Escambia County Arrest Records

An arrest record is an official document containing details about an individual's arrest, including personal information, charges, circumstances surrounding the arrest, and other relevant data. In Escambia County, law enforcement officers make arrests when they have probable cause to believe an individual has committed a criminal offense, when they catch someone committing a crime, or when a court issues a valid arrest warrant (Florida Statutes Chapter 901.15).

When arrests occur in Escambia County, the arrested individuals are typically booked into custody. During this time, their personal information, charges, details about the arrest circumstances, mugshots, and fingerprints are recorded, creating an official arrest record.

The Escambia County Sheriff's Office is the county's custodian of arrest records. However, police departments, such as the Pensacola Police Department, also create and maintain arrest records for arrests made by their officers within the jurisdiction of Pensacola. In addition to being found in the custody of law enforcement agencies in Escambia County, arrest records may also appear in the public files of other local or state agencies, including Escambia County Court Records or criminal history records from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).

Are Arrest Records Public in Escambia County?

Yes. Arrest records are public in Escambia County under the Florida Public Records Law (also called the Florida Sunshine Law). Thus, individuals can request and obtain these records from the Escambia County Sheriff's Office or a local police department in the county, where available.

However, per Section 119.071 of the Florida Public Record Law and Section 943.053 of the Florida Statutes, certain arrest records or information may be restricted or exempt from public disclosure. These include arrest records of minors, arrest records related to ongoing investigations, sensitive personal data (like SSNs, bank details, passport numbers, etc.), information that may reveal the identities of confidential informants, and arrest records that have been sealed or expunged under Florida laws.

To access non-exempt arrest records in Escambia County, interested individuals must submit a request to the custodian agency (Sheriff's Office, police department, etc.) and may need to pay applicable fees. Eligibility requirements may apply for access to exempt records, such as record subjects or authorized representatives.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

A public arrest record in Escambia County typically contains the following:

• Personal details of the arrestee (name, date of birth, gender, fingerprints, photograph, identifying marks, height, and weight)
• Date, time, and location of the arrest
• Arresting agency
• Name of the arresting officer
• Charges filed
• Bail amount and conditions, if applicable
• Booking number
• Description of the circumstances surrounding the arrest.

Escambia County Crime Rate

According to the 2021 crime data for Escambia County in the Florida UCR "Statewide County Report," the county recorded a total crime index of 9,305 crimes in 2021. These included 23 murders, 284 rapes, 282 robberies, 1,332 aggravated assaults, 1,285 burglaries, 5,410 larcenies, and 689 motor vehicle thefts.

The overall crime rate per 100,000 population stood at 2,867.9. The five most common crimes recorded in Escambia County in 2021 were larceny, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, and rape, in that order.

Escambia County Arrest Statistics

The FDLE Uniform Crime Report (UCR) 2021 county and municipal arrest report shows that Escambia County documented 12,688 arrests, including 11,954 adult arrests and 734 juvenile arrests. The arrest rate per 100,000 in the county for 2021 was 3,910.5.

The total arrest count included arrests for murder (40), rape (55), robbery (156), aggravated assault (651), burglary (283), larceny (1,473), motor vehicle theft (211), drug offenses (1,941), simple assault (1,877), fraud (443), DUIs (593), forgery/counterfeiting (39), weapons violations (154), destruction/vandalism (73), and miscellaneous offenses (4,436).

Find Escambia County Arrest Records

Individuals who wish to obtain or look up Escambia County arrest records should contact the Escambia County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff's office generates, retains, and disseminates arrest records, provided they are not exempt from disclosure. These records include offense and arrest reports, mugshots, and local criminal background checks.

Requests can be submitted in person, by Fax: ((850) 436-9784), by email, or online through the Criminal Records Request Form. In-person visits should be made between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at:

Escambia County Sheriff's Office
Criminal Records Section
1700 West Leonard Street
Pensacola, FL 32501
Phone: (850) 436-9501

To facilitate efficient record retrieval, requesters should provide the Sheriff's Office with details such as the suspect's name and the arrest date or location. The Sheriff's Office will determine the fee for duplicating arrest records and conducting research based on the number of pages and man-hours required to process a request. However, the general fees associated with researching and obtaining arrest records are provided on the Escambia County Sheriff's Office (ECSO) price sheet.

Free Arrest Record Search in Escambia County

Per the Florida Public Records Law, individuals can submit public records requests to law enforcement agencies in Escambia County to view or duplicate copies of arrest records. The law authorizes custodians to determine the cost or fee for disseminating these records. Therefore, local law enforcement agencies in Escambia County do not generally offer free options for obtaining or looking up arrest records. Typically, a fee is required to research or duplicate copies of Escambia County arrest records.

However, individuals can still access Escambia County arrest information for free. One option is to utilize the Escambia County jail booking information portal to lookup Escambia County arrests and booking information for free. The other option is for individuals to access or research Escambia County arrest records for free through third-party aggregate sites. These websites aggregate public information, including arrest records, across multiple jurisdictions from law enforcement agencies and official criminal history repositories. Individuals can search these sites using a record subject's first and last name to find their arrest records. Basic arrest reports on these sites are generally free; however, fees are often charged for access to more detailed reports.

