New Smyrna Beach city public records include arrest reports, booking logs, mugshots, incident reports, and jail records held by the New Smyrna Beach Police Department and Volusia County. Florida law makes these records open to the public.
Anyone can search New Smyrna Beach arrest records, view booking information, or request police reports without giving a reason. This page covers how to search, where to look, and what each type of record contains.
What New Smyrna Beach City Public Records Include
New Smyrna Beach city public records cover every document made or received by city offices. The New Smyrna Beach Police Department holds arrest records, incident reports, and booking logs for crimes that happen inside city limits. Volusia County holds court records, jail records, and inmate information for people arrested in the area. State agencies hold criminal history data through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Records tied to arrests fall into several types. An arrest record shows when a person was taken into custody and the charges filed. A booking record contains the person’s details, fingerprints, and mugshot taken at the jail. A police blotter lists calls for service and incidents reported in the city. Court records show what happened after the arrest, including charges, pleas, and case outcomes.
Florida Public Records Law and Access Rights
Florida’s public records law sits in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes and Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution. The rule is simple: all records made or received by a government agency are open to the public. That covers every New Smyrna Beach city office, the Volusia County Clerk of Court, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, and state agencies that hold records tied to the city.
No reason is needed to ask for a record. No name is required. The agency must respond in a reasonable time. If a record is ready right away, the agency hands it over without delay. For complex requests, the agency must give a time estimate when asked. That estimate must be made in good faith.
Some records carry exemptions under Section 119.071. Active criminal investigations, sealed court files, certain personal health data, and juvenile records can be withheld. Everything outside those narrow categories stays public. Property records, court dockets, building permits, code enforcement files, and meeting minutes are all open records in New Smyrna Beach.
New Smyrna Beach Police Department and Arrest Records
The New Smyrna Beach Police Department serves the city and writes incident reports for crimes inside city limits. Officers make arrests and transport people to the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach for processing. The police department holds the initial arrest reports and offense reports.
New Smyrna Beach Arrest Records
New Smyrna Beach arrest records list people taken into custody by city police. Each entry shows the arrest date, charges, arresting officer, and the person’s name. Some arrest records also list booking numbers that connect to Volusia County jail records. The department keeps these records on file, and most become public after the investigation closes or after a short administrative hold.
To get an arrest report, contact the New Smyrna Beach Police Department Records Unit. Requests can be made in person, by phone, by email, or through the city’s public records portal. Standard copy fees apply. A case number or incident number speeds up the search. Without it, the department needs a date range and a name to locate the file.
New Smyrna Beach Booking Records and Mugshots
Booking records come from the Volusia County Branch Jail where arrestees are processed after arrest. A booking record shows the person’s full name, date of birth, charges, bond amount, booking date, and booking photo. Mugshots are taken during booking and become part of the booking record. They are public under Florida law once the booking process finishes.
Volusia County publishes booking records through its Corrections Online Search tool. The system updates regularly and shows current inmates, recent bookings, and release data. Mugshots appear with each booking entry. The system is free to use and requires no account.
New Smyrna Beach Police Blotter
A police blotter is a daily log of calls for service, incidents, and arrests. The New Smyrna Beach Police Department may post a blotter on its website or release it on request. The blotter shows the type of call, location, time, and outcome for each incident. Personal details of victims and witnesses are redacted in most cases.
Volusia County Corrections and Inmate Lookup
People arrested in New Smyrna Beach are booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office runs the corrections division and holds inmate records. The county publishes these records online through its Corrections portal.
Current Inmates at Volusia County Jail
The current inmate search shows who is in custody right now. Search by name or booking number. Each entry shows the inmate’s photo, charges, bond, and housing location. The system lists arrests from New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach, Port Orange, Ormond Beach, Deltona, and other Volusia County cities. Refresh the page for the latest updates.
Recent Bookings and Release Data
The booking search lets users look at recent bookings over a date range. Results show name, booking date, charges, and release status. Released inmates stay in the system for a set time before the entry moves to historical records. This search works well for checking whether someone was recently arrested in New Smyrna Beach.
