Alachua County Booking Records
Recent bookings in Alachua County are kept by the Alachua County Sheriff's Office in Gainesville. The sheriff runs the county jail at 3333 NE 39th Avenue and posts booking data for public use. Under Florida's public records law, anyone can look up arrest and booking details for people held in the Alachua County jail. The sheriff's site has an inmate lookup tool that shows current and past bookings, charges, bond amounts, and more. You do not need to give a reason to search these records in Alachua County.
Alachua County Quick Facts
Alachua County Inmate Lookup
The Alachua County Sheriff's Office runs an online inmate lookup tool. This system lets you search for people booked into the Alachua County jail by name. You can find booking dates, charges, bond info, and mugshots. The tool is free to use and works from any device with web access. It pulls data straight from the jail's booking system, so the info is current for Alachua County.
To use the Alachua County inmate lookup, go to the sheriff's site and click the inmate search link. Type in the last name of the person you want to find. You can also add a first name to narrow things down. The system will show all matches in the Alachua County jail. Each result shows the booking number, date booked, charges, and bond status. If the person has been released, the record may still show up for a time. The Alachua County Sheriff's Office keeps this data as part of its public records duties under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes.
The Alachua County inmate lookup page on the sheriff's website shows current jail records and recent bookings.
This search tool is the fastest way to check on recent bookings in Alachua County without going to the jail.
How Alachua County Arrests Work
When someone is arrested in Alachua County, the booking process starts at the jail on NE 39th Avenue in Gainesville. The person is brought in, searched, and photographed. Staff take fingerprints and log personal details into the system. The booking creates a record that includes the arrest date, charges, arresting agency, and bond amount. This process follows Chapter 901 of Florida Statutes, which sets the rules for arrests across the state.
Most arrests in Alachua County come from the sheriff's office, Gainesville Police, or the University of Florida Police. Each agency brings people to the same jail for booking. The Alachua County jail is the central intake point for all arrests in the county. After booking, the person either posts bond, gets released on their own, or waits for a first court date. Bond amounts in Alachua County depend on the charge. Florida's Chapter 903 covers how bail and bonds work.
Alachua County booking records are part of the public record from the moment they are created. There is no wait time to access them.
Alachua County Sheriff's Office
The Alachua County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county. It runs the jail, handles patrol duties in areas outside Gainesville city limits, and serves court papers. The sheriff's office also runs the booking system that stores all recent bookings in Alachua County. You can reach them at (352) 491-4444 for general questions about jail or booking records.
The jail in Alachua County sits at 3333 NE 39th Avenue in Gainesville. It serves the whole county. If you need to visit an inmate, check the sheriff's site for hours and rules. Visits are set by schedule and depend on the housing unit. The Alachua County jail also has a phone system for inmates to call out. For records requests, you can call the jail or use the online tools on the sheriff's website. Written requests can be mailed to the Alachua County Sheriff's Office at the jail address.
Note: Bond information shown online may not reflect changes made after the initial booking in Alachua County.
Searching Alachua County Booking Records
There are a few ways to find recent bookings in Alachua County. The online inmate lookup is the fastest option. It works around the clock and costs nothing. You just need a name to start. For older records or more detailed searches, you may need to file a public records request with the Alachua County Sheriff's Office. Florida law gives everyone the right to ask for these records, and the agency must respond.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement also keeps arrest records from all counties, including Alachua County. FDLE offers a criminal history check for $25 through its online record check system. This search covers all of Florida, not just Alachua County. It can be useful if you do not know which county the arrest was in. FDLE records may take more time to show up than the local jail system in Alachua County.
For state prison records, the Florida Department of Corrections has its own search tool. This covers people who have been sent to state prison after a conviction. It does not cover people sitting in the Alachua County jail waiting for trial. Use the county jail search for local bookings and the state tools for broader searches.
Alachua County Booking Details
A booking record in Alachua County has several pieces of info. It shows the person's full name, date of birth, and a booking photo. The charges are listed with their statute numbers. You can see if the charge is a misdemeanor or felony. Bond amounts are shown for each charge. The record also lists the date and time of booking, which agency made the arrest, and the housing location in the jail.
Some records in Alachua County also show prior bookings for the same person. This can help you see a pattern. Court dates may be listed once they are set. Release dates show up after the person leaves the jail. Keep in mind that a booking record is not a conviction. It just means the person was arrested and processed at the Alachua County jail. The case still has to go through court before any guilt is found.
Note: Booking records for juveniles are not shown in the public search for Alachua County.
Public Records Access in Alachua County
Florida has some of the strongest public records laws in the country. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes says that all records made or received by a government agency are open to the public. This includes booking records, arrest reports, and jail logs in Alachua County. You do not have to explain why you want the records. You do not have to be a Florida resident either.
To make a formal records request in Alachua County, write to the sheriff's office. State what records you want. Be as clear as you can about the person's name and the date range. The agency has to respond in a fair amount of time. They can charge for copies but not for the time it takes to find the records. Most booking records from Alachua County are free to view online. You only pay if you need printed copies or certified documents.
Alachua County Jail Contact Info
The Alachua County jail is the main point of contact for booking records and inmate questions. You can reach the jail by phone or visit in person during set hours.
| Address | 3333 NE 39th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32609 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (352) 491-4444 |
| Website | www.alachuasheriff.org |
| Inmate Lookup | Alachua County Inmate Search |
The Florida Department of State also lists Alachua County in its directory of county jails and inmate search tools. This is a good starting point if you are not sure which county to search.
Cities in Alachua County
Alachua County has several cities and towns. All arrests in these areas lead to bookings at the Alachua County jail in Gainesville. Gainesville is the largest city and the county seat. It is home to the University of Florida, which has its own police force that also books people into the Alachua County jail.
Other cities in Alachua County include Alachua, Archer, Hawthorne, High Springs, Micanopy, Newberry, and Waldo. All bookings from these areas go through the Alachua County jail system.
Nearby Counties
These counties share a border with Alachua County. If an arrest took place in one of these areas, you need to search that county's booking records instead.