Marion County Arrest Records

Arrests in Marion County happen when law enforcement officers apprehend people named on warrants or found committing crimes and take them into custody. Florida law requires arresting agencies to document each arrest by collecting the suspect's details, specifying the alleged crime, and providing other information about the arrest incident, such as the date, time, and location.

Regardless of the case outcome, any person booked for a criminal offense will have an arrest record. If the person is arraigned or tried in a court of law, these records can become part of the Marion County court records.

Marion County arrest records are generally public property maintained by different criminal justice agencies, including courts and law enforcement agencies.These records are important to individuals who want to expunge or seal their arrest information, people looking to help their loved ones post bail, and attorneys prosecuting or defending suspects.

Are Arrest Records Public in Marion County?

Yes. The Florida Sunshine Law (Fla. Stat. § 119.01 et seq.) classifies arrest records as public information and permits the public to request and inspect them. However, the public cannot access information restricted by law or court order. These include:

• Sealed and expunged arrest records
• Certain juvenile arrest records
• Records connected to active criminal investigations
• Crime victim information

Typically, confidential records are only released to specific parties, such as the subject (or their attorney), law enforcement, courts, and other entities identified in state or federal law.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The public can access the following information in a Marion County arrest record:

• Suspect information: This includes the arrestee's name, date of birth, photograph, ethnicity/race, and physical description (height, eye and hair color, etc.)
• Arrest details: The time and date of arrest, arresting agency and officer, location of arrest, and booking number
• Alleged crime: Offense, crime category, and statute.
• Bond information: Bond type and amount
• Release details

Marion County Crime Rate

According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Marion County reported 7,569 offenses in 2020, translating to a 2,056.0 crime rate per 100,000 persons.

Larceny was the most frequently reported offense in Marion at 4,289 incidents, followed by aggravated assault at 1,218 offenses. There were 19 murder cases, 136 robbery incidents, and 582 motor vehicle crimes reported in the same year.

Marion County Arrest Statistics

Per the FDLE's 2020 arrest report, 10,544 arrests were recorded in Marion County in 2020, representing a 2,864.2 arrest rate per 100,000 population.

In 2020, larceny accounted for the most arrests in Marion County, with 1,322 incidents. It was followed by aggravated assault (764). 13 arrests were reported in connection to murder cases, while 97 arrests were recorded for robbery.

Find Marion County Arrest Records

Individuals can approach law enforcement agencies to find information on people recently arrested or incarcerated in county, state, or federal prisons. Within Marion County, these agencies can be queried:

• Marion County Sheriff's Office: To submit arrest records requests, people can mail, call, or visit the local sheriff's Central Records Division.

Marion County Sheriff's Office
Attention: Records
P.O. Box 1987
Ocala, Florida, 34478

Or

692 North West 30th Avenue
Ocala, Florida, 34475
Phone: (352) 732-8181
Email: Records@marionso.com

Requesters can view records for free, but they must pay $1 per copy to reproduce documents and $1 to certify each copy or page.

Members of the public can also use the sheriff's inmate search tool to find details about individuals currently or previously held in the county jail. They can search by name to view details such as a defendant's booking number and date, personal information (including photograph), bond amount, next court date, and charge description. Users can also select the "Recent" tab to view suspects recently taken into custody.

• Police Departments: Municipal police departments in Marion County also have records divisions where individuals can submit records requests for arrest incidents. One should ideally visit the arresting agency that executed the arrest. For example, if the Ocala PD arrested the suspect, an individual can approach its Records Department for information.

People looking to obtain details about state and federal inmates can approach these agencies:

• Florida Department of Corrections: People seeking state inmate details can use the FDC's Corrections Offender Network. This system contains different databases that allow members of the public to find inmates by classification, such as released inmates, people currently in custody, offenders under supervision, and escapees. Each search portal allows the public to search by name and the inmate's assigned Department of Corrections (FDC) number. Users can view details such as the offense for which the inmate is serving time, the offense date, case number, arresting agency, and detainment date.

Individuals can also submit public records requests to the FDC to obtain inmate records. Requesters will be charged a fee for the service, especially if they want to produce copies or need help searching for the document. Requesters can significantly reduce costs by providing specific information, such as the inmate's DC number. If they do not know the number, they can run a name search using the department's Corrections Offender Network tool. Interested parties can also submit their requests online or use the following contact details to submit inquiries in person or by mail:

Department of Corrections
501 South Calhoun Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: (850) 717-9774
Fax: (850) 488-4534

• Bureau of Prisons: The U.S. Bureau of Prisons holds information on persons in federal custody. One can retrieve certain federal inmate information using the Bureau's Inmate Search portal or by submitting a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

Free Arrest Record Search in Marion County

To conduct an arrest record search for free in Marion County, individuals can submit public records requests to law enforcement agencies or access online search tools such agencies provide. In many cases, people can view public records at no cost. However, ordering copies or certifying them attracts specific fees.

Apart from official online resources, certain third-party websites provide Marion County arrest record searches for free. Although these sites are not government-affiliated, they collate publicly available records from law enforcement agencies. However, fees may apply to print or view documents.

Get Marion County Criminal Records

Criminal records contain information about a person's arrest, court case, and sentencing history. Interested entities can find these records through the Marion County court system and by running background searches.

Court Records

Individuals can visit the Marion County Clerk and Comptroller's Office website to use the Online Court Records Search (OCRS) portal. They must choose the "Public" option unless they are registered users, attorneys, or parties to the case. Generally, users can specify cases to search for (misdemeanors, felonies, traffic violations) and input a name or case number where indicated. One can also improve search results by providing a filing date.