How to Search New Smyrna Beach Arrest Records
Several search methods exist for New Smyrna Beach arrest records. Pick the method that matches the type of search needed.
Search by Name
Name searches work best in the Volusia County Corrections system and the FDLE criminal history portal. Enter the last name first, then the first name. Common names return many results. Narrow the search by adding a date of birth or middle initial when possible. The Volusia County Clerk of Court system also supports name searches for court cases tied to an arrest.
Search by Date
Date searches help when the name is unknown. The Volusia County Corrections system supports searches by booking date. The clerk’s court records system supports case number and date range searches, with a 7-day window per query. The New Smyrna Beach Police Department can run date-based searches for arrest reports when contacted directly.
Online Databases vs. Official Sources
Third-party websites collect arrest data from official sources and offer mugshot galleries. These sites charge fees for full reports and removal services. Official sources are free. The Volusia County Corrections portal, the Volusia County Clerk’s case search, and the FDLE criminal history request form are all free. Official sources also stay current with the latest data because they connect directly to the agencies that create the records.
Official sources also give stronger legal weight. A certified copy from the clerk’s office or the police department holds up in court. Third-party printouts often do not. For background checks, legal matters, or official use, always go through the original custodian.
New Smyrna Beach Crime and Arrest Statistics
New Smyrna Beach crime and arrest data comes from the New Smyrna Beach Police Department annual report, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program. Common arrest charges in the city include driving under the influence, drug possession, theft, battery, and traffic offenses. Beach-related incidents peak during tourist season and major events like Bike Week.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement publishes statewide crime data through its semi-annual Uniform Crime Report. The report breaks down arrests by offense type, age, race, and county. Volusia County data appears in each release. The New Smyrna Beach Police Department also posts local stats on its website or releases them on request.
New Smyrna Beach Sheriff Arrests and County Operations
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office handles arrests outside city limits and supports the New Smyrna Beach Police Department when needed. Sheriff arrests in unincorporated parts of the county follow the same booking process. Records flow into the same Volusia County Corrections system. Search methods stay the same.
The Sheriff’s Office also runs the county jail. All arrestees from New Smyrna Beach pass through sheriff custody during booking. The Corrections Division manages inmate housing, releases, and court transport. Records questions about a specific inmate go to the Corrections Division first.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Records
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) holds statewide criminal history records. A Florida criminal history check pulls data from arrests, convictions, and dispositions across all Florida counties. This includes any arrest in New Smyrna Beach.
Request a criminal history check through the FDLE Office of Open Government. The standard check costs a set fee and takes several business days. A certified check is available for an extra fee. Third-party background check services also pull FDLE data, but official requests go through FDLE directly.
How to Request Records from New Smyrna Beach City
Record requests to New Smyrna Beach city offices go to the City Clerk. Police records go to the Police Department Records Unit. Court records go to the Volusia County Clerk of Court. Each office handles its own files. A request to one office does not pull records from another.
Fees and Processing Times
Standard copies cost $0.15 per one-sided page up to 14 by 8.5 inches. The first 30 minutes of staff time are free. After that, charges apply based on the pay rate of the lowest-paid employee able to do the work. Certified copies cost more. Extensive research requests can trigger special service charges under Florida law.
Processing times depend on the request. Simple requests get filled the same day. Complex requests take longer. Agencies must give a time estimate when asked. The estimate must be made in good faith.
What If Your Request Is Denied
If a New Smyrna Beach city office denies a record request, the denial must cite a specific Florida Statute exemption. The Florida Attorney General runs a free mediation program for public records disputes. Call (850) 245-0140 or visit myfloridalegal.com. Both sides must agree to mediate. Most disputes resolve faster through mediation than through court action.
Mugshot Removal and Expungement in Florida
Florida law allows certain arrest records and mugshots to be sealed or expunged. A sealing hides the record from public view. An expungement destroys the record. Both require a court order. Eligibility depends on the outcome of the case, prior record, and charge type.
