DeSoto County Arrest Records

Peace officers in DeSoto County, Florida, possess the authority to execute arrests in response to illegal or criminal activity. Each arresting officer is legally obliged to properly document these enforcement actions, regardless of whether an arrest was made with a warrant.

The DeSoto County arrest records contain essential information about an alleged offender and their specific crime. These records are useful for charging suspects, building defense arguments, and determining an arrestee's whereabouts. Together with the DeSoto County court records, arrest records detail the criminal justice process related to a person's apprehension and prosecution for a crime in DeSoto.

Are Arrest Records Public in DeSoto County?

Yes. Florida's Public Records Law, Chapter 119, F.S., allows the general public to access non-confidential or non-exempt arrest records retained by criminal justice agencies. This means anyone can obtain an arrest record from a local law enforcement agency in DeSoto.

Confidential records that the public may not access include:

• The contents of an arrested person's confession until the case is resolved
• Juvenile arrest records
• Expunged records
• Identifying details about victims of child abuse, sexual offense, child human trafficking, and mass violence
• Identifying information about a confidential informant or source
• Medical and psychological information

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in DeSoto County often comprise these details:

• The arrested person's legal name, aliases, age, date of birth, race, sex, last known address, and physical description (weight, height, hair color, eye color, and scars, marks & tattoos)
• Arrest location, date, time, and type
• Arresting agency
• Charges against the suspect, including the precise code of law violated and counts
• Any applicable bond information, including the type and amount
• Court information, including upcoming court dates, docket number, and the presiding court
• Booking date and location
• Release information

DeSoto County Arrest Statistics

In 2021, DeSoto County reported 1,374 arrests and an arrest rate of 4,037.5 per 100,000 inhabitants, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's (FDLE) 2021 County and Municipal Arrest Report. Of the total, 1,287 were classified as adult arrests and 87 as juvenile arrests. Among the reported index arrests, aggravated assault had more occurrences in DeSoto, with 59 incidents noted. It was followed by larceny (50 arrests) and burglary (42 arrests). The least common index arrest was robbery, with only two events.

Find DeSoto County Arrest Records

Obtaining arrest records in DeSoto County typically involves contacting the law enforcement agency responsible for an arrest. Members of the public can stop by an agency's office during regular business hours or write to the agency's records unit for information. A police agency's website usually has relevant contact information for sending public records requests. Inquirers should note that they will need to provide at least the arrestee's name and birth date, and they will be liable for any corresponding charges.

Those who wish to find someone taken to the DeSoto County Jail after being arrested can contact or visit the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office, which runs the local jail facility. They can also search the Sheriff's online Jail Roster for free. However, the roster only provides information about people currently in custody in DeSoto. If the person of interest has already been relocated to a federal facility, the inquirer can access the Federal Inmate Locator, which the Federal Bureau of Prisons maintains, for relevant information.

Some DeSoto County arrestees eventually serve time in a Florida State prison for an offense. In such instances, the FDC's (Florida Department of Corrections) Prison/Inmate Search Network is the recommended utility for retrieving information about the offender's sentence and confinement.

Free Arrest Record Search in DeSoto County

The Desoto County Jail Roster, available on the local Sheriff's website, is one resource that members of society may utilize to find free arrest information in DeSoto County. The roster reveals pertinent information (biodata, arrest, charge, booking details) about suspects apprehended in DeSoto and transported to the county jail facility.

Nonetheless, an individual also has the following options to examine arrest records for free in DeSoto:

• Visit the arresting police agency and request a record under the Florida Public Records Law. Pursuant to this law, individuals may not be charged any sum of money if they only wish to view public documents.
• Access private aggregator databases for free DeSoto County arrest record searches. These databases are valuable when researching a wide area for records of an individual's criminal activity. However, a fee may apply to obtain comprehensive information.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Forever. Unless a specific law or judicial decision restricts public review, a person's DeSoto arrest record will remain in the public domain indefinitely and may be examined by anyone. Eligible defendants may seek a sealing or expungement to hide or conceal their records from the public.

Expunge DeSoto County Arrest Records

Arrestees in DeSoto County may qualify to seal or expunge their arrest records under the Florida Statutes. Although the state has various laws that address record sealing and expungement, these processes are either application-based or automatic. That is to say, record sealing or expungement may be carried out without a defendant's motion, and in other cases, the defendant must make a formal request to a government body—primarily the FDLE or a court with jurisdiction.

Adults or juveniles seeking a court-ordered sealing or expungement in DeSoto County are expected to meet the prerequisites of F.S. 943.0585 and 943.059. Each prospective applicant must obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the FDLE for $75. Individuals must submit this certificate to the DeSoto County Circuit Court Clerk's Office, along with the completed expungement packet forms and any applicable filing fee, to request sealing or expungement in DeSoto.

In Florida, sealing limits public access to a record and grants review only to specific governmental or related entities, mainly those listed in F.S. 943.059(4)(a). On the other hand, an expunged record can only be accessed with a court order. Most entities that can ordinarily view a sealed record must possess a court order to obtain an expunged record.

DeSoto County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are legal orders from the court to law enforcement that command a person's capture. Under the U.S. Fourth Amendment and relevant Florida regulations, arrest warrants, regardless of where issued, cannot be released without "probable cause". Probable cause, which must be set forth by the official requesting the warrant, describes a set of facts or circumstances that would convince a reasonable person that a crime occurred and a particular person is responsible.

Per Rule 3.121 of the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure, a DeSoto County arrest warrant must be in writing and carry the following information:

• The name of the party who must be apprehended or any description by which they can be reasonably recognized.
• The nature of the offense
• A command for the subject to be arrested and taken to court
• The issue date and county
• The signature of the committing judge and their title of office
• Bail amount (if any) or other release conditions

Do DeSoto County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. There is no time limitation placed on arrest warrants issued in DeSoto County. Typically, until the subject of a warrant resolves the underlying case, their warrant will remain active for the entirety of their lifetime. Still, a court may recall a warrant for a just cause in certain instances.