business hours to inquire about records. You can also send a written request by mail to the Lake Butler office. Include as much detail as possible about the incident you are researching. This helps staff locate the correct records in Union County files.

Requesting Police Records in Union County

Getting police records from Union County starts with contacting the Sheriff's Office. The fastest method is to call and ask about a specific report. If the report is available and easy to locate, staff can tell you how to get a copy. For more detailed requests or multiple documents, you may want to submit a written request by mail or in person in Union County.

Under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, you have the right to inspect and copy public records. Agencies must make records available unless a specific exemption applies. You do not need to state your reason for wanting the records. The agency can ask for contact information to respond to your request, but they cannot deny access based on how you plan to use the records in Union County.

In-person requests work well if you live near Lake Butler. Visit the Sheriff's Office with details about the incident. Bring identification with you. For simple reports, staff may be able to search and provide copies while you wait. More complex requests may take longer and require a callback or return visit to Union County.

When requesting police records, provide:

• Date the incident took place
• Type of incident or crime
• Location in Union County
• Names of people involved if known
• Report number or case number if you have it

Processing times depend on the complexity of your request. Simple reports may be ready within a day or two. Requests needing extensive searching, redaction, or review can take longer. The Sheriff's Office will contact you about any fees and when your records are ready for pickup or mailing from Union County.

Note: Active investigations may have restricted records until the case closes in Union County.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Resources

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is the central hub for criminal records in Florida. FDLE collects arrest data, criminal history, and case information from all law enforcement agencies including Union County. If you need statewide criminal records or background checks, contact FDLE instead of the local Sheriff's Office.

FDLE has an online public records portal at fdle.justfoia.com/publicportal. This system handles requests for FDLE documents and statewide databases. It does not provide local incident reports from Union County. For police reports created by Union County deputies, you must contact the Sheriff's Office in Lake Butler. The FDLE portal is for FDLE records and statewide searches.

Criminal background checks are processed through FDLE. The fee is $24 per background check in Florida. Call (850) 410-8161 for information about submitting a request. Processing time is typically 5 to 10 business days by mail. You can request your own criminal history or submit requests for employment, licensing, or volunteer purposes. Visit FDLE's criminal history contact page for detailed instructions from Union County.

Traffic Crash Reports

Crash reports in Union County are filed with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. When deputies or highway patrol respond to a traffic crash, they complete a state crash report form. You can order copies online through the Florida Crash Portal. The cost is $10 per report plus a $2 convenience fee.

Florida law makes crash reports confidential for 60 days after the crash occurs. During that time, only people involved in the crash, their attorneys, insurance agents, and certain other authorized parties can get copies. After 60 days, crash reports become public and anyone can order them. This rule is in Florida Statute 316.066 for all crashes in Union County.

Order crash reports at www.flhsmv.gov/traffic-crash-reports/. You need the crash date, county name, and either the report number or the names of drivers. Once you pay, the report is available for download within 48 hours. You must download it during that time or it will expire. You can also request crash reports by mail or at Florida Highway Patrol stations near Union County.

Crash reports may take up to 10 days to enter the system after the incident. If you try to order a report too soon, it may not be available yet. Wait at least 10 days before requesting recent crash reports from Union County.

Types of Police Records in Union County

Police records in Union County include several document types. Incident reports are the most common. These document crimes, accidents, and calls for service. An incident report includes the date, time, and location of the event. It names people involved and describes what the deputy found. Most incident reports become public once the initial investigation is complete in Union County.

Arrest records show when someone is taken into custody. The Union County jail creates a booking record for each arrest. This includes a photo, fingerprints, the charges filed, and bond information set by a judge. Many sheriff offices post booking logs online. You can search by name to find recent arrests in Union County.

Case files may include multiple documents. An investigation might produce witness statements, evidence logs, photos, and supplemental reports. Not all of this is public while the case is active. Florida law exempts active criminal investigative information from disclosure. Once an investigation ends, most records become available with redactions for protected information in Union County.

Police records in Union County typically contain:

• Report number and date created
• Incident classification and type
• When and where it occurred
• Names and roles of involved parties
• Deputy observations and narrative
• Witness statements
• Evidence collected at scene

Some details are redacted from public copies. Crime victim names in sexual offenses, domestic violence, and child abuse cases are kept confidential. Social security numbers, bank account information, and other personal data are removed to prevent identity theft. Juvenile names are often protected as well in Union County records.

Fees for Public Records

Union County charges fees for public records based on Florida law. The standard cost is up to 15 cents per page for regular copies. Certified copies can cost up to $1 per page. If a request takes more than 15 minutes of staff time to process, the agency may charge for labor at the actual hourly cost of the employee handling the request in Union County.

Simple requests often have minimal fees. If you ask for one police report and it is easy to find, you might pay only for a few pages of copies. Larger requests or those requiring extensive searching or redaction can result in higher costs. The Sheriff's Office should provide a cost estimate before processing a complex request in Union County.

Payment is required before records are released. Most offices accept cash, checks, and money orders. Some may accept credit cards with a service fee. Call the Union County Sheriff's Office to confirm accepted payment methods. All fees must be paid in full before you receive the records.

Florida Public Records Law

Florida has broad public records laws. Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes gives the public access to government documents including police records in Union County. The law presumes all records are public unless a specific exemption applies. Agencies must release records or explain why they cannot under an exemption.

Active criminal investigative information is exempt while an investigation is ongoing. This means police reports for open cases may be withheld until the case closes or charges are filed. Once an investigation becomes inactive, records must be released with only necessary redactions in Union County. The law defines "active" as having a reasonable, good-faith expectation of making an arrest or filing charges soon.

Other exemptions protect victim privacy and law enforcement methods. Body camera footage from inside private homes is confidential. Information that would reveal a confidential informant or compromise an ongoing operation can be withheld. Personal information about law enforcement officers and their families is also exempt. Read Chapter 119 for the full list of exemptions for police records in Union County.

If you believe your records request was wrongly denied, you can challenge the decision in court. Florida courts strongly favor public access to records. Agencies that improperly withhold records may have to pay your attorney fees if you win your case in Union County.

Other Records in Union County

The Clerk of Court in Union County maintains criminal case files once charges are filed. After an arrest, the State Attorney decides whether to prosecute. If charges move forward, the case file is kept by the Clerk. Court records include charging documents, motions, orders, and final judgments. You can search court records online or request copies from the Clerk's office in Lake Butler.

The Union County jail posts inmate information for current detainees. These rosters show who is in custody, their charges, bond amounts, and booking dates. Jail records are updated regularly. You can search by name to find out if someone is detained. For information about past inmates, contact the jail records office in Union County directly.

The Florida Department of Corrections maintains records for state prison inmates. If someone was convicted of a felony in Union County and sent to state prison, their records transfer to DOC. The DOC inmate database is searchable online. You can find details about offenses, sentences, and release dates for people convicted in Union County and sent to Florida state prisons.

Cities in Union County

Union County is small and rural with just a few communities. Lake Butler is the county seat and largest city. Law enforcement throughout Union County is provided by the Sheriff's Office. There are no municipal police departments in this county. All police records for incidents anywhere in Union County are kept by the Sheriff's Office in Lake Butler.

Other communities in Union County include Raiford, Providence, and Worthington Springs. For police records from any location in the county, contact the Union County Sheriff's Office. Deputies patrol all areas and respond to calls throughout Union County.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Union County. If you need police records from a neighboring area, contact the sheriff's office for that county. Verify which county had jurisdiction over the incident before submitting your request.