Okeechobee County Booking Reports

Okeechobee County booking reports are handled by the Sheriff's Office in Okeechobee, Florida. This small, rural county in south central Florida sits on the north shore of Lake Okeechobee. The sheriff runs the county jail and keeps all arrest booking data on file. You can look up inmates, check charges, and request copies of booking records through the sheriff's office. These are public records under Florida law. The process to access them is the same here as in any other county in the state, though the volume is much smaller than you would find in a big metro area.

Okeechobee Sheriff's Office

The Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office is at 504 Northwest 4th Street in Okeechobee. The phone number is 863.763.3117. The sheriff runs the jail and processes all bookings for the county. There is no separate city jail. Every arrest in Okeechobee County goes through this office.

Okeechobee County has an inmate search tool. You can look up people who are in custody right now. Type a name and see the charges, bond amount, and booking date. This is the fastest way to check on a recent arrest in Okeechobee County. If you need more detail or an older record, call the office directly. Staff can pull up booking reports and make copies if needed.

All booking records in Okeechobee County are public under Florida Statute Chapter 119. This law says that all state, county, and municipal records are open for inspection by any person. The custodian must allow access at any reasonable time. They can charge for copies but cannot charge just to let you look at the records.

Find Okeechobee County Arrest Records

Start with the inmate search. It is free. It is quick. You get the basic booking data on your screen in seconds. For something more formal, contact the sheriff's office by phone or in person.

If you visit the office at 504 NW 4th Street, bring your ID. Ask to see the booking report for the person you need. Staff will pull it up. Copies may cost a small fee. Florida law lets agencies charge for the actual cost of duplicating records. But the inspection itself is free everywhere in the state, including Okeechobee County.

Okeechobee County is in the 19th Judicial Circuit. This circuit also covers Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties. If a case involves charges across county lines in this circuit, records may be shared between courts. But the booking report always stays with the county where the arrest happened. An arrest in Okeechobee means the booking report is in Okeechobee.

Okeechobee Booking Records and State Tools

The Florida Department of Corrections has a statewide inmate search. Use it when someone from Okeechobee County has been sent to a state prison. The database refreshes each week. Release dates update nightly.

This tool searches all five FDC databases at once. It covers current inmates, releases, supervised population, absconders, and escapees. For Okeechobee County cases that led to a state sentence, this is where you check the current status. Contact (850) 488-9859 for inmate population questions. For release info, call (850) 488-9167.

The Florida Department of State also lists Okeechobee County in its county jails directory. This directory covers every jail in the state with addresses and phone numbers. It is a handy reference when you need to check more than one county.

The directory is maintained by the Division of Library and Information Services. Their main office is at 500 South Bronough Street in Tallahassee. Phone: 850.245.6500.

Okeechobee Booking Data and the Law

Under Chapter 943, Okeechobee County sends fingerprint and facial image data to the FDLE for every person booked on felony or misdemeanor charges. This feeds into a central criminal justice information system that agencies across the state use. It means an Okeechobee County booking becomes part of a statewide record.

Booking photos are also public records. Chapter 901 has rules about how these photos can be used. For-profit websites cannot demand money to take down a booking photo. Written removal requests must be honored within 10 days. After that, a $1,000 per day penalty applies. This protection covers everyone booked in Okeechobee County.

There are limits on what is public. Juvenile records are confidential. Medical and mental health records are off limits. Sealed or expunged records are removed from public view. But the core booking data, names, charges, bond, and booking photos, stays open to anyone who asks in Okeechobee County.

Note: The FDLE handles statewide criminal history questions at (850) 410-7000.

Records Requests in Okeechobee County

For a formal copy of a booking report, send a written request to the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office. Include the person's name, approximate date of arrest, and any other details you have. The law says agencies must respond promptly and in good faith. They can charge for copies but not for viewing. If you have trouble getting a response, the Florida Department of State can help. Call 850.245.6500.

The Florida Statutes are posted online. Read Chapter 119 for public records access, Chapter 943 for criminal justice data, and Chapter 901 for arrest and booking photo rules. These laws shape how Okeechobee County handles every booking report.

Cities in Okeechobee County

The city of Okeechobee is the only incorporated municipality in the county. It serves as the county seat. All arrests go through the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office. There are no separate city jails. Every booking report in the county comes from the same system.

Nearby Counties

Okeechobee County sits near the center of south Florida. Several counties share a border with it. Each one has its own jail and booking system.