Those who want to inspect court files personally or make copies can submit records requests to the Clerk's criminal division in person or by mail at:

Clerk of Court Office
Main Courthouse
110 North West 1st Avenue
Room 303
Phone: (352) 671-5674
Email: Criminal@marioncountyclerk.org

It is important to note that phone calls can answer questions about the request procedures, but the Clerk may not process official court records over the phone.

Background Checks

Background searches can help people obtain a person's complete criminal history. Individuals can order the service through the following entities:

• Marion County Sheriff's Office: The sheriff's central records division allows members of the public to order background searches for crimes that occurred within county limits. The initial fee is $5 plus $1 for additional name searches (hyphenated names, maiden names, and other name variants) and 15 cents per printed page. Individuals can contact the department at records@marionso.com or (352) 732-8181 for inquiries.
• Local police departments: One can also approach their local PD for background checks, which are limited to incidents that occurred within the city. For example, the Ocala Police Department's records section provides the service for $5 for immigration and visa purposes.
• Florida Department of Law Enforcement: The FDLE offers different background check services. Individuals can use the regular criminal history record checks systems, which normally attract a $24 fee, and eligible entities can use the Volunteer & Employee Criminal History System (VECHS) to find state and national criminal history information on potential employees and volunteers. Interested parties can contact the FDLE for more details.

Marion County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records are created at the time of an arrest and do not contain information about case dispositions and sentencing. Thus, members of the public cannot determine an individual's guilt simply by inspecting their arrest records.

To view prosecutorial and sentencing information, one must obtain their or another's criminal records. Criminal records also contain parole, probation, and other post-conviction information alongside the arrest and case history.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

A person's arrest record can stay permanently on their criminal history unless they seal or expunge it. If sealing or expungement is not possible, the record will remain public, able to be seen by any motivated or curious party.

Expunge Marion County Arrest Records

Florida law provides relief to people seeking to seal or expunge their arrest records in Marion County. However, sealing and expunging differ, even though they restrict public access.

Sealed arrest records are exempt from Article 1, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution and Florida Sunshine Law. That means the general public cannot view or obtain them. However, the records will still be accessible to specific entities named in Fla. Stat. § 943.059 (6), such as the subject or their attorney, judges, and criminal justice agencies. Sealed records can also be used against an individual during future criminal prosecutions.

Meanwhile, successfully obtaining an order for expunction means an individual's arrest records in the custody of criminal justice agencies will be physically destroyed. Still, the FDLE must retain confidential copies of expunged records, which remain restricted until compelled by a court order. Anyone who obtained an expunction order in Marion can deny the existence of the expunged record except in cases explicitly outlined in Fla. Stat. § 943.0585 (6).

People eligible to have their records sealed or expunged their arrest records are listed in Fla. Stat. § 943.059 (1) and Fla. Stat. § 943.0585 (1), respectively. Generally, first offenders whose cases were dismissed, never filed, or adjudicated without a guilty verdict can apply for expunction. If an eligible person was convicted, they can apply to have that conviction sealed alongside the associated court and police records.

Individuals who want to seal or expunge their records are expected to follow these steps:

1. Obtain a Certificate of Eligibility: Obtaining this certificate involves filling out the appropriate form (sealing or expunction), submitting a certified written statement from the 5th Judicial District's State Attorney or statewide prosecutor who handled the case, presenting a certified record of the criminal case's disposition, and paying the $75 fee. The certificate is requested from the FDLE.
2. File the Petition: The next step involves filing the petition in the court with jurisdiction over the case per Fla. Stat. § 943.059 (4) and Fla. Stat. § 943.0585 (4). The petition must accompany the applicant's sworn statement that they are eligible for expunction and the certificate of eligibility collected from the FDLE.
3. Serve the Petition: Fla. Stat. § 943.0585 (5) and Fla. Stat. § 943.059 (5) require the petition to be served on the statewide prosecutor or 5th Judicial District's State Attorney. With this notification, the respective agency can file an objection if necessary.

If the court grants the petition, it will issue an expunction or sealing order to the agencies maintaining the petitioner's records.

Marion County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are court papers authorizing law enforcement to apprehend suspects and present them before a judge. Before issuing an arrest warrant in Marion County, a judge must assess the complaint and accompanying affidavit submitted by a prosecutor or police officer to determine if there is probable cause to order the suspect's arrest. Judges can also issue warrants without complaints when defendants violate court orders (such as probation) or parole. Arrest warrants issued without complaints or affidavits are generally called bench warrants.

Per Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.121, Marion County warrants contain a suspect's name and description, date of issuance, alleged offense, and the issuing judge's signature. According to Fla. Stat. § 901.04, the Marion County Sheriff's office can execute warrants at any time, and officers other than the original affiant (the officer who applied for the warrant) are permitted to apprehend warrant subjects in fresh pursuit.

Marion County Arrest Warrant Search

Individuals can access the FDLE's Public Access System to search for active warrants. They can query the web portal by entering a subject's name, ethnicity, age, or date of birth. The more information the searcher provides alongside the subject's name, the narrower the search results. Generally, the system displays the subject's alleged offense, their last known address, and their physical description. It also shows when the warrant was issued and the reporting agency.

Another option to find an outstanding Marion County arrest warrant is to visit or contact local law enforcement. The public can also obtain warrant information through the Office of the Marion County Clerk and Comptroller. Warrants are generally court documents because they are issued by judges and filed with the court clerk. Hence, interested parties can use the Clerk's online and offline options to access warrant details.

Do Marion County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. A Marion County arrest warrant remains active until law enforcement executes it, the person named or described in the warrant turns themselves in, or a court squashes or recalls the arrest order.