Miami Beach city public records cover arrest logs, booking reports, mugshots, court filings, and property documents held by local and county agencies. Residents, journalists, employers, and legal professionals can search these files through the City of Miami Beach, the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts, and the Miami Beach Police Department.
Florida’s open records law gives every person the right to view or copy most government documents without giving a reason for the request.
Two main offices hold the records you may need. The City of Miami Beach handles police reports, arrest logs, city contracts, and meeting minutes. The Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts manages court case files, official property records, and criminal court documents. Knowing which office to contact saves time and money.
What Miami Beach City Public Records Include
Miami Beach city public records span several categories. Police and arrest records form one major group. Court records form another. Property records make up a third. Each group has its own search method, fees, and contact office.
Police and Arrest Records
The Miami Beach Police Department creates arrest reports, booking logs, and incident reports. These files list the name of the person arrested, the charges, the booking date, and the case number. Recent arrest data appears on the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department online roster. The roster shows people held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and other county facilities, including people arrested within Miami Beach city limits.
Mugshots taken during booking are part of the public arrest record in Florida. You can view booking photos through third-party mugshot sites or through official court records once a case reaches the clerk’s office. The Miami-Dade Clerk’s case search lets you pull up a criminal case by party name and see the case file image, which often contains the booking photo.
Court Case Records
Criminal and civil court cases for Miami Beach residents go through the Miami-Dade County court system. Felony charges are handled at the circuit court level. Misdemeanor charges and traffic offenses go through county court. The Miami-Dade Clerk maintains case dockets, charging documents, plea paperwork, sentencing orders, and final judgments.
You can search court records online at no cost using the Clerk’s case search tool. The search supports name-based queries, case number lookups, and date range filters. Older case files may exist only in physical format at the Clerk’s main office, and viewing those files may require an in-person visit or a formal records request.
Property and Official Records
Real estate records, deeds, mortgages, and liens are recorded in the Miami-Dade official records series. These files show ownership history, transfer dates, and recorded legal claims against a property. The Clerk’s online search lets you browse by name, parcel number, or instrument type.
The Miami-Dade Property Appraiser holds separate records on assessed values, tax rolls, and property characteristics. If you need to confirm who owns a home, what a property is worth for tax purposes, or the size of a parcel, the Property Appraiser’s online search is the right tool.
How to Search Miami Beach Arrest Records
You can search Miami Beach arrest records through three main channels. Each channel gives a different slice of the data.
1. Miami-Dade Corrections Inmate Search
The Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department runs a 24-hour inmate search tool on its website. You can look up a person by name, booking number, or date of birth. The search shows the current facility, the booking date, the arresting agency, and the listed charges. People arrested by Miami Beach police who are held in county custody appear in this database.
The inmate search updates throughout the day as new bookings are processed. If a person has been released, the record still shows the release date. Records of people who were arrested and released within hours may be harder to find after a short window because the system cycles to current inmates first.
2. Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts Case Search
The Clerk of Courts case search covers criminal and civil case files. For an arrest record, search the person by name and filter by criminal case type. The result page lists the case number, the court division, the filing date, the charges, and the current status. You can click into the case to see all filings, which often include the arrest affidavit, the booking photo, and the disposition.
Court case records are public under Florida law once a case is filed. Sealed cases, juvenile records, and certain expunged records do not appear in the search results. Active warrant information is not part of the public court record and must be checked through law enforcement channels.
3. Miami Beach Police Department Records Request
For incident reports, traffic crash reports, and arrest reports that are not yet in the court system, contact the Miami Beach Police Department Records Division. The department accepts records requests in person, by mail, and through the city’s public records portal. Reports that are still part of an active investigation may be exempt from release under Florida Statute Section 119.071.
Standard report copies cost a per-page fee plus labor for large requests. The first 30 minutes of staff time are free. You can pick up reports in person or have them mailed to you for the cost of postage and copying.
Florida Public Records Law and Your Rights
Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes sets the rules for public records access across the state. The law applies to all government agencies, including city departments, county offices, courts, and law enforcement. The law covers records in any format, including paper, email, text messages, audio recordings, and video.
Any person can request a public record. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen, a Florida resident, or a member of the press. You do not need to say why you want the record. You only need to describe the record clearly enough for the agency to find it.
Exemptions You Should Know
Some records are exempt from public release. Common exemptions include active criminal investigative information, Social Security numbers, medical records, juvenile criminal history, and home addresses of certain public employees. Agencies must cite the specific law that supports a denial in writing.