Get Escambia County Criminal Records

A criminal record, also known as a criminal history or rap sheet, is a documented account of an individual's criminal history, including arrests, detentions, indictments, charges, convictions, and sentences (Florida Statutes § 943.045(5)). A person's criminal history comprehensively shows their interactions with the criminal justice system across local, state, and federal levels. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is the custodian of criminal history records in the state and maintains a centralized database of criminal records across Florida, including Escambia County.

To obtain Escambia County criminal records, visit the FDLE criminal history record check website. Select "Instant Search," then "Instant Florida Criminal History Search," and follow the prompts. The instant search costs $24.00 per subject plus a $1.00 credit card processing fee, both non-refundable.

Individuals or entities can also choose the 'certified/non-certified search' to receive copies of a person's criminal history by mail. This option takes five business days for non-certified copies and six to seven business days for certified copies to process.

Escambia County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

An arrest record and a criminal record are distinct but related concepts. An arrest record documents specific instances when law enforcement took an individual into custody on suspicion of committing a crime. It contains details about the arrest, like the date, location, charges, and arresting agency. The arresting agency, such as the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, creates and maintains a person's arrest record.

On the other hand, a criminal record is a comprehensive official file that chronicles an individual's entire history of involvement with the criminal justice system. This includes arrests, charges, court proceedings, convictions, sentencing, and incarceration information. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is the custodian of criminal records in the state, including for Escambia County residents.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. Unless expunged or sealed, a person's arrest records remain forever in Escambia County. Florida does not have a stipulated time for which arrest records must be kept. However, an arrest record can be removed from a person's file through expungement or sealing, subject to eligibility requirements under Florida law.

Expunge Escambia County Arrest Records

Eligible individuals in Escambia County with arrest records can expunge or seal their arrest records under Sections 943.0585 and 943.059 of the Florida Statutes. Expungement is the court-ordered destruction of an arrest record, making it non-existent, while sealing makes an arrest record confidential and exempt from public disclosure, even though it may remain on file with criminal justice agencies.

In Florida, most arrest records can be expunged if the charges were dismissed or the person was found not guilty. However, records are only eligible for sealing, not expungement, if the person entered a plea of guilty or no contest but the court withheld adjudication of guilt.

Per the law, individuals are eligible to expunge their Escambia County arrest records if their charges were withdrawn, dismissed, or were found not guilty; have no previous convictions in Florida or adjudications of delinquency as a juvenile; and have not previously received an expungement.

To expunge or seal an Escambia County arrest record, eligible individuals must follow these steps:

• Fill out an application for a Certificate of Eligibility.
• Obtain fingerprints on an FDLE-certified fingerprint form.
• Get a certified copy of the case disposition from the court clerk where the record was filed and heard.
• Submit the application and case disposition to the local state attorney's office for completion of Section B, which confirms case dismissal or withdrawal.
• Send the completed application, fingerprints, certified case disposition, and a $75 fee to the FDLE for processing (which takes about nine months).
• If approved, the FDLE will issue a Certificate of Eligibility. The individual can then file a petition to seal or expunge with the court, including the certificate and supporting documents. Copies of the petition must be served to the state attorney's office and the arresting law enforcement agency.

If there are no objections, the court will issue an order to seal or expunge the arrest record. Copies of the order will be sent to the arresting agency and other related agencies, such as the FDLE, to seal or expunge the arrest record.

Escambia County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are court orders that authorize law enforcement officers to arrest and take an individual suspected of committing a crime into custody. Chapter 901 of the Florida Statutes governs the issuance of arrest warrants in Escambia County.

Judges or magistrates typically issue arrest warrants when they find probable cause to believe the person named in the warrant committed a criminal offense. The process begins when a law enforcement officer or prosecutor presents evidence and sworn testimony to a judge, alleging that a person committed a crime. If the judge finds probable cause exists based on the evidence, they will issue an arrest warrant.

Circumstances necessitating an arrest warrant include felony offenses, serious misdemeanors, probation/parole violations, and failure to appear in court.

An Escambia County arrest warrant typically includes the subject's full name, physical description, alleged offenses, the issuing court and judge, the date and time of issuance, and the issuing authority's signature.

Escambia County Arrest Warrant Search

To find active arrest warrants in Escambia County, interested individuals should contact the Escambia County Sheriff's Office with a photo ID. Note that the Sheriff's Office only provides information on active arrest warrants to the warrant subject and their attorney upon identity verification.

Escambia County Sheriff's Office
1700 West Leonard Street
Pensacola, FL 32501
Phone: (850) 436-9630

Alternatively, they may search the FDLE Wanted Persons Database. Persons whose names appear on this database most likely have an active warrant.

Do Escambia County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Escambia County arrest warrants do not expire. Once issued, an Escambia County arrest warrant remains active until law enforcement apprehends the individual named in the warrant or the court formally quashes or recalls the warrant. However, an arrest warrant can become invalid or moot if the court recalls or quashes it because the charges were dismissed, the case was resolved, the warrant application had false claims, or the named person has died.