Columbia County Arrest Records

Columbia County arrest records are official documents generated following an individual's arrest in the county. These records contain information about every instance an individual was apprehended and detained by law enforcement for criminal offenses.

Under Florida Statutes Chapter 901.15, law enforcement officers in Florida are authorized to make arrests under specific conditions: when they have probable cause to believe a person has committed a crime, if they witness someone in the act of committing an offense, or upon the issuance of a valid arrest warrant.

After an arrest, the arresting law enforcement agencies, such as the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, document the arrest during booking. This involves recording details about the arrested individual, the alleged offense, the date and location of the arrest, and the arresting officer. This documentation forms the formal arrest report or record.

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office is the county's custodian of arrest records, creating and maintaining records for all arrests it makes. While Columbia County arrest records are separate criminal justice records, they may also appear within broader public criminal justice records, such as Columbia County Court Records or statewide criminal history records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Columbia County?

Yes. Arrest records are public in Columbia County under the Florida Public Records Law. Under this law, they are available to the public for inspection and copying, primarily through the Columbia County Sheriff's Office and other local law enforcement agencies.

However, certain arrest records or information may be restricted or exempt from public disclosure, as outlined in Section 119.071 of the Florida Public Records Law and Section 943.053 of the Florida Statutes. Exemptions include juvenile arrest records, ongoing investigation-related arrest records, sensitive personal information whose disclosure may constitute a violation of privacy or endanger safety, confidential informant details, confessions, certain victim information, and sealed or expunged records.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

A publicly available Columbia County arrest record contains the following information:

• Name of the arrested individual
• Date and time of the arrest
• Charges filed
• Bail or bond information, if applicable
• Mugshot photograph
• The arresting officer and agency information
• Alleged offense
• Booking information (booking number, date, and time)
• An account or brief description of the circumstances surrounding the arrest
• Arrest status (released, still in custody, or on hold information).

Columbia County Arrest Statistics

According to the 2020 county and municipal arrest report, Columbia County recorded 1,969 total arrests in 2020. Of these, 1,895 were adult arrests, and 74 were juvenile arrests. The report showed an arrest rate of 2,788.3 per 100,000 in the county for that year.

The arrests per criminal offense were as follows: Rape (2), robbery (21), aggravated assault (101), burglary (42), larceny (113), motor vehicle theft (33), kidnap/abduction (2), simple assault (203), drug arrest (454), bribery (4), fraud (29), forgery/counterfeiting (3), intimidation (4), prostitution (1), non-forcible sex offenses (6), stolen property (11), DUI (171), destruction/vandalism (24), weapons violations (18), liquor law violations (8), and miscellaneous offenses (719).

Find Columbia County Arrest Records

Columbia County arrest records are available through the Records Division of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office's Operations Center'. Interested individuals can submit their requests for these records in person to the Records Division from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The cost for record copies is $0.15 per single-sided page and $0.20 per double-sided page, with possible additional fees.

Columbia County Sheriff's Office
4917 U.S. Highway 90 East
Lake City, FL 32055
Phone: (386) 752-9212
Email: ccso.records@columbiasheriff.org.

Additionally, requests can be directed to the Lake City Police Department for records of arrests conducted by the department within the county. To request arrest records from the Lake City Police Department, individuals may visit the office in person during business hours or use the "Police Records Request" service to submit a query online.

Free Arrest Record Search in Columbia County

In Florida, fees are not often required to inspect or look up arrest records from law enforcement agencies. For instance, the public can use the Columbia County Sheriff's Office Inmate Search to find information on individuals arrested and booked into custody within the last 24 hours and conduct name-based searches for current and released inmates in the county for free. However, requesters are typically required to pay fees to obtain copies of an arrest record.

Alternatively, individuals can use third-party aggregate sites as an alternative to official sources. Some of these sites offer free, searchable databases that can be used to retrieve arrest records, including those from Columbia County. However, these sites are not affiliated with the government, so there is no guarantee regarding the availability, completeness, or accuracy of the records they provide.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. Florida law does not set any automatic expiration or removal date for arrest records maintained by law enforcement and criminal justice agencies. Arrest records are preserved per Florida's public records laws and specific agency retention schedules. They are kept until obsolete, replaced, or no longer have administrative value, as specified in the General Records Schedule GS-2. However, under state law, arrest records can be expunged or sealed to limit or restrict public access.

Expunge Columbia County Arrest Records

Individuals with eligible arrest records can apply to expunge or seal their records in Columbia County under Florida Statutes Sections 943.0585 and 943.059. Expungement permanently destroys the record, while sealing keeps it confidential and exempt from public access.

A person's arrest record can be expunged if the charges following their arrest were dismissed or if, after trial, they were found not guilty. They must have no convictions or juvenile adjudications and cannot have previously received an expungement. Persons who pled guilty or no contest with adjudication withheld may only qualify for sealing.

• Persons who qualify to expunge or seal their Columbia County arrest records should complete an application for a Certificate of Eligibility.
• Next, they should obtain fingerprints on a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) certified fingerprint form.
• Then, get a certified copy of the case disposition from the clerk of the court where the charges after their arrest were filed.
• Afterward, submit the application and case disposition to the local state attorney's office for verification in Section B of the application, confirming the case's dismissal or withdrawal.
• Finally, submit the completed application, fingerprints, certified case disposition, and a $75 fee to the FDLE at:

Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Attention: Expunge Section
P.O. Box 1489
Tallahassee, Florida 32302-1489.

If the FDLE approves, they will issue a certificate of eligibility, allowing the individual to file a petition to seal or expunge the record with the court in Columbia County. This petition should include the certificate and supporting documents, and copies must be served to the arresting law enforcement agency and the state attorney. If the court grants the petition, it will issue an order to expunge or seal the arrest records.

Columbia County Arrest Warrants

A Columbia County arrest warrant is a legal document that authorizes a law enforcement officer in Columbia County to apprehend and take into custody an individual suspected of a criminal offense. A judge or magistrate issues an arrest warrant upon the request of law enforcement agencies or officers, supported by an affidavit—a sworn statement providing facts that justify the need for an arrest.

A judge or magistrate must be convinced of probable cause before signing off an arrest warrant. This means there must be enough evidence to suggest that the individual is involved in or committed the alleged offense.

The issuance of arrest warrants in Florida is governed by Florida Statute 901 and Rule 3.121 of the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure. Under the law, a Columbia County arrest warrant must:

• Be written and explicitly issued in the name of the State of Florida
• Describe the nature of the offense, clearly identifying the reason for the arrest.
• Direct that the accused individual be apprehended and brought before a judge.
• Name the individual to be arrested. If the person's name is unknown, the document should include any identifiable details, such as a description or photograph if available.
• Indicate the date and county of issue.
• Carry the judge or magistrate's signature and official title.
• State the bail amount or any release conditions set by the court, if applicable.

Columbia County arrest warrants can be executed any day, at any time. This means an individual with an active warrant risks being arrested wherever and whenever they are found.

Interested individuals who wish to find information on active arrest warrants in Columbia County should visit the Columbia County Sheriff's Office or call the warrants division at (386) 755-4571.

Columbia County Sheriff's Office
4917 US Highway 90 East
Lake City, FL 32055.

Alternatively, persons can search the FDLE Wanted Persons Database, as offenders listed on this database most likely have an active arrest warrant.

Do Columbia County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Columbia County arrest warrants do not expire. Once issued, a warrant remains active until it is resolved. A warrant is typically resolved when the individual named voluntarily turns themselves in, is arrested by law enforcement, or has the warrant recalled or dismissed by the court. However, a warrant may become invalid if the person named in it dies before it can be executed.