Citrus County, Florida Arrest Records

An arrest record in Citrus County is a file generated the moment an individual is arrested and detained by local law enforcement, tracking an individual's entry into the criminal justice system. These records are created by the law enforcement agency making the arrest, primarily the Citrus County Sheriff's Office. Other police departments, such as the Crystal River Police Department and the Inverness Police Department, contract their law enforcement duties to the Sheriff's Office. 

Arrest records are open under the Florida Public Records Act, allowing the public to monitor law enforcement actions and stay informed about criminal activity in the county. However, while arrest records are subject to the Florida Public Records Act, criminal history records are governed by Fla. Stat. § 943.053. 

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Citrus, Florida?

Yes. Citrus County arrest records are classified as public records under the Florida Public Records Act. This classification makes arrest records accessible to the general public unless the particular record of interest is restricted to the public or contains confidential information. 

Aside from statutory confidentiality, law enforcement agencies are prohibited from creating unnecessary barriers to public access, such as the requester providing their personal information, putting the request in writing, or justifying why they need the record.

What Do Public Citrus County Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Citrus County consist of information that disclosure would not constitute an unreasonable invasion of privacy or a breach of security. These details generally include

• The arrestee's personal information: Full name, age, gender, and photo (mugshot)
• The date and location of the arrest
• The arrest charges
• The booking number
• The bond amount

Any information in an arrest record whose disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of a person's privacy or compromise public security is considered confidential. Such information is typically redacted from publicly accessible arrest records. Examples of confidential records include

• Juvenile arrest records
• The contents of a defendant's confession
• Sensitive personal identifiers
• Details of crime victims

Citrus County, Florida Arrest Search

Citrus County residents have several options to choose from when it comes to accessing an arrest record, depending on the specific record they need. Individuals who need to access only basic local arrest data may visit the arresting agency's office or contact the Citrus County Sheriff's Department. The inquirer will need to know the name of the individual for the office to help locate the record.

However, individuals who need to access arrest information of a person beyond the boundaries of Citrus County, or need a complete criminal history record, may file a request with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The FDLE, through its Criminal Justice Information Services Division (CJIS), maintains the criminal history record of everyone in the state. Interested persons may visit the Florida Criminal History Record Check to conduct an Instant Search, Certified/Non-Certified Search, or an ORI Search. The cost of a search is $24.

Citrus County residents can also access their arrest records through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI provides individuals with access to their criminal history records in the United States. A request may be submitted online, by mail, or through an approved channeler. The FBI does not permit criminal history searches on behalf of another person.

Citrus County Inmate Locator

Individuals arrested in Citrus County are generally detained in the Citrus County Detention Facility. Unlike many other counties in Florida where the Sheriff's Office operates the jail, the Citrus County jail is managed and operated by a private company. However, the Sheriff's Office is still the primary custodian of inmate arrest records in the county.

Researchers can find information on persons recently arrested in the county on the Citrus County Sheriff's Office Recent Arrest page. The page covers arrests that occurred within the previous 10 days. For arrests older than 30 days, individuals may contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Citrus County Sheriff's Office

1 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue 

Inverness, FL 34450-4968

Phone: (352) 249-2790

Active Warrant Search in Citrus County

An arrest warrant is a court order that sanctions law enforcement officers to immediately apprehend and detain an individual. An arrest warrant is issued when the court has strong reasons to believe, based on evidence submitted by law enforcement, that a person has committed a crime. Only judicial officers, such as Circuit Court or County Court judges, are authorized to issue a warrant; warrants cannot be issued by a local police department or the Sheriff's Office.

While warrants are primarily issued by judges, law enforcement is responsible for the service of the warrants. To facilitate execution, a warrant generally includes the following details (Fla. Stat. § 901.02):

• The name of the suspect
• Statement of the offense
• The command to arrest
• The date of issuance
• The signature and title of the issuing official

Under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420, copies of arrest warrants and supporting affidavits that are maintained by the courts are confidential until they have been executed. This means that members of the public are not privy to active arrest warrants when searching through the court. However, individuals can search for active arrest warrants by name on the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Wanted Persons Portal. 

