Seminole County public records include court files, property deeds, marriage licenses, arrest logs, inmate rosters, and many other documents created by local government agencies. Florida state law treats most of these records as open to the public.
Any person can look at them or ask for a copy without giving a reason. This page explains how to search Seminole County public records, where arrest logs and inmate searches are kept, and what fees you can expect to pay in 2026.
What Counts as a Public Record in Seminole County
A public record is any paper, email, photo, or computer file made or received by a government office in the course of its work. In Seminole County, that includes court cases filed at the courthouse, arrest reports kept by the Sheriff’s Office, deeds recorded at the Clerk’s office, and meeting minutes from the County Commission. It also includes booking photos and current inmate rosters from the county jail.
Not every record is open. Florida law lists certain items that stay sealed. These cover some criminal investigation files, certain victim details, juvenile records, and personal data like Social Security numbers. The rules come from Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes and from Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.
Florida’s Public Records Law and Your Right to View
Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes is the base law that makes government records open. The law says any person can ask for a copy of a public record. The agency must answer your request in a reasonable time. You do not need to show ID. You do not need to say why you want the record. If the agency says no, it must point to the exact legal reason in Section 119.071 that allows it to keep the record hidden.
The Florida Attorney General runs a free mediation service for people who think an agency wrongly denied their request. You can reach the Attorney General’s open government office at (850) 245-0140. The office can often resolve a dispute without going to court.
The Clerk and Comptroller: Main Hub for Court and Property Records
The Clerk of Court and Comptroller is the main record holder for Seminole County. Grant Maloy holds the office as of 2026. His office keeps court files for the 18th Judicial Circuit in Seminole County. It also keeps official records like deeds, mortgages, liens, and court judgments tied to local property.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Office | Seminole County Clerk of Court and Comptroller |
| Clerk | Grant Maloy |
| Address | 301 N. Park Avenue, Sanford, FL 32771 |
| Phone | (407) 665-4330 |
| Website | www.seminoleclerk.org |
| Hours | Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
The Clerk’s office runs the main online portal for both court records and recorded documents. Most filings since the early 2000s are scanned and viewable as PDFs. Older files may need a paper request or a visit to the Sanford courthouse.
How to Search Court Records and Official Documents Online
You can search two main databases on the Clerk’s site. The first is the court records search. It lets you look up a case by party name, case number, or attorney. You can see the case status, hearing dates, filed documents, and final orders. The second is the official records search. It covers deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, liens, and other land records. You can search by name, parcel number, or document type.
The statewide portal at www.myfloridacounty.com also lets you search official records across several counties at once. It is run by the Florida Association of Court Clerks and works well when you need to check property filings in Seminole County along with Orange, Brevard, or Volusia counties.
For people who need a certified copy, the Clerk’s office charges a small fee per page. Standard paper copies are $0.15 per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee. Many records on the online portal can be viewed and printed for free as non-certified PDFs.
Seminole County Arrest Records and Booking Information
Arrest records in Seminole County are split into two types. The first is the arrest log, which lists people taken into custody and the charges they face. The second is the full arrest report written by the deputy. The arrest log is public under Florida law. The full arrest report is often exempt until the case is closed or the investigation becomes inactive, as set out in Section 119.071(2)(c) of the Florida Statutes.
The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office runs the John E. Polk Correctional Facility. This is the main county jail. It holds people arrested in unincorporated parts of the county and in some cities. The Sheriff’s Office posts a daily arrest log online. It also runs a current inmate search tool.
How to Find Recent Arrests and the Daily Arrest Log
The Sheriff’s Office posts a list of recent arrests each day. The list shows the arrestee’s name, booking date, charges, and bond amount. The list is updated within hours of booking. The log rolls forward each day, so entries from prior days move to the archive page.
To look at recent arrests:
- Go to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office website at www.seminolesheriff.org.
- Click on the “Arrest Log” or “Inmate Search” link on the main menu.
- Type the person’s first and last name in the search box.
- Review the results for booking date, charges, and bond.
- Click the booking number for more detail, including mugshot and arrest location.
The arrest log covers the past 24 to 72 hours. For older arrests, you can search the inmate database by name. If you need a printed or certified copy of an arrest record, you must submit a public records request to the Sheriff’s Office.
