Escambia County Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Escambia County
Arrest records in Escambia County are considered public records under Florida's Public Records Law, specifically Florida Statutes § 119.01, which establishes the state's policy of providing access to public records. This statute mandates that all state, county, and municipal records shall be open for personal inspection by any person at reasonable times and under reasonable conditions. The Florida Constitution also reinforces this right of access through Article I, Section 24.
It is important to distinguish between arrest records and conviction records:
- Arrest records document that an individual was taken into custody by law enforcement based on probable cause that they committed a crime. These records exist regardless of whether charges were filed or the person was convicted.
- Conviction records indicate that an individual was found guilty of a criminal offense through a court proceeding.
In Escambia County, both types of records are generally accessible to the public, though certain exemptions may apply. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) maintains the state's criminal history information and provides guidance on records access policies.
Certain arrest records may be exempt from public disclosure, particularly those involving:
- Juvenile offenders (with exceptions)
- Active criminal investigations
- Victims of certain crimes
- Records that have been sealed or expunged by court order
What's in Escambia County Arrest Records
Arrest records in Escambia County typically contain comprehensive information about an individual's encounter with law enforcement. These records are maintained by the Escambia County Sheriff's Office and may include:
Arrestee Identifying Information:
- Full legal name and any known aliases
- Date of birth
- Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Identifying marks such as tattoos or scars
- Fingerprints
- Photograph (mugshot)
- Address at time of arrest
- Social Security Number (may be partially redacted in public versions)
Arrest Details:
- Date and time of arrest
- Location of arrest
- Arresting agency and officer identification
- Circumstances leading to arrest
- Whether force was used during arrest
Charge Information:
- Criminal charges filed
- Statute numbers of alleged violations
- Classification of charges (misdemeanor or felony)
- Description of alleged criminal activity
Warrant Information (if applicable):
- Warrant number
- Issuing court
- Date issued
- Type of warrant (arrest, bench, search)
Booking Information:
- Booking date and time
- Booking number
- Processing officer information
- Property inventory
Bond/Bail Information:
- Bond amount
- Bond type
- Whether bond was posted
- Bond conditions
Court Information:
- Court case number
- Assigned court
- Scheduled court appearances
- Case disposition (if resolved)
Custody Status:
- Current detention status
- Facility where detained (if applicable)
- Release date (if applicable)
Additional Information May Include:
- Prior arrest history
- Known associates
- Vehicle information
- Probation/parole status
How To Look Up Arrest Records in Escambia County in 2026
Members of the public seeking arrest records in Escambia County may utilize several official channels to obtain this information. The primary agencies maintaining these records are:
Escambia County Sheriff's Office
1700 W Leonard Street
Pensacola, FL 32501
(850) 436-9630
Escambia County Sheriff's Office
Escambia County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller
190 W Government Street
Pensacola, FL 32502
(850) 595-4310
Escambia County Clerk of Court
To request arrest records in person:
- Visit the Records Division of the Escambia County Sheriff's Office during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM).
- Complete a public records request form, providing as much identifying information as possible about the subject of the search.
- Present valid government-issued photo identification.
- Pay applicable fees for record retrieval and copying (fees vary based on request volume and format).
To request arrest records by mail:
- Submit a written request to the Records Division at the Sheriff's Office address listed above.
- Include the following information:
- Full name of the person whose records are being requested
- Date of birth (if known)
- Approximate date of arrest (if known)
- Your contact information
- Purpose of request (optional)
- Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment for applicable fees.
Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 119.07, agencies must acknowledge requests promptly and respond within a reasonable time. Extensive requests may require additional processing time.
How To Find Escambia County Arrest Records Online
Escambia County provides several digital resources for accessing arrest records electronically. These online systems offer convenient alternatives to in-person requests:
The Escambia County Sheriff's Office maintains an online inmate search tool that provides information on currently detained individuals and recent arrests. This database is updated regularly and can be accessed through the Sheriff's Office website.
For searching court records related to arrests, the Escambia County Clerk of Court offers an online case search system through their Official Records Search. This system allows users to search by:
- Name
- Case number
- Date range
- Case type
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement provides a statewide criminal history search through their Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system. This search requires:
- Payment of a fee ($24 per record check)
- Subject's full name and date of birth
- Purpose of the search
When using online systems, users should note:
- Information may not be comprehensive or completely up-to-date
- Some records may require additional verification
- Certain sensitive information may be redacted
- Official certified copies typically require in-person or mail requests
How To Search Escambia County Arrest Records for Free?
Members of the public have several options for accessing Escambia County arrest records without payment:
The Escambia County Sheriff's Office provides a free online Inmate Lookup tool that displays basic information about current inmates and recent arrests. This resource includes:
- Arrestee name
- Booking date
- Charges
- Bond information
- Scheduled court dates
The Escambia County Jail View is another free resource that displays information about individuals currently in custody, including:
- Booking photos
- Physical description
- Arrest date
- Charges
- Bond amounts
For historical arrest information, the public may:
- Visit the Escambia County Sheriff's Office Records Division in person to review public records (viewing is free, though copying fees may apply)
- Access public terminals at the Escambia County Courthouse to search court records related to arrests
- Utilize the Florida Department of Corrections Offender Search for information on individuals sentenced to state prison or supervision
Local news outlets often maintain arrest logs based on information provided by law enforcement agencies. While these are not official records, they can serve as a starting point for further research.
Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 119.07(4), agencies may charge only the actual cost of duplication for records, with standard fees for paper copies set at 15 cents per one-sided page and 20 cents per two-sided page.
How To Delete Arrest Records in Escambia County
Florida law provides mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records through expungement or sealing under specific circumstances. These processes are governed by Florida Statutes § 943.0585 (expungement) and § 943.059 (sealing).
