Citrus County Arrest Records

Citrus County arrest records refer to official documents detailing the instances in which law enforcement agencies within the county take individuals into custody. An arrest may become necessary for several reasons. Under Florida laws, law enforcement can arrest individuals if they commit crimes, pose risks to themselves or the public, intend to flee to avoid prosecution for crimes or flout court orders.

In Citrus County, the Sheriff's Office, Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies create arrest records to detail information about arrests and account for persons in their custody. Citrus County arrest records provide information for criminal case trials within the Citrus County Circuit and County Courts, and by inclusion, they are part of Citrus County court records.

Citrus County law enforcement agencies detain individuals they arrest at the Citrus County Detention Facility, this is the primary housing facility for individuals serving sentences, or awaiting trials or transfer to other jurisdictions.

Are Arrest Records Public in Citrus County?

Yes, Citrus County arrest records are public. According to Chapter 286 of the Florida Statute (the Sunshine Law), all documents and information relating to government business are open to the public unless the laws state otherwise. Notwithstanding, the public cannot access Citrus County arrest information if they relate to

• Minors
• Sealed or expunged records
• Victims or witnesses
• Active law enforcement or judicial investigation
• Informant or secret agent information
• Mental or medical health.

Accessing Citrus County restricted arrest records requires legal authorizations or judicial orders.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Typically, an arrest record contains information relating to arrests. These include

• The name, date of birth, gender, and race of the owner of the record
• Arrest details such as name of the arresting agency, date, time, and location of the arrest
• Booking number, mugshots, fingerprints, and description of the arrestee
• Bail or Bond information
• Court appearance information (if applicable)
• The outcome of the cases resulting from the arrest (if the court does not dismiss it).

Citrus County Crime Rate

According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, larcenies are the most common crime in Citrus County. In 2021, the Citrus County Sheriff's Office reported 1,978 crime incidents to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and 1,266 were larceny-related. Also, the 2020 reports show that 1,402 of the 2,329 reported crimes in Citrus County were larcenies. The table below shows the crime indexes, reported crimes, and clearances within Citrus County in 2020 and 2021.

Data Source: FDLE.

Citrus County Arrest Statistics

Data from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement show that 4,402 adults and 161 juveniles were taken into custody for various offenses within the county in 2020. The highest number of arrests were for drug-related incidents, DUI, simple assaults, larcenies, and aggravated assaults. Also, the 2019 data show a similar trend in Citrus County arrest statistics. The table below shows the number of arrests for some common crimes in Citrus County in 2019 and 2020.

Data Source: FDLE.

Find Citrus County Arrest Records

To find Citrus County arrest information

• Visit the Citrus County Sheriff's Office's Recent Arrest Page and download a PDF of individuals taken into custody within the previous ten days.
• Contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement during office hours for Citrus County arrest records older than ten days using the following information:

Florida Department of Law Enforcement

2331 Phillips Road
Tallahassee,
FL 32308
Phone: (850) 410-7676
Fax: (850) 410-7699
Email: publicrecords@fdle.state.fl.us

Mailing Address:

Florida Department of Law Enforcement

Attn: Office of the General Counsel

P.O. Box 1489
Tallahassee,
FL 32302-1489

• Call or visit the Citrus County Sheriff's Office at

1 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue Inverness,
FL 34450-4968
Phone: (352) 726-1122

• Visit local police departments and law enforcement agencies and request access to criminal records in their possession.

Free Arrest Record Search in Citrus County

To access Citrus County arrest records at no cost, log in to the Citrus County Sheriff's Office’s Recent Arrest Page and download and view information on arrests within the previous ten days for free. Alternatively, search online for Citrus County arrest records; some private databases may offer free access to Citrus County law enforcement records.

Get Citrus County Criminal Records

Citrus County criminal records refer to official documents on individuals' criminal activities and prosecutions within the county's Circuit and County Courts. A criminal record provides comprehensive details of a person's criminal activities and interactions with the justice system.

In Citrus County, the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller are the custodians of criminal records. However, the Sheriff's Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement play key roles in maintaining them.

To access Citrus County criminal records:

• Log in to the Citrus County Clerk of Courts Secured Courts Online Records Search System and use names, cases or citation numbers to search for criminal records.
• Log in to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Criminal History Service Portal and search for Citrus County criminal histories. This option attracts a $25.00 search fee and an additional $1.00 credit card processing cost.
• Visit the Florida Department of Corrections Inmate Records Portal, create an account, or log in anonymously to search for criminal records of Citrus County convicts.
• Fill out and submit the Citrus County Sheriff's Office online Records/Public Records Request Form. Alternatively, email the Sheriff’s Office at PublicRecords@sheriffcitrus.org or contact the Custodian of Records for Citrus County Sheriff's Office at (352) 726-4488

Citrus County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Citrus County arrest and criminal records are crucial for maintaining law and order. They play key roles in safeguarding lives and properties by providing valuable information to law enforcement. However, there are distinctions between both documents in the roles they play as tools for maintaining order and preventing crimes. The following points outline several differences between Citrus County arrests and criminal records:

Creation

• Law enforcement agencies within Citrus County create arrest records to account for persons they take into custody and provide details of the circumstances leading to their arrests.
• The Citrus County Circuit and County Courts generate criminal records to detail the prosecution of individuals for criminal offenses.

