Broward County booking and release records show who sits in jail, who got arrested, and who left custody. The Broward County Sheriff’s Office keeps these records and opens them to the public.
You can look up current inmates, recent arrests, mugshots, and release dates for free online. This page explains how the system works, where to search, and what each record shows.
What Booking Records Contain
Booking records hold the details of every person processed into the Broward County jail after an arrest. Each record starts the moment a person enters the jail and stays in the system until release.
Personal Details in Records
A booking record lists the arrestee’s full name, date of birth, and physical features. It shows a photograph taken at the time of booking. Fingerprints and ID checks happen during the booking process. All of this data goes into the jail management system that powers the public search tool.
Arrest and Charge Data
Each record shows the arrest date, the time of arrest, and the law enforcement agency that made the arrest. The charges listed tell you why the person was taken into custody. Bond amounts appear once a judge or standard schedule sets them. If no bond is allowed, the record notes that as well.
Booking Number and Tracking
Every inmate gets a unique booking number. This number stays with the person through the entire jail stay. You can use this number to track the same person across bookings if they have multiple stays. The booking number also helps when you contact the jail or clerk of court for more details.
How the Online Search Tool Works
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office runs a public inmate search on its website. The tool covers the Main Jail and the North and Annex facilities. It updates several times a day as new arrests and releases happen.
Searching by Name
Type a last name in the search box to see matching inmates. You can enter a first name to narrow the list. Common names may return several results. Each result shows the booking date, charges, and current custody status. The tool works on phones, tablets, and computers with no login needed.
Searching by Booking Date
The site also lets you search by booking date. Pick a date from the calendar tool and the page shows everyone booked that day. This helps when you know when an arrest happened but not the exact name. The date search returns a full list with charge details for each booking.
Reading the Search Results
Each search result shows the inmate’s name, booking number, and photo. You also see the facility where the person is held, the booking date, and the listed charges. Bond amount and bond status appear when set. A custody status field shows if the inmate sits in jail, was released, or transferred to another agency.
Release Records and What They Show
Release records mark the end of a jail stay. They show when a person leaves custody and the reason for release. The Broward County release log stays open to the public and easy to access.
Reasons People Get Released
People leave the Broward County jail for several reasons. Posting bond is the most common path to release. Court orders can lead to release on house arrest or other conditions. Some inmates finish their full sentence and get discharged. Others see their charges dropped and walk free the same day. Each release type shows up in the public record with a timestamp.
Release Log Search
The release log on the sheriff’s website lists everyone who left custody on a given day. You can search by name or browse by date. The log includes the inmate’s name, the release time, and the reason for release. It also lists any new court orders tied to the release.
Time Between Booking and Release
Release timing depends on the case. People charged with minor offenses may post bond within hours. Felony cases often need a first appearance before a judge, which can take 24 hours. Some inmates stay in custody for days or weeks before release. The system shows the actual release time, not an estimated one.
Bond and Charge Details
Bond and charge details are key parts of any booking record. They tell you how much money is needed for release and what the person stands accused of doing.
How Bond Amounts Get Set
Bond amounts come from a standard bond schedule or a judge’s order. Minor charges have set bond amounts listed in the county schedule. Serious charges require a bond hearing where a judge reviews the case. The booking record shows the bond amount, type, and current status. Bond status fields include “set,” “posted,” “denied,” or “pending hearing.”
Types of Charges Listed
Records list both misdemeanor and felony charges. Each charge has a code and a short description. The description tells you the law the person stands accused of breaking. Traffic offenses, drug charges, theft, and violent crimes all appear in booking records when applicable. Multiple charges can show up for one booking if the arrest involved several incidents.
Court Dates and Case Updates
Booking records do not show court dates. The Broward County Clerk of Court runs a separate case search for that. You can search by name or case number to find hearings, pleas, and rulings. The clerk’s site links to booking data so you can move between custody records and court records easily.
Florida Public Records Law
Florida law requires most government records to be open to the public. Booking and release records fall under this rule. The state has a few narrow exemptions that apply to active investigations and certain personal details.
Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes
Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes sets the rules for public records. The law says any person can request records from government agencies. The agency must provide the records unless a specific exemption applies. Booking photos, charges, and release dates all count as public records under this law.
What Is Not Public
Some data stays sealed even under public records law. Active criminal intelligence data is one exemption. Personal details like Social Security numbers and certain medical records are off limits. Juvenile booking records have stricter rules and may not be public. Sealed or expunged records do not appear in the search tool.
Filing a Records Request
For records not available online, you can file a public records request with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. The request should describe what you need. The agency has a set time to respond. They can charge for copies but cannot charge for search time in most cases. The sheriff’s website has forms and contact details for these requests.
Broward County Jail Facilities
The Broward County jail system includes several facilities. Each one holds inmates at different security levels and stages of the legal process.
Main Jail Facility
The Main Jail sits in downtown Fort Lauderdale at 1300 West Broward Boulevard. It holds people arrested in Fort Lauderdale and nearby cities. The Main Jail handles most intake and processing. Inmates booked here may transfer to other facilities based on charges and security level.
North Broward Bureau
The North Broward Bureau serves cities like Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, and Coconut Creek. It holds inmates arrested in those areas. The bureau runs its own booking process for local arrests. It also holds inmates for court appearances in northern Broward courtrooms.
Annex and Work Release Centers
Broward County also runs an Annex facility and work release centers. These hold lower-risk inmates and people approved for work release programs. The Annex handles overflow from the Main Jail. Work release inmates leave during the day for jobs and return at night.