The distinction between these remedies is significant:
- Expungement physically destroys the record, though certain government agencies maintain a confidential copy.
- Sealing removes the record from public view but preserves it for certain government agencies.
Eligibility requirements for expungement or sealing include:
- No prior sealing or expungement (with limited exceptions)
- No conviction for the offense in question
- No adjudication of guilt withheld for certain enumerated offenses
- No current criminal proceedings
The process for seeking expungement or sealing in Escambia County involves:
-
Obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement by submitting:
- Application form
- Fingerprints
- Certified disposition of the case
- Processing fee ($75)
-
File a petition with the Escambia County Clerk of Court including:
- Completed petition form
- Certificate of Eligibility (valid for 12 months)
- Filing fee
-
Attend a hearing before a judge (if required)
-
If granted, ensure the order is distributed to all relevant agencies
Automatic expungement may occur in limited circumstances, such as:
- Arrests made by mistake or in error
- Cases where charges were never filed
- Cases resulting in acquittal or dismissal (after waiting periods)
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement provides detailed guidance on the expungement and sealing process.
What Happens After Arrest in Escambia County?
Following an arrest in Escambia County, individuals enter a structured criminal justice process with several key stages:
Booking Process: The arrestee is transported to the Escambia County Jail where they undergo:
- Photographing and fingerprinting
- Personal property inventory
- Medical screening
- Background check
- Initial charge documentation
First Appearance: Within 24 hours of arrest, defendants appear before a judge who:
- Reviews probable cause for the arrest
- Considers pretrial release conditions
- Appoints counsel for indigent defendants
- Sets preliminary hearing dates
Charging Decision: The State Attorney's Office reviews the case and determines whether to:
- File formal charges
- Modify charges from the initial arrest
- Decline prosecution
Arraignment: The defendant appears in court to:
- Hear formal charges
- Enter a plea (guilty, not guilty, no contest)
- Receive trial date if pleading not guilty
Pretrial Proceedings: This phase may include:
- Discovery exchange between prosecution and defense
- Filing and hearing of motions
- Plea negotiations
- Pretrial conferences
Trial: If the case proceeds to trial, the process includes:
- Jury selection (except in bench trials)
- Opening statements
- Presentation of evidence
- Closing arguments
- Jury deliberation and verdict
Sentencing: Following a guilty plea or conviction:
- Pre-sentence investigation may be conducted
- Victim impact statements may be presented
- Judge imposes sentence based on statutory guidelines and case factors
Post-Conviction: After sentencing, options include:
- Appeal to higher courts
- Motion for post-conviction relief
- Probation or incarceration
- Payment of fines and restitution
The Escambia County Court system processes cases according to Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure and applicable state statutes.
How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Escambia County?
Arrest records in Escambia County are maintained according to retention schedules established by Florida Statutes § 119.021 and the Florida Department of State's Division of Library and Information Services. These schedules vary by record type and agency.
The Florida Department of State's General Records Schedule GS2 for law enforcement agencies mandates:
- Arrest records: 100 years from date of arrest
- Arrest warrants: 3 years after execution of warrant
- Criminal investigative records: 4 years after case closure for misdemeanors; permanent retention for felonies
- Booking photographs: Retained as long as the related arrest record
The Escambia County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records in accordance with these state-mandated retention periods. Digital records systems have enabled longer-term storage of historical arrest information.
Criminal history information maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is retained indefinitely unless:
- A court orders expungement or sealing
- The record is determined to be erroneous
- The subject reaches 99 years of age and has had no arrest activity for 40 years
These retention requirements serve multiple purposes:
- Preserving evidence for potential future legal proceedings
- Supporting law enforcement investigations
- Maintaining historical documentation
- Ensuring accountability and transparency
- Facilitating background checks authorized by law
Records that have reached the end of their retention period may be destroyed in accordance with established procedures, though many agencies now maintain digital archives indefinitely.
How to Find Mugshots in Escambia County
What Mugshots Are Mugshots, also known as booking photographs, are official photographs taken during the booking process following an arrest. These images typically show the front and side view of an arrestee's face and upper body. Mugshots serve as visual identification records within the criminal justice system.
Where Mugshots Are Maintained In Escambia County, mugshots are primarily maintained by:
Escambia County Sheriff's Office
1700 W Leonard Street
Pensacola, FL 32501
(850) 436-9630
Escambia County Sheriff's Office
Finding Mugshots Members of the public seeking mugshots have several options:
-
Submit a public records request to the Escambia County Sheriff's Office Records Division:
- In person during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
- By mail with appropriate identifying information
- Through the agency's online records request portal
-
Check the Escambia County Sheriff's Office Jail View system, which displays booking photos of currently incarcerated individuals.
Can They Be Found Online Mugshots from Escambia County may be available through:
- The Sheriff's Office online inmate search function
- The Florida Department of Corrections website (for state inmates)
- Third-party websites that aggregate public records (these sites may charge fees and may not maintain current information)
Obtaining Mugshots Officially To obtain official copies of mugshots:
- Provide specific identifying information about the subject (full name, date of birth, approximate arrest date)
- Complete required request forms
- Pay applicable fees for reproduction
- Present identification if requesting in person
Restrictions on Mugshot Access Access to mugshots may be restricted in certain circumstances:
- Juvenile records (with limited exceptions)
- Sealed or expunged records
- Active investigations
- Undercover personnel
Florida law (Florida Statutes § 943.0581) provides a mechanism for individuals to request removal of mugshots from websites if their arrest did not result in a conviction. Additionally, commercial publishers must remove mugshots upon request if the person was acquitted or the charges were dropped, dismissed, or otherwise resolved without a conviction.