Seminole County Inmate Search and Jail Records
The inmate search tool shows every person currently housed at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility. It also shows people housed at the Seminole County Juvenile Detention Center. Each entry lists the inmate’s full name, booking number, age, gender, race, housing location, booking date, charges, and bond amount. The tool updates every 15 to 30 minutes.
If you want to confirm a person is still in custody, run a name search on the Sheriff’s website. The result page shows the release date if the person has been freed. Released inmates no longer show in the active search but may still show in the arrest log archive for 30 to 90 days.
People who want to send money to an inmate, schedule a video visit, or check visiting hours can also use the Sheriff’s inmate search page as a starting point. The tool links directly to the jail services vendor.
Mugshots and Booking Photos
Booking photos, also called mugshots, are public record in Florida. The Sheriff’s Office posts a mugshot on the inmate search page for every person booked into the John E. Polk Correctional Facility. The photo is taken at intake and stays on the public site for the duration of the stay. After release, the photo moves to the arrest log archive.
Third-party sites often copy these mugshots and post them on their own pages. Many of these sites charge a fee to remove the photo. Florida law does not require these sites to take down a mugshot, and the Sheriff’s Office does not control their content. If you need a copy of a mugshot for an official reason, the safest source is the Sheriff’s Office itself.
How to Request Police Reports and Incident Records
Police reports and incident reports for unincorporated Seminole County are kept by the Sheriff’s Office. Each city police department keeps its own reports. For example, the Sanford Police Department holds reports for incidents inside Sanford city limits. The Altamonte Springs Police Department holds reports for that city.
To request a copy of a police report:
- Find the right agency based on where the incident happened.
- Write down the case number, date, and address if you have it.
- Submit a public records request in person, by mail, or through the agency’s online form.
- Pay any copy fees when you pick up the report or when it is mailed to you.
Active criminal investigation files are exempt under Florida law. The agency will only release a report after the case is closed or the investigation is no longer active. In a case that leads to an arrest, the report often becomes public after the first court hearing.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement Statewide Check
For a full statewide criminal history check, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) runs the central repository. The FDLE database covers arrests across all 67 Florida counties, plus out-of-state data shared with the FBI. You can request your own record through the FDLE website. Employers and licensing agencies also use this service for background checks.
The FDLE charges a small fee for each record check. Results are usually ready within 24 to 72 hours when filed online. The FDLE site also lists the Open Government and Public Records office if you need records the regular search does not cover.
Fees for Records Copies and Certified Documents
Florida law sets a uniform fee schedule that all agencies must follow. The current rates as of 2026 are:
- One-sided paper copy: $0.15 per page
- Two-sided paper copy: $0.20 per page
- Certified copy: $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee
- Research time over 30 minutes: the hourly salary of the lowest paid staff member who can do the work
- CD or other electronic media: actual cost of the media
Online searches and PDF downloads from the Clerk’s website are free for most records. Certified copies always carry a fee. Large requests that take hours of staff time may be billed at the research rate. The Clerk and the Sheriff’s Office post their full fee schedules on their websites.
Common Exemptions and Sealed Records
Florida law lists many record types that stay closed. Common exemptions include:
- Active criminal investigation files and intelligence data
- Victim identity in sex crime cases
- Juvenile criminal records
- Social Security numbers, bank accounts, and personal financial data
- Home addresses of current and former law enforcement officers, judges, and other protected groups
- Sealed and expunged court records under Section 943.059 of the Florida Statutes
- Medical records and 911 audio with personal health details
- Bid documents before a contract is awarded
Expunged records are removed from public view by court order. Sealed records are kept hidden but still exist in the court file. Both types require a judge to lift the seal before the record can be released.
How to Seal or Expunge a Seminole County Arrest Record
Florida law lets some people seal or expunge a past arrest. You can apply if you were never convicted, your case was dismissed, or you completed a diversion program. A Certificate of Eligibility from the FDLE is required first. Once you have the certificate, you file a petition with the Clerk of Court in the county where the arrest happened.
Seminole County has a self-help section on the Clerk’s website for sealing and expungement. The form lists the filing fee, the required signatures from the State Attorney and the Sheriff, and the steps for the judge to review. Legal aid groups in the Orlando area offer free help filling out these forms for people who meet the income rules.
