Holmes County Arrest Records
Recent bookings in Holmes County are handled by the Holmes County Sheriff's Office in Bonifay. The sheriff runs the county jail at 3207 Lonny Lindsey Drive and maintains all booking records for public review. Under Florida's public records law, booking and arrest information is open to anyone who asks. Holmes County is a small, rural county in the Florida panhandle, and the sheriff's office serves as the primary law enforcement agency for the area. You do not need to be a resident or give any reason to search for recent bookings here.
Holmes County Quick Facts
Holmes County Booking Process
When an arrest takes place in Holmes County, the person is taken to the jail on Lonny Lindsey Drive in Bonifay. The booking process starts right away. Staff photograph the person, take fingerprints, and enter personal details into the booking system. Each record includes the arrest date, charges, arresting agency, and bond amount. This follows Chapter 901 of Florida Statutes, which sets the rules for arrests across the state.
Most arrests in Holmes County come from the sheriff's office or the Bonifay Police Department. Both agencies bring people to the same jail. The Holmes County jail is the only intake point for the county. After booking, the person either posts bond, gets released on their own recognizance, or stays in custody until a first court appearance. Bond amounts depend on the charge and the schedule used by the 14th Judicial Circuit, which covers Holmes County along with several neighboring counties in the panhandle.
Booking records become public right when they are created. No waiting period applies.
Searching Holmes County Records
Holmes County is a smaller county, and online booking tools may be limited. The best way to check on a recent booking is to call the jail at (850) 547-3681 and press option 1. Give the staff a name, and they can tell you if that person is currently in custody. They can also give you basic booking details over the phone. For a more detailed search, you may need to file a public records request in writing with the Holmes County Sheriff's Office.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement also keeps arrest records from all counties, including Holmes County. FDLE has a criminal history check through its online record check system for $25. This search covers all of Florida and can help if you are not sure which county an arrest occurred in. Keep in mind that FDLE records may lag behind what the local jail has for Holmes County.
The Florida Department of Corrections runs a separate search tool for state prison inmates. That only covers people who have been sentenced and sent to a state facility. It does not show people held at the Holmes County jail awaiting trial.
Note: Calling the jail directly is often the quickest way to get booking info in Holmes County.
Holmes County Sheriff's Office
The Holmes County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the entire county. It handles patrol, investigations, and jail operations. The sheriff's office also keeps the booking system that stores all recent bookings in Holmes County. You can reach them by calling (850) 547-3681 for general questions about the jail or booking records.
The Florida Department of State maintains a directory of county jails and inmate search tools, and Holmes County is listed there.
This directory is a useful starting point when you need to search for inmates across multiple Florida counties.
| Jail Address | 3207 Lonny Lindsey Dr, Bonifay, FL 32425 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (850) 547-3681, Option 1 |
| County Seat | Bonifay |
Booking Record Details
A booking record in Holmes County contains several pieces of information. It lists the person's full name, date of birth, and a booking photo. Charges are shown with their statute numbers. You can see whether the charge is a misdemeanor or felony. Bond amounts appear for each charge. The record also has the date and time of booking, which agency made the arrest, and the housing assignment inside the jail.
Some records may show prior bookings for the same person. Court dates are added after a judge sets them. Release dates appear once the person leaves custody. It is important to know that a booking record is not a conviction. It means the person was arrested and processed at the Holmes County jail. The case still must go through court. Under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, all of this information is open to the public as part of the state's public records law.
Public Records Law
Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes gives everyone the right to access government records. This includes booking records, arrest reports, and jail logs in Holmes County. You do not have to say why you want the records. You do not have to live in Florida. The law applies the same in Holmes County as it does in every other county in the state.
To make a formal records request in Holmes County, write to the sheriff's office. State what records you need as clearly as you can. Include names and dates when possible. The agency must respond within a reasonable time. They can charge for copies but cannot charge for staff time spent looking for records. Most basic booking info from Holmes County can be gotten by a phone call. You only pay for printed copies or certified documents.
Note: Juvenile booking records are not available to the public under Florida law.
Bond and Bail in Holmes County
After someone is booked in Holmes County, the bond process starts. Florida's Chapter 903 governs how bail and bonds work throughout the state. Bond amounts depend on the charge. Some offenses have a set bond on the schedule. Others need a judge to set the amount at a first appearance hearing. Serious charges may result in bond being denied.
There are a few ways to post bond in Holmes County. You can pay the full cash amount at the jail. A bail bondsman is another option and typically costs 10% of the bond as a fee that is not refunded. Some people get released on their own recognizance, meaning they pay nothing. The judge makes that call at the first appearance. Cash bonds are returned at the end of the case if the person shows up for all their court dates. If you need to find a bondsman in Holmes County, the jail staff can provide a list of local options.
Holmes County Jail Operations
The Holmes County jail sits on Lonny Lindsey Drive in Bonifay. It is a smaller facility that serves the whole county. The jail handles intake, housing, and release. When someone is booked, the process can take a couple of hours depending on how busy things are. Staff check for outstanding warrants, medical issues, and any holds from other agencies during the intake process.
Visitation at the Holmes County jail follows a set schedule. Call the jail at (850) 547-3681 to find out current visiting hours and rules. Phone service is available for inmates to make outgoing calls. The Florida Department of State keeps a directory of county jails and inmate search tools. Holmes County is listed in that directory. If you need to search jails across multiple counties, that page is a good place to start.
Cities in Holmes County
Holmes County has a few small cities and towns. Bonifay is the county seat and the largest community. Esto, Noma, Ponce de Leon, and Westville are also in the county. All arrests in these areas go to the Holmes County jail for booking. No cities in Holmes County have populations large enough for their own dedicated booking pages, but all records are kept at the county level through the sheriff's office.
Nearby Counties
These counties share a border with Holmes County. If an arrest took place in one of these areas, you need to search that county's booking records instead.