Find Jefferson County Bookings
Recent bookings in Jefferson County are managed by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office in Monticello. The sheriff runs the county jail at 171 Industrial Park and keeps all booking records available to the