Additionally, one can inquire about an active warrant offline by calling the Citrus County Sheriff's Office non-emergency line at (352) 249-2790 or by visiting the office. Individuals inquiring about themselves may call from a private number or have their attorney conduct the search to avoid immediate arrest in case an active warrant is found.

Agency / Resource	Purpose	Search Methods	Notes
Citrus County Sheriff's Office	Maintains and serves warrants	Phone, in person	The Sheriff's Office does not have an online portal for searching active arrest warrants
Florida Department of Law Enforcement	Manages arrest warrants	Online	The FDLE's online portal covers arrest warrants issued across the state

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Citrus County

Individuals searching for arrest records in Citrus County can access them for free on the Citrus County Sheriff's Office Recent Arrests database. The database allows researchers to view an arrestee's full name, date of birth, the arrest type, the offense, the arrest date, and the bond amount. 

Researchers can also access the arrest records of individuals with a criminal case on the Citrus County Clerk of Courts' Court Records Search Portal. 

Users searching through either of these portals will not find confidential information. To access confidential details, a request should be made at the arresting agency's office.

Citrus County Arrest Report

An arrest record serves as the public receipt of an individual's apprehension by law enforcement, containing the basic details of the incident. On the other hand, an arrest report is a narrative file compiled by the arresting officer, that is, the officer who apprehended and took the suspect into custody. The report is a subjective document that provides an analysis of all that happened during the arrest.

Arrest reports are generally public in Citrus County, although information, such as the defendant's confession, is kept confidential. Inquirers may obtain an arrest report from the local Sheriff's Office by submitting a request on the agency's Public Records Request page.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Citrus County

In Florida, individuals may seal or expunge their arrest record under Fla. Stat. § 943.0585 or Fla. Stat. § 943.059. Sealing hides the record from the general public, although it remains in existence. Meanwhile, an expungement erases the record from all government databases, except that of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. 

An individual may apply for sealing or expungement if their case was dismissed, the charges were dropped, or the individual was acquitted in court. However, an expungement is not possible if the individual pleaded guilty or no contest in court, even if the court did not formally convict them. 

Below are the general eligibility requirements for filing a sealing or expungement petition in Citrus County.

• The petitioner must not have previously had a record sealed or expunged
• The petitioner must not have been found guilty of any crime in the state, including unrelated misdemeanors or traffic offenses
• The arrest must not have been for a crime under Fla. Stat. § 943.0584, even if adjudication was withheld.
• The petitioner cannot file for the expungement of a sealed record for 10 years following sealing.

Because sealing and expungement require changing a state-managed database, individuals cannot file directly with the Citrus County courthouse without first going through the state certification process. The first phase is to secure a Certificate of Eligibility from the FLDE. This involves completing and downloading the Certificate of Eligibility application and getting fingerprinted at an FDLE-approved fingerprinting vendor. 

After, petitioners may proceed to obtain a copy of the final case disposition from the Citrus County Clerk of Courts. Then, the petitioner may mail a copy of the disposition, the Certificate of Eligibility application, and the fingerprint card to the FDLE, along with a $75 money order, so the Certificate of Eligibility may be issued to them.

Once the certificate has been received, individuals may proceed to file a sealing or expungement petition in court. The petition must be filed within 12 months of obtaining the certificate.

How Do You Remove Citrus County Arrest Records From the Internet?

Individuals who want to remove their arrest records from the internet in Citrus County must address the issue on two fronts: official government sites and private/commercial websites. To remove a record from the public database of a government website, such as the Citrus County Sheriff's Recent Arrests page, individuals may file for sealing or expungement in court. If the request is granted, the court will communicate the order to all relevant agencies, ensuring the record is removed from the public space.

However, to remove an arrest record from the website of a private company, individuals may reach out to the company, typically through their website, and communicate their request. The request may be made personally or through an attorney. Requesters with a sealing or expungement order may include a copy of the order.