Highlands County Arrest Records

Highlands County arrest records are official law enforcement documents that detail the arrest of individuals within the county. Typically, an arrest may become necessary for any of the following reasons:

• There is probable cause that a person has committed a crime
• A judge/magistrate issues an arrest or bench warrant
• There is a violation of a court order
• There is a risk that an individual will flee and avoid prosecution for a crime
• To ensure public safety and order
• As a follow-up to an investigation
• If a person commits a misdemeanor in the presence of law enforcement officers.

Several law enforcement agencies in Highlands County generate arrest records in their line of duty. These include

• Highlands County Sheriff's Office
• Highlands County Clerk of Courts
• Local Police Departments
• Florida Highway Patrol (FHP)
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
• Federal agencies such as the:
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
  • Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
  • Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Highlands County holds inmates who are awaiting trials, transfer, or serving short sentences at the Highlands County Jail. Convicts sentenced to long-term incarceration may be transferred to state or federal prison facilities within the county, while minors serve their sentences at Juvenile Detention Centers designated by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.

Highlands County arrest records are introductory documents for the early stages of criminal trials. Hence, they are part of Highlands County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Highlands County?

Yes, Highlands County arrest records are public. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes stipulates that all state records (including Highlands County arrest records) are open for inspection and copying by any interested person at reasonable times. Notwithstanding public access to government records, Florida State laws exempt public scrutiny of Highlands arrest records

• Of Minors
• Whose public access may impact an ongoing investigation
• That is expunged or Sealed by the court
• That contains
• Informant information
• Identifying information of victims or witnesses
• Undercover personnel information
• Medical or mental health records.

To access exempted Highlands County arrest records, a requester must be the owner of the records or have authorization under Florida law.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Highlands arrest records contain information relating to the arrest of individuals. Typically, arrest records information includes

• The full name, address, date of birth, gender, race, and physical description of the arrestee
• Date, time, and location of the arrest
• Charges against the arrestee
• Bail and Bond information
• Incident Report.

Highlands County Crime Rate

Larceny-theft has been the most consistent crime in Highlands County. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, in 2020, 2,185 violent and property-related crimes were reported by various law enforcement agencies in Highlands County, larceny-theft accounted for 1,405 incidents. Also, 65.2% of violent and property crimes in Highlands County in 2019 were larceny-theft. The tables below outline the reported violent and property crimes for Highlands County in 2019 and 2020.

Data Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Highlands County Arrest Statistics

Data from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement show that the arrest trend for Highlands County varies yearly. There was a significant reduction in the number of arrests for various offenses in Highlands County between 2019 and 2020. In 2020, the number of arrests (adult and juvenile) in Highlands County dropped from 4,024 to 2,232 cases. There was a decrease in aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, simple assault, and drug-related crime arrests. The table below shows the number of arrests for some common crimes in Highlands County in 2019 and 2020.

Data Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Find Highlands County Arrest Records

Highlands County arrest records are public documents accessible to interested persons. To find Highlands County arrest records using federal or state resources:

• Log in to the Highlands County Sheriff's Office website:
  • Click the Jail Information link
  • On the new page, click Inmate Search to access or search for arrest records of persons Incarcerated within Highlands County jails
• Log in to the Florida Department of Corrections Offender Network Portal, and use a name and Department of Corrections number to search for inmate information
• Visit the Highlands County Sheriff's Office or the Highlands County Clerk of Courts Office (for arrest records contained in criminal records) and request access to arrest records at the following addresses:

Highlands County Sheriff's Office
400 S. EUCALYPTUS ST. SEBRING,
FL 33870
Phone: (862) 402-7211

Highlands County Clerk of Courts
590 South Commerce Avenue
Sebring,
Florida 33870-3867
Phone: (863) 402-6565

Free Arrest Record Search in Highlands County

Although Florida laws permit public records custodians to charge access fees, Highlands County arrest records may be accessible for free. For free access to Highlands County arrest records:

• Log in to the Highlands County Sheriff's Office Inmate Search Portal and look for arrest records for free
• Visit the Highlands County Clerk of Courts website:
  • Scroll down and click Court Records Search
  • Follow the instructions on the subsequent pages to link to the Online Court Records Search page
  • Select the “Public” option and agree to the disclaimer to access the records search page
  • Use a name or case number to look for arrest records for free through criminal records
• Search for Highlands arrest records for free on third-party websites. Some private websites may offer free access to Highlands County law enforcement and court records.
• Visit local public notice boards and libraries for information on Highlands County arrest records.

Get Highlands County Criminal Records

Highlands County criminal records are official documents that detail the criminal histories of individuals within the county, as well as their interactions with the trial justice system. Typically, Highlands County criminal records encompass information such as:

• Personal details of the owners of the records
• Arrest records
• Charges against the owners
• Court records
• Convictions
• Incarceration records
• Warrants
• Acquittals and Dismissals
• Expungements and Seals.