Content

• Arrest records contain personal information of the owners of the records, reasons they were taken into custody, booking details, and bailor bond amount.
• Criminal records contain details of prosecutions, convictions, sentencing, incarceration, probation, and parole of convicts.

Legal Implications

• An arrest record does not imply the guilt or innocence of the arrestee. The individual is assumed innocent until a court with legal authority states otherwise.
• A criminal record is an evidence of conviction for a criminal offense

Social Impacts

• Although arrest records may affect employment opportunities, housing, and social status, a criminal record has more impact.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

An arrest information will stay on a record indefinitely unless the court seals or removes it. Florida Statute § 943.0585 and 943.059 outlines the requirements for sealing and expunging arrest records.

Expunge Citrus County Arrest Records

Per Section 943.0585 of the Florida Statutes, the following conditions apply for the sealing or expunction of Citrus County arrest information:

• The record must result from a lawful arrest in Citrus County
• The petitioner must not have any prior criminal conviction or sealing/expunction of a criminal record
• The arrest must result in nolle prosequi or not-guilty verdict
• The arrest must be for a misdemeanor or a third-degree felony that did not lead to a conviction
• The record is for a case where the court withheld adjudication, and the individual completed the conditions of the sentence.

Also, the following waiting periods apply to the expunction of arrest information in Citrus County and the rest of Florida State:

No Conviction

• Immediately after the case is resolved

Arrests Leading to Withheld Adjudication

• Five years after completing the sentence (including probation and parole)

First-degree Misdemeanors

• Five years after completing the sentence

To seal/expunge a Citrus County arrest record, petitioners should do the following:

• Determine their eligibility for arrest records sealing or removal
• Request and obtain copies of their criminal histories from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement
• Depending on the nature and outcome of the arrest, fill out an Application for Certificate of Eligibility for Expunction or an Application for Certificate of Eligibility for Sealing Form.
• Submit the completed sealing/expunction form, a certified copy of the case disposition document, criminal history report, and a government-issued ID to the FDLE to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility. There is a non-refundable fee of $75.00. Also, there may be additional fees for fingerprinting and obtaining court documents
• Wait and receive the Certificate of Eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
• File a petition with the Citrus County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller.
• Attend court hearings (if necessary) to provide answers to questions and counter objections from interested parties.
• If the court grants the petition, it will issue orders to the relevant agencies to seal or remove the records.
• Follow up and ensure that the relevant agencies comply with the court orders.

It may be advisable to contact a legal professional when petitioning for an expunction or sealing of arrest records.

Citrus County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are legal documents that authorize law enforcement to take individuals into custody. Law enforcement must approach the court with probable cause to obtain arrest warrants. A judge/magistrate of the Citrus County Circuit or County Court may issue an arrest warrant to law enforcement if they provide an affidavit that an individual:

• Committed a crime
• Is a danger to self or the public
• Plans to flee to avoid prosecution for an offense
• Refuses to appear before the court to stand trial or sentencing for a crime
• Flouts court orders
• Violated the terms of probation or parole.

An arrest warrant must contain the following information to be legally valid:

• The name and title of the issuing judge/magistrate
• The name of the subject/defendant
• Charges against the individual
• Date and time of issuance of the warrant
• Physical description of the individual (this may include distinguishing features such as height, weight, hair, and eye color)
• The specific location where law enforcement should conduct searches
• The date law enforcement must serve the warrant or return it to the court.

Also, arrest warrants may contain case numbers and bail or bond Information.

Citrus County Arrest Warrant Search

For information on Citrus County active arrest warrants:

• Log in to the Citrus County Sheriff's Office Wanted of the Week webpage and view information on active arrest warrants
• Log in to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Public Access System (PAS) and perform a name-based search for Citrus County active arrest warrants.
• Visit the Citrus County Sheriff's Office or other law enforcement offices for information on active warrants.
• Search third-party online databases that provide access to law enforcement documents, local News websites, and public notice boards for information about active arrest warrants in Citrus County.

Do Citrus County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Citrus County arrest warrants do not have fixed expiry dates. Law enforcement can arrest a suspect or defendant on an outstanding warrant. Generally, a warrant will remain active until law enforcement apprehends the individual, the court cancels it, or the subject dies.