Gulf County Booking Records

Recent bookings in Gulf County are handled by the Gulf County Sheriff's Office in Port St. Joe. The sheriff operates the county jail at 1000 Cecil G. Costin Sr. Blvd and keeps all booking records for arrests in the area. Gulf County is a small coastal county in the Florida Panhandle with Port St. Joe as its county seat. Under Florida's Sunshine Law, all booking records from the Gulf County jail are public. Anyone can request them without stating a reason. The county is part of the 14th Judicial Circuit and has a low volume of arrests compared to larger Florida counties.

Gulf County Arrest Records Search

The Gulf County Sheriff's Office is the primary source for booking records in the county. When someone is arrested in Gulf County, they are brought to the jail at 1000 Cecil G. Costin Sr. Blvd in Port St. Joe. Staff process the booking by searching the person, taking fingerprints, and photographing them. Charges and personal details go into the system. From that moment, the record is public under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes.

To find out about a recent booking in Gulf County, call the jail at 850.227.1124. Staff can tell you if someone is in custody, what the charges are, and the bond amount. Gulf County is small, so the jail staff are often able to answer questions quickly. For a formal copy of records, submit a public records request to the Gulf County Sheriff's Office in writing. Include the person's full name and the approximate date of the arrest.

Gulf County does not have a large online booking search like bigger counties in Florida. Phone and in-person inquiries are the most reliable methods to get current booking data. You can also check with the Gulf County Clerk of Court for case information once charges have been filed.

Note: Gulf County booking records may not be posted online, so calling the jail is the fastest way to get information.

How Gulf County Arrests Work

Arrest procedures in Gulf County follow Chapter 901 of the Florida Statutes. Officers can arrest with a warrant or without one in specific situations. Warrantless arrests happen when a crime is committed in front of the officer, when probable cause exists for a felony, or during domestic violence incidents. These rules apply to all law enforcement agencies working in Gulf County.

After the arrest, the person is transported to the Gulf County jail in Port St. Joe for processing. The booking creates a record that includes the date and time of arrest, the charges, the arresting agency, and the person's information. A bond amount is set from the statewide uniform schedule. Within 24 hours, the person must appear before a judge for a first appearance hearing. The judge reviews probable cause and decides whether to keep, raise, or lower the bond for Gulf County cases.

Law enforcement in Gulf County includes the sheriff's office, the Port St. Joe Police Department, and state agencies like the Florida Highway Patrol and Fish and Wildlife officers. The area sees seasonal activity, with more visitors during the summer months along the Gulf Coast. All arrests end up at the same jail for booking regardless of which agency made the stop.

Bail and Bond in Gulf County

Chapter 903 of the Florida Statutes sets the rules for bail and pretrial release. When someone is booked into the Gulf County jail, a bond is set based on the statewide schedule. Lower bonds apply to misdemeanors. Felonies carry higher amounts. The bond allows the person to get out of the Gulf County jail while their case goes through court.

At first appearance, the judge can adjust the bond amount based on the specific facts of the case. Factors include the nature of the charges, criminal history, community ties, and flight risk. Serious charges may lead to no bond being set at all. Bond information is part of the Gulf County booking record. People often look up recent bookings to find out what it costs to bail someone out. Call 850.227.1124 for bond details.

The Florida Statutes also cover how arrest procedures create the booking records that show bond amounts in Gulf County.

This statute outlines the steps officers must follow during an arrest in Gulf County and across the state.

Statewide Records for Gulf County

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement runs the statewide criminal records database. Their online record check costs $25 and covers all 67 counties in Florida, including Gulf County. This is useful when you want to search more broadly or are unsure which county the arrest occurred in. Results appear right away after payment.

The Florida Department of Corrections keeps a separate database for state prison inmates. If someone arrested in Gulf County was later convicted and sent to state prison, you can track them through this system. It covers current inmates, released inmates, and people on supervision. The Florida Department of State also maintains a directory of all county jails with contact info and any available search links.

Note: FDLE statewide searches may take a few days to show very recent arrests from Gulf County.

Public Records Access in Gulf County

Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes makes almost all government records public. This includes booking records, arrest reports, and mugshots from the Gulf County Sheriff's Office. You do not need to give your name or explain why you want the records. The law says custodians must let any person inspect them at any reasonable time. This applies to everyone, not just Florida residents.

Copy fees follow state law. Single-sided pages cost 15 cents each, and double-sided copies are 20 cents. Special service fees can apply if a request takes a lot of staff time. But the records themselves cannot be withheld from you. In Gulf County, most people get booking info by calling the jail since the county is small and staff can answer questions over the phone. Written requests can be mailed to the jail at 1000 Cecil G. Costin Sr. Blvd, Port St. Joe, FL.

What Gulf County Booking Records Contain

A booking record from Gulf County includes the person's full name, date of birth, and a booking photo. Charges are listed with statute numbers that identify the specific law involved. You can tell if the charge is a misdemeanor or felony. Bond amounts appear for each charge. The record also shows the booking date and time, which agency made the arrest, and where the person is held in the jail.

Court dates appear in the record once a judge sets them. Release information shows up after the person leaves custody. If another agency has a hold on the person, that will also show in the Gulf County record. Keep in mind that a booking record does not mean a conviction. It shows that the person was arrested and processed. The case has to go through the court system before any outcome is decided in Gulf County.

Gulf County Jail Contact

The Gulf County jail is the single booking point for all arrests in the county. Call or visit for records requests and inmate inquiries.

For general questions about who is in the Gulf County jail right now, the phone is the most direct option. Staff can provide booking details and bond amounts quickly.

Cities in Gulf County

Gulf County has a small number of communities. Port St. Joe is the county seat and the largest town. Wewahitchka is the other main community. All arrests in these areas lead to bookings at the Gulf County jail in Port St. Joe. Neither city meets the population threshold for a dedicated page, but all bookings go through the same county facility.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Gulf County. If an arrest took place in a nearby area, you will need to search that county's booking records.