Are Criminal Records in Miami-Dade County Publicly Accessible?

Criminal records in Miami-Dade County are mostly classified as public records. This means the general public has the legal right to inspect or get copies of criminal records from designated government agencies.

Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes governs public record access and determines procedures and requirements for obtaining these records. In addition, it requires government entities to maintain avenues through which the public can obtain public records. Nevertheless, the law prevents public access to the following criminal records:

• Information on victims of sex-related crimes.
• Identities of confidential sources in a criminal investigation.
• Sealed or expunged criminal records
• Information that reveals the identity of victims of child abuse crimes.
• Crime-related data that reveals the personal assets of crime victims.

Who is Eligible to Access Miami-Dade County Criminal Records?

Per Florida state laws, all persons and entities are eligible to access most Miami-Dade County criminal records. The state law does not restrict out-of-state inquirers from accessing criminal records. However, record custodians may limit or restrict access to criminal records that contain sensitive or confidential information. Such records are only accessible to the following persons or entities:

• Record subjects
• Family relations of the record subject
• Crime victims and other concerned parties.
• Local or state-level agencies, including law enforcement agencies and the courts.

To access confidential criminal records, legally eligible parties must provide a valid ID, while third-party requesters may present a letter of consent from the record subject.

How to Request Criminal Records in Miami-Dade County

Interested parties can request Miami-Dade County records via the following guide:

1. Determine the agency responsible for holding the record
   Miami-Dade County criminal records are under the purview of the county sheriff’s office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
2. Select a preferred option for accessing the record
   The county sheriff’s office offers online and walk-in access to criminal records. In contrast, FDLE allows online searches and requests for the records
3. Order Miami-Dade County criminal records from the agency
   To access criminal background checks, applicants may request them via the county sheriff’s online request platform or in person at any of these physical locations:

Hammocks District Station
10000 Southwest 142 Avenue
Phone: (305) 383-6800

Northwest District Station
5975 Miami Lakes Drive East
Phone: (305) 698-1500

Intracoastal District Station
15665 Biscayne Boulevard
Phone: (305) 940-9980

South District Station
10800 Southwest 211 Street
Phone: (305) 378-4300

Kendall District Station
7707 Southwest 117 Avenue
Phone: (305) 279-6929

Town of Miami Lakes Policing Unit
6601 Main Street
Phone: (305) 827-4020

Midwest District Station
9101 Northwest 25th Street
Phone: (305) 471-2800

Village of Palmetto Bay Policing Unit
9705 East Hibiscus Street
Phone: (305) 278-4000

Northside District Station
799 Northwest 81st Street
Phone: (305) 836-8601

Note: You must schedule an appointment to visit the county sheriff.

In contrast, you can search for Miami-Dade County criminal records through the FDLE’s online search platform. Applicants must input the required payment and search information to view criminal records on the platform. To access records via the agency’s online request platform, applicants must provide their mailing address, search details, and the required fees.

The agency charges $25 per search conducted on the online search platform. However, there is no specific fee for using the online request option. The fees are usually determined by the number of requested copies and the reason for the request. For example, daycare employees must pay $8 for requesting criminal records from the FDLE.

Third-party search websites like floridacourtrecords.us provide alternative options for accessing online criminal records in Miami-Dade County. The sites are typically easy to navigate and do not restrict out-of-state or country users. However, they are unregulated and may not offer updated or accurate criminal information.

What Information Is Contained in Miami-Dade County Criminal Records?

Miami-Dade County criminal records may contain the following information:

• The record subject’s full name, known aliases, birthdate, ethnicity, and gender.
• Arrest information and outstanding warrants
• Full set of fingerprints
• Mugshot
• Crime name, type, and classification
• Court name and case number
• Court disposition and conviction, including current or pending dispositions.
• Sentencing information, including duration and correctional facility.

Miami-Dade County criminal records do not include sensitive information, such as juvenile records or sealed cases. Only legally eligible parties can access such data from record custodians.

Are There Restrictions on Accessing Criminal Records in Miami-Dade County?

In Miami-Dade County, public entities may place restrictions on certain criminal information. Restricted criminal records may contain information that, if disclosed, will violate the privacy of concerned parties. For example, juvenile records, crime victims’ information, and sealed court cases are not included in public criminal records. Public entities may also redact information that may reveal investigation procedures.

Only legally eligible parties have the right to access restricted criminal records in Miami-Dade County. Eligible parties may include the record subject, legal representatives, and entities like treatment or juvenile assessment centers. Public agencies may also release restricted records to persons or entities for research or statistical reasons.

What Happens if My Request for Criminal Records is Denied in Miami-Dade County?

In Miami-Dade County, inquirers may use any of the following options if a record custodian denies their request for criminal records:

1. File a complaint with the Miami-Dade County Attorney’s Office at:
   111 Northwest 1st Street
   Suite 2810
   Miami, Florida 33128
   Phone: (305) 375-5151
   Fax: (305) 375-5634
2. File a petition for a writ of mandamus with the Miami-Dade County circuit court at:
   Miami-Dade County Criminal Court
   1351 Northwest 12th Street
   Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building
   Miami, FL 33125
   Phone: (305) 275-1155
3. Use the Florida Office of the Attorney General’s third-party mediation program to resolve the dispute.

Public entities may refuse requests for criminal records for reasons such as the following:

• The requested record is sealed by court order or statutes.
• The record is not available in the requested format.
• The inquirer is not eligible to access the record

How to Expunge or Seal Miami-Dade County Criminal Records

Offenders can expunge or seal Miami-Dade County criminal records through the following steps:

1. Submit a request for a certificate of eligibility to the FDLE. The agency will review the request and send the certificate to the inquirer’s mail address.
2. Next, submit the certificate to the Miami-Dade County criminal court at:
3. Upon receiving the certificate, the court will schedule a hearing date to review the case.
4. If the request is granted, the court will issue a court order to expunge the record.

Persons seeking to expunge criminal records must fulfill one of these criteria:

• You do not have a pending or current criminal charge
• You were not convicted of a crime listed under Section 943.059.
• You have never sealed or expunged a criminal record.
• The court acquitted or dismissed the criminal case.