Are Criminal Records in Broward County Publicly Accessible?

Yes, Broward County criminal records are mostly classified as public records under the state laws. The Florida Sunshine Laws allow public access to records created, stored, and maintained by government entities. Persons or entities seeking to obtain criminal records must contact the agency in charge of holding the records.

However, some criminal records are redacted or outrightly restricted from public access. Such records typically contain sensitive or confidential information such as the following:

• Identities of confidential sources in a criminal investigation.
• An arrestee’s confession is exempt until the criminal case results in a court conviction or dismissal.
• Crime-related data that reveals the personal assets of crime victims.
• Information that reveals the identity of victims of child abuse crimes.
• Information on victims of sex-related crimes.
• Sealed or expunged criminal records due to statutory reasons or court orders.

Who is Eligible to Access Broward County Criminal Records in Florida?

All persons or entities are eligible to access most criminal records generated in Broward County. The state law does not restrict access based on the requester’s location. However, criminal information that contains sensitive or confidential information is only accessible to requesters that fall under these categories:

• The record subject
• Persons directly affected by the criminal incident.
• The record subject’s legal representatives
• Government entities, such as criminal justice agencies and courts.

Legally eligible parties seeking to obtain criminal records must present proof of identification to the record custodian. However, third parties can request such records under the following conditions:

• The requester presents a court order that authorizes them to view the record.
• The requester has a letter of authorization or consent from the record subject.

How to Request Criminal Records in Broward County

In Broward County, interested applicants can request criminal records by following these steps:

1. Find the agency in charge of maintaining the record
   The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is the official record custodian of criminal information generated in Broward County.
2. Order Broward County criminal records from the record custodian
   The FDLE allows online searches and requests for criminal records in their custody. Applicants may only provide the required fees and search data to view records on the online search database. However, the online request option requires the applicant’s mailing address, fees, and search information.
3. Pay the required fees for viewing or obtaining copies of the record
   It costs $25 to search and view Broward County criminal records on the FDLE’s online search platform. In contrast, there is no fixed fee for requesting copies of criminal records from the online request platform. The fees are generally determined by the request volume and document type.

Conversely, third-party search platforms like floridacourtrecords.us offer online access to Broward County criminal records. These sites are typically easy to use and allow users to conveniently view criminal information. In addition, users may download the records directly to their devices. While third-party platforms have a lot of benefits, they are unregulated and may not offer accurate information.

What Information Is Contained in Broward County Criminal Records?

Broward County criminal records will typically contain the following data:

• The record subject’s full name, known aliases, birthdate, ethnicity, and gender.
• Arrest information and outstanding warrants
• Full set of fingerprints
• Mugshot
• Crime name, type, and classification
• Court name and case number
• Court disposition and conviction, including current or pending dispositions.
• Sentencing information, including duration and correctional facility.

However, public criminal records in Broward County may not include confidential data like personal information on crime victims or juvenile offenders.

Are There Restrictions on Accessing Criminal Records in Broward County?

Generally, Florida state laws restrict public access to records whose disclosure does not serve the public interest. Disclosing such records may also endanger the privacy and safety of concerned parties. For instance, if the personal information of crime victims is released, it may have negative implications.

Nonetheless, the state law allows certain groups of requesters to access restricted criminal information. Examples of such entities are criminal justice agencies and juvenile assessment centers and treatment programs. Upon receiving confidential records, the agencies are required to use the record only for the purpose for which it was requested.

Certain entities may also access restricted information for statistical or research purposes. However, they must sign a privacy and security agreement with the record custodian agency.

What Happens if My Request for Criminal Records is Denied in Broward County?

Requesters may follow any of these steps if an agency denies their requests for Broward County criminal records:

1. Use the Florida Office of the Attorney General’s third-party mediation program to resolve the dispute.
2. File a complaint with the Broward County Attorney’s Office at:

Broward County Judicial Complex West Building
201 Southeast 6th Street #655
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: (954) 831-6955

Note: The complaint must contain a copy of the original request letter, the agency’s response, and other necessary documents to support your request.

1. File a writ of mandamus with the Broward County Circuit Court at:

201 Southeast 6th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: (954) 831-7740

North Regional Courthouse
1600 West Hillsboro Boulevard
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

West Regional Courthouse
100 North Pine Island Road
Plantation, FL 33324

South Regional Courthouse
3550 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, FL 33021

Record custodian agencies may deny requests for criminal records under these conditions:

• The record contains information that is sealed or expunged by court order or statutes.
• The requested record is not under the purview of the agency.
• The request is not specific enough for the agency to retrieve the record.

How to Expunge or Seal Broward County Criminal Records

Offenders can expunge or seal Broward County criminal records by following these steps:

1. Request a Certificate of Eligibility from the FDLE. Applicants must mail the request form to the agency at:
   Florida Department of Law Enforcement
   P.O. Box 1489
   Criminal Justice Information Services
   Tallahassee, FL 32302-1489
   Email: SEinfo@fdle.state.fl.us
2. File the certificate of eligibility with the clerk of the circuit court.
3. After receiving the certificate, the court will set a hearing date to review the petition.
4. If the petition is granted, the court will issue an order to expunge criminal records to the FDLE.

Note: You must meet the following criteria to expunge criminal records in Broward County:

• The court acquitted or dismissed the criminal case.
• The criminal offense is eligible for expunction under state law.
• The record subject was not convicted of a felony or severe misdemeanor as of the time of filing the petition.