Highlands County criminal history information is available through online and offline repositories. To access Highlands County criminal records:

• Log in to the Highlands County Sheriff's Office website and access criminal history records through the Inmate Search Portal
• Visit the Highlands County Clerk of Courts Online Court Records Search Page
• Select CF (criminal felony) from the Court Type option and a person or case search for criminal records
• Log in to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Criminal History Services Portal, register, and search for criminal records relating to Highlands County through credit card payment. Accessing Highlands County criminal records through the FDLE search portal costs $25.00
• Visit the Highlands County Sheriff's Office or the Highlands County Clerk of Courts Office and request access to criminal history records.
• Search for Highlands County criminal records through private online repositories. Some third-party websites may have databases of information on Highlands County law criminal history.
• Visit local libraries and search for criminal history records through their archives.

Highlands County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

In Highlands County and other jurisdictions, arrest and criminal records are crucial documents that aid law enforcement in maintaining order and securing lives and properties within the county. However, there are distinctions between both records.

Typically, an arrest record documents the instance where law enforcement takes a person into custody for a suspected crime. On the other hand, a criminal record indicates that a person was convicted by a court for a crime. An arrest may not lead to a conviction and does not confirm the guilt or innocence of the owner of a record. However, a criminal record may confirm that an individual is guilty of a crime.

Also, arrest records are limited to specific incidents, but criminal records encompass an individual's criminal history (including interactions with the criminal justice system). In addition, although both Highlands County arrest and criminal records are used for background checks, Investigation, and verifying criminal activities, criminal records provide more detailed background checks and are useful for legal proceedings, evaluation for employment, licensing, and other official purposes.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

An arrest will stay on a record indefinitely unless a court seals or expunges it. Per Florida Statutes Chapter 943, Section 943.0585, individuals can seal arrests from their records if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Expunge Highlands County Arrest Records

In Highlands County, the process of sealing an arrest record involves several steps. To expunge arrest information in Highlands County, eligible persons must petition the Highlands County Clerk of Courts. Per Florida laws, to seal or expunge a Highlands County arrest information, the following conditions apply:

• The charges against the individual were dismissed
• The person was acquitted by the court
• The prosecutor did not pursue the charges
• The owner of the records completed a pre-trial diversion or intervention program.
• A petitioner must not have any criminal conviction or expungement in Florida.
• Arrest records for sexual offenses, violent crimes, and certain fraud-related cases do not qualify for sealing.

To seal or expunge an arrest record in Highlands County, apply the following steps:

• Confirm eligibility for an arrest records expungement
• Download an Application for a Certificate of Eligibility for Expunction (s. 943.585, F.S) form from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
• Complete the certificate of eligibility application form, attach an affidavit attesting to eligibility for expungement, and a fingerprint card (this must be from a law enforcement agency)
• Submit the certificate of eligibility to the FDLE and wait for its processing. The FDLE will review the application and issue a certificate of eligibility if the individual fulfills the requirements.
• File a petition at the Highlands County Clerk of Courts Office (this must include the certificate of eligibility, an affidavit attesting to eligibility for sealing, and the arrest records or any document that will aid the petition)
• Serve notice of the petition to the Highlands County prosecutor's office
• Attend any court hearing on the petition to answer questions or counter any objections that may arise from interested parties
• The court will approve or deny the petition based on merit and legal compliance. If the court grants the petition, the judge will order the relevant agencies to seal the records
• Follow up on the petition and ensure that the agencies comply with the court order and bar the records from public access.

Highlands County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is an official document issued by a judge/magistrate authorizing law enforcement to take an individual into custody. A judge/magistrate may issue an arrest warrant if law enforcement shows probable cause that an individual committed a crime.

In Highlands County, the following circumstances may necessitate a judge or magistrate to issue a warrant:

• Law enforcement provides sufficient evidence that a person committed a crime.
• Evidence in an ongoing investigation implicates someone of committing a crime.
• A person fails to appear in court when required to do so by law
• There are probation or parole violations.

Typically, arrest warrant information includes personal information of the subject, details of the crime, probable cause statement, conditions of arrest, and warrant specifics (such as the date of issuance of the warrant, name, and signature of the issuing judge, and instructions to the arresting officers).

Highlands County Arrest Warrant Search

There are several options for Obtaining information on active arrest warrants in Highlands County. For persons seeking information on Highlands County active arrest warrants:

• Visit the Highlands County Sheriff's Office website and look for information on active arrest warrants
• Search for active arrest warrants relating to Highlands County on the Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC) Wanted Person Search page, and look for Information on Highlands County fugitives. The FCIC provides information on state-wide arrest warrants.
• Visit the Highlands County Clerk of Courts and request access to active court-issued arrest warrants.

Do Highlands County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No Highlands arrest warrants do not expire. An arrest warrant does not have a time limit and will remain active until law enforcement takes the suspect/fugitive into custody. Nonetheless, Highlands arrest warrants become inactive at the death of the suspect or if the court recalls it.