If your request is denied and you believe the denial is wrong, you can contact the Florida Attorney General’s open government mediation program at (850) 245-0140. The mediation service is free and most disputes are resolved within a few weeks.
Fees and Response Times
Standard copy fees are 15 cents per page for printed records. Certified copies cost more. For requests that take more than 30 minutes of staff time, the agency can charge labor costs at the rate of the lowest-paid employee who can do the work. Agencies must respond to records requests in a reasonable time based on the size and complexity of the request.
How to Request Miami Beach City Public Records
Submitting a records request to the City of Miami Beach follows a simple process. You can file online, by mail, or in person.
Online Records Request Portal
The City of Miami Beach uses a public records request portal on its website. You describe the records you want, upload any supporting documents, and provide your contact information. The portal generates a tracking number you can use to check the status of your request.
Online requests reach the right department faster because the system routes the request automatically. You can see status updates, request clarifications, and receive the final documents through the same portal.
Mail and In-Person Requests
You can also send a written request by mail to the City Clerk’s Office at 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139. In-person requests can be made at the same address during business hours. The general phone number for city services is (305) 673-7000.
For court records, mail requests to the Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts at 73 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130. The Clerk’s main phone number is (305) 275-1155. You can also visit the Clerk’s office in person to view records on public access terminals.
Booking Records and Mugshots Explained
Booking records are created when a person is taken into custody at a county jail or processing center. The booking record includes the person’s full legal name, date of birth, race, sex, height, weight, eye and hair color, the arresting agency, the location of arrest, the date and time of arrest, the booking date and time, the listed charges, and the booking photo.
In Florida, booking photos are public records. The Florida Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that mugshots are not exempt from public records law simply because they are embarrassing. Mugshots can be published by news outlets and accessed by the public through official and third-party sources.
If you believe a booking photo is being used for commercial purposes in a way that violates Florida’s restrictions, you can file a complaint with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Commercial use of mugshots for profit faces restrictions under Florida Statute Section 901.43.
Arrest History and Background Checks
A full arrest history shows every time a person was arrested, regardless of the outcome. Florida’s official arrest history records are maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). You can request your own arrest history through FDLE or through an approved third-party channeler.
FDLE offers two types of criminal history checks. A name-based check costs less and returns records based on a name and date of birth search. A fingerprint-based check is more accurate and is the standard for employment in fields that require background screening. Both checks return Florida arrest data, including arrests in Miami Beach.
Private employers often use consumer reporting agencies for background checks. These agencies pull data from county courts, state repositories, and other sources. A background check report should list the source of each record and give you a way to dispute any errors.
Common Records Available Online for Free
Many Miami Beach city public records are available online at no cost. Free online resources include:
- Miami-Dade Corrections inmate search (current inmates only)
- Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts case search (criminal and civil cases)
- Miami-Dade official records search (deeds, mortgages, liens)
- Miami-Dade Property Appraiser property search (ownership and values)
- City of Miami Beach commission meeting minutes and agendas
- Miami Beach building permit search
- Florida court docket search through the Clerk’s portal
Free online searches have limits. They may not include older records, sealed cases, or files that exist only in physical form. For older or specialized records, an in-person visit or a formal records request may be needed.
How Long Records Are Kept
Retention rules for public records are set by the Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services. Retention periods vary by record type. Arrest records and criminal case files are generally kept permanently. Booking photos are kept based on the retention schedule for law enforcement records. Traffic crash reports are kept for several years. Meeting minutes and contracts are kept permanently.
Older paper records may have been transferred to off-site storage or microfilm. Some older records have been digitized and added to online databases. For records that have not been digitized, you may need to pay a research fee to have staff locate and copy the files.
Sealing and Expungement of Records
A person can apply to seal or expunge an arrest record under Florida law in certain cases. Eligibility depends on the type of charge, the outcome, and whether the person has any prior convictions. Sealed records are hidden from public view but remain accessible to certain government agencies. Expunged records are physically destroyed or deleted from public systems.
The process starts with a certificate of eligibility from FDLE. After the certificate is issued, the person files a petition with the court in the county where the arrest happened. For Miami Beach arrests, the petition goes to the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts. A judge reviews the petition and either grants or denies the request.
Once a record is sealed or expunged, it no longer shows up in public searches. The person can lawfully deny the arrest in most job and housing applications.