What to Do If Your Records Request Is Denied
If an agency denies your request, ask for the written reason. The denial must cite a specific Florida Statute that allows the exemption. Without that citation, the denial is not valid. Common next steps include:
- Send a written appeal to the agency’s public records officer.
- Contact the Florida Attorney General’s open government mediation line at (850) 245-0140.
- File a lawsuit in the local circuit court if the agency still refuses.
The court can order the agency to release the record and award your legal fees if the denial was wrong. Many denials are resolved at step one or two without going to court.
Cities in Seminole County with Their Own Records
Each city in Seminole County runs its own police department and keeps its own arrest and police records. The main cities are Sanford, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Lake Mary, Longwood, Oviedo, Winter Springs, and Winter Park. The Clerk of Court and the Sheriff’s Office hold records for unincorporated areas only.
If you need a record from a specific city, call the city clerk’s office or the city’s police department. Each city charges its own copy fees under the same Florida rules. The cities all post public records contact information on their websites.
Nearby Counties and Their Record Systems
Seminole County borders Orange, Volusia, Brevard, and Osceola counties. Each has its own Clerk of Court and its own Sheriff’s Office. Arrest records from those counties are not in the Seminole County database. You must search each county’s online portal separately. The 18th Judicial Circuit covers Seminole and Brevard counties, but each county runs its own records system.
Contact Details and Office Hours
Seminole County Clerk of Court and Comptroller
Address: 301 N. Park Avenue, Sanford, FL 32771
Phone: (407) 665-4330
Website: www.seminoleclerk.org
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Seminole County Sheriff’s Office
Address: 100 Eslinger Way, Sanford, FL 32773
Phone: (407) 665-6650
Website: www.seminolesheriff.org
Records Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
John E. Polk Correctional Facility
Address: 211 Bush Boulevard, Sanford, FL 32773
Phone: (407) 665-1200
Daily Bookings Phone Line: (407) 665-6775
Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)
Address: 2331 Phillips Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: (850) 410-7000
Website: www.fdle.state.fl.us
Public Records Unit: (850) 410-7676
Official websites: seminoleclerk.org · seminolesheriff.org · fdle.state.fl.us
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up Seminole County arrest records for free?
Go to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office website and click the Arrest Log or Inmate Search link. The search tool is free and runs 24 hours a day. You can search by name and see the booking date, charges, bond, and mugshot. The tool shows people booked in the last 30 to 90 days. For older records, you must submit a public records request to the Sheriff’s Office and pay any copy fees.
Can I see recent arrests in Seminole County from my phone?
Yes. The Sheriff’s Office site works on mobile browsers. You can also call the daily bookings line at (407) 665-6775 to hear a recorded list of the day’s bookings. The recordings are updated each morning and stay on the line for 24 hours. Some third-party apps pull data from the Sheriff’s Office, but the official site is the most reliable source.
Are Florida arrest reports public record?
Florida arrest logs are public, but the full arrest report is often closed while the case is active. Once the case ends, the investigation file becomes public in most situations. Victims and witnesses named in the report also have rights to keep some personal details sealed. You can request a copy of the closed report through the Sheriff’s Office or the Clerk of Court.
How long does Seminole County keep arrest records?
Arrest records are kept on file at the Sheriff’s Office and at the FDLE for many years. The Sheriff’s Office online log only shows recent bookings. Closed case files are kept for decades under the state records retention schedule. Expunged records are removed from public view by court order and no longer show in any search.
What is the difference between an arrest record and a criminal record?
An arrest record shows the event of being taken into custody, the charges, and the booking details. A criminal record includes the full court outcome, such as a conviction, dismissal, or acquittal. The arrest record lives with the Sheriff’s Office. The criminal record lives with the Clerk of Court and the FDLE. Most background checks pull from both sources.
Can I find mugshots from Seminole County online?
Yes. Mugshots are posted on the Sheriff’s Office inmate search page for every person booked into the John E. Polk Correctional Facility. The photos stay online for the booking period and move to the arrest log archive after release. Third-party sites also copy these photos, but the Sheriff’s Office is the original source.
How do I get a background check for someone in Seminole County?
You have three main options. First, use the Sheriff’s Office arrest log and inmate search for county-level data. Second, use the FDLE central repository for a full Florida criminal history. Third, use an FBI background check for a national search. Each option has a fee and a processing time. The FDLE check usually takes 24 to 72 hours when filed online.