The process starts with a certificate of eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The certificate application requires fingerprints and a fee. Once the certificate is issued, file a petition with the court in the county where the arrest happened. For New Smyrna Beach arrests, file in Volusia County. A judge reviews the petition and grants or denies the request.
Some third-party mugshot websites offer paid removal. Be careful with these services. They remove the image from one site but not from the original records held by the police or jail. Court-ordered sealing or expungement is the only path that fully removes the record from public view across all sources.
Contact Information and Official Resources
New Smyrna Beach Police Department
Address: 246 Industrial Park Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168
Phone: (386) 427-3251
Website: cityofnsb.com
Records Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Volusia County Clerk of Court
Address: 101 N Alabama Ave, DeLand, FL 32724
Phone: (386) 822-5710
Website: clerk.org
Records Search: clerk.org/Search-Records.aspx
Volusia County Branch Jail
Address: 1300 Red John Drive, Daytona Beach, FL 32124
Phone: (386) 254-1565
Inmate Search: volusiasheriff.org
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Address: 2331 Phillips Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: (850) 410-7000
Public Records: fdle.state.fl.us/ogc/public-records
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search for recent arrests in New Smyrna Beach?
Search the Volusia County Corrections online portal at volusiasheriff.org. The system shows current inmates and recent bookings. Search by name or booking date. Results include charges, bond, booking date, and mugshot. The system updates regularly and is free to use. For incident reports tied to those arrests, contact the New Smyrna Beach Police Department Records Unit. Provide a name and date range to narrow the search. A case number speeds up the process if available.
Are New Smyrna Beach mugshots public records?
Yes. Mugshots taken during booking at the Volusia County Branch Jail are public under Florida law. The Volusia County Corrections portal posts mugshots with each booking entry. Third-party sites also collect mugshots, but the official source is the county portal. Mugshots stay public unless a court orders the record sealed or expunged. Removal services from third-party sites only affect that one site, not the original record.
Can I find out if someone is in jail in New Smyrna Beach right now?
Yes. Use the Volusia County Corrections inmate search at volusiasheriff.org. The current inmate list updates around the clock. Search by last name and first name. Results show the inmate’s photo, charges, bond, and housing location. If the person was released, check the recent bookings list for the release date. For phone confirmation, call the Volusia County Branch Jail at (386) 254-1565.
How long does it take to get a police report from New Smyrna Beach?
Simple requests are often filled the same day. Complex requests take longer. Florida law requires the agency to give a time estimate when asked. Active investigations may carry a temporary hold. Once the hold lifts, the report becomes public. For incident reports, contact the Police Department Records Unit at (386) 427-3251. For accident reports, the Florida Highway Patrol handles crashes on state roads.
What is the difference between an arrest record and a criminal record?
An arrest record shows a single arrest event. It includes the date, location, charges, and arresting agency. A criminal record shows the full history of arrests, convictions, sentences, and releases. Arrest records alone do not prove guilt. Court records show what happened after the arrest. For a full picture, check the arrest record, the court case file at the Volusia County Clerk, and the FDLE criminal history.
Can I remove my mugshot from New Smyrna Beach arrest records?
Court-ordered sealing or expungement is the only path that fully removes the record. Start with a certificate of eligibility from FDLE. File a petition in Volusia County court where the arrest happened. A judge grants or denies the request. Eligibility depends on the case outcome, charge type, and prior record. Paid removal services from third-party sites do not affect official records held by police, jail, or court offices.
Are juvenile arrests in New Smyrna Beach public?
No. Juvenile arrest records are confidential under Florida law. They do not appear in public searches. The New Smyrna Beach Police Department and the Volusia County Clerk keep juvenile records sealed. Only certain parties can access them, including the juvenile, parents, attorneys, and judges. Adult arrests stay public even if the person was a juvenile at the time of an older offense that was later transferred to adult court.