Records for Other South Florida Cities
Miami Beach is part of a large metro area with many overlapping record systems. Records for the City of Miami are held by the City of Miami Police Department and the Miami-Dade Clerk. Records for Miami Gardens are held by the Miami Gardens Police Department and the same county clerk. Because all these cities fall within Miami-Dade County, court records for each city appear in the same countywide case search.
If you need records from a different Florida county, the Florida Association of Court Clerks maintains a statewide directory of clerk offices at flclerks.com. Each county clerk has its own online case search and records request process.
Working with a Records Request
Writing a clear records request gets faster results. A good request includes the following elements:
- The specific record you want (type, date range, case number if known)
- The name of the person or property involved
- Your preferred format for receiving the records (paper copy, email, USB drive)
- Your contact information
- A reference to Florida’s public records law if you want to cite it
Avoid vague or open-ended requests. A request for “all records related to a person” can take staff many hours to search and review. A request for “all arrest reports filed by the Miami Beach Police Department for John Smith between January 1, 2024 and June 30, 2024” gives the agency a clear scope to work with.
Contact for Miami Beach City Public Records
City of Miami Beach
1700 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone: (305) 673-7000
Website: miamibeachfl.gov
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts
73 West Flagler Street
Miami, FL 33130
Phone: (305) 275-1155
Website: miamidadeclerk.gov
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department
Inmate Search: miamidadeclerk.gov or mdcrd.gov
Phone: (305) 274-1234
Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
FAQ About Miami Beach City Public Records
The following questions cover the most common issues people face when searching for Miami Beach city public records. Each answer reflects current Florida law and standard practice as of July 2026.
Are Miami Beach arrest records free to view?
Yes. You can view most arrest records for free through the Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts online case search and the Miami-Dade Corrections inmate search. The Clerk’s case search shows criminal court cases that started from a Miami Beach arrest, and the inmate search shows people currently held in county custody. Printed copies and certified copies cost 15 cents per page or more depending on the type. If you need a large batch of records, the agency may charge a labor fee for the time it takes staff to find and copy the files.
Can I see recent mugshots of people arrested in Miami Beach?
Yes. Booking photos taken at the county jail are public records under Florida law. You can find them in the official court case file once charges are filed, or through third-party mugshot sites that collect the data. The mugshot usually appears in the case docket within days of the arrest. For someone currently in custody, the inmate search may show a photo depending on the booking setup at that facility.
How do I find out if someone was arrested in Miami Beach today?
Check the Miami-Dade Corrections inmate search tool, which updates throughout the day. Search by full name and date of birth to narrow the results. If the person was arrested and released quickly, they may not show in the current inmate list, but the court case should appear in the Clerk’s case search within a few days. For real-time confirmation of a recent arrest, you can also call the Miami Beach Police Department’s non-emergency line.
Can I get someone’s full arrest history for a background check?
You can run a Florida criminal history check through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for arrests that happened in Florida, including Miami Beach. FDLE offers name-based and fingerprint-based checks. The cost depends on the type of check and the channel you use. Private employers often use FDLE-approved channelers for faster results. You cannot get someone else’s full record without their written consent under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act.
What if the agency denies my records request?
The agency must give you a written denial that cites the specific law or exemption that supports the refusal. If you believe the denial is wrong, contact the Florida Attorney General’s open government mediation program at (850) 245-0140. The mediation service is free. If mediation does not resolve the issue, you can file a civil action in court. Courts can order the agency to release the records and may award attorney fees against the agency if the denial was improper.
How do I remove my arrest record from public view?
You can apply to seal or expunge your record if you meet the eligibility rules under Florida law. Start by requesting a certificate of eligibility from FDLE. If the certificate is issued, file a petition with the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts. A judge will review the petition and decide whether to grant it. Once sealed, the record is hidden from public searches. Once expunged, the record is destroyed or deleted from public databases. Both options require a waiting period and have specific eligibility limits.
Are juvenile records public in Miami Beach?
No. Juvenile criminal records in Florida are confidential and not open to public view. They can be accessed only by the juvenile, the parents or guardians, the juvenile’s attorney, and certain government agencies for specific purposes. Sealing of juvenile records happens automatically in many cases once the juvenile turns 18 or completes the terms of the sentence. The Miami-Dade Clerk’s online case search filters out juvenile cases from public results.