Visitation and Communication Rules
The jail has set rules for visits, phone calls, and mail. These rules apply to all facilities in the county system.
Visiting an Inmate
Visits happen by video or in person based on the facility. You must sit on the inmate’s approved visitor list. The jail requires a valid photo ID for entry. Visit times and length depend on the inmate’s housing and classification. Children must be with a parent or guardian during visits.
Phone Calls and Messaging
Inmates can make outgoing calls through the jail phone system. Friends and family cannot call inmates directly. The jail uses a third-party service for inmate messaging. You set up an account, add funds, and send messages through the provider’s app or website. All messages get screened by jail staff.
Mail and Package Rules
Letters and cards can be sent to inmates through the U.S. Postal Service. Packages are not accepted without prior approval. All mail goes through a screening process. Books, magazines, and newspapers must come from approved vendors, not directly from senders.
Other Florida County Jail Search Tools
Florida has 67 counties, each with its own jail system. The search process looks similar across counties but the websites and tools differ.
Miami-Dade County Inmate Search
Miami-Dade County runs its inmate search through the Corrections and Rehabilitation Department. The tool covers the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and other county facilities. You search by name or booking number. Results show charges, bond, and court dates set by the Miami-Dade court system.
Hillsborough County Jail Records
Hillsborough County’s jail sits in Tampa. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office runs an online search for current inmates. The tool shows booking details, charges, and bond. It also shows projected release dates for inmates with set sentences.
Orange County and Duval County
Orange County jail in Orlando covers inmates arrested in the Orlando area. The Orange County Corrections Department runs the public search. Duval County in Jacksonville runs a similar tool through the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Both systems update several times a day.
Palm Beach and Pinellas Counties
Palm Beach County uses the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office search tool. Pinellas County runs its search through the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in Clearwater. Both tools follow the same public records rules set by Florida law. Each system shows current inmates, recent bookings, and release logs.
Florida Department of Corrections Search
The Florida Department of Corrections runs a separate search for state prison inmates. This differs from county jail records.
State Prison vs County Jail
State prisons hold people convicted of felonies with sentences over a year. County jails hold people awaiting trial or serving sentences under a year. Once a county inmate gets convicted and sentenced to state prison, they move to the state system. The state DOC database tracks inmates from that point forward.
How to Search State Inmates
The Florida DOC website has a public inmate search tool. You search by name or DC number. Results show the inmate’s current facility, offense, sentence length, and projected release date. The state system also shows parole eligibility and any detainer from other agencies.
Contact Details and Official Resources
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office runs all booking and release records in the county. Below sits the contact data for the main office and the public records team.
Broward County Sheriff’s Office
2601 West Broward Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
Phone: 954-764-4357
Public Records: 954-831-8700
Website: sheriff.org
Inmate Search: https://www.sheriff.org/DOD/PAGES/ARRESTSEARCH.ASPX
Release Log: https://releaselog.sheriff.org/
Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Frequently Asked Questions
This section answers common questions about Broward County booking and release records. Each answer covers a specific part of the search process or what the records show. The answers reflect current practices at the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.
How Often Does the Broward County Inmate Search Update?
The Broward County inmate search updates several times each day. New bookings appear within a few hours of intake. Release records appear shortly after the release process finishes. The system pulls data directly from the jail management system, so records appear quickly once staff enters the data. Small delays may happen during high-volume times like weekends or after big events. For the most current data, check the site multiple times if you don’t see the record right away.
Can I Search for Juvenile Records in Broward County?
Juvenile booking records have stricter rules under Florida law. Most juvenile records do not sit in the public inmate search. You cannot view juvenile bookings through the standard online tool. To access juvenile records, you must go through the juvenile court system. The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice also has its own data systems for youth held in state facilities. Parents or guardians can get more details by calling the Broward County Sheriff’s Office juvenile division directly.
What Happens If Someone’s Name Appears but They Are Not in Jail?
Sometimes the search returns people who were recently released. The system shows a custody status field, so check that first. If the status shows “released,” the person has left the jail. The record may stay in the search for a short time after release. If the person was never in Broward County jail, check the spelling of the name. Common names can return matching people from other counties. Use the booking date and facility field to confirm the right person.
How Do I Find Multiple Bookings in Broward County?
The booking number helps track multiple stays. Each booking gets a unique number even if the same person gets booked more than once. Search by name to see the full list of bookings. The system shows each booking date, charges, and release dates. For a complete history, you may need to file a public records request with the sheriff’s office. They can pull older records not shown in the online tool.
Is There a Fee to Use the Broward County Inmate Search?
The online inmate search is free. You do not need to pay or create an account to use it. The site does not charge for viewing booking photos, charges, or release dates. If you need certified copies of records, a small fee may apply. Certified copies come from the clerk of court or the sheriff’s records division. The fees cover the cost of producing and certifying the documents, not the search itself.
Can I Remove My Booking Photo From the Broward County Site?
Booking photos become public record at the time of booking. You cannot remove a current booking photo while the case stays active. If charges get dropped or you are found not guilty, you can ask for expungement. Expungement seals the record from public view. The process goes through the clerk of court and requires a judge to sign off. After expungement, the booking photo and related data come off the public search tool.
How Long Do Booking Records Stay on the Search Tool?
Current inmates stay on the tool until release. After release, records may stay in the system for several months. The exact timeline depends on the case type and any related court orders. Felony records often stay longer than misdemeanor records. The sheriff’s office decides how long to keep each record on the public site. For older records, you can submit a public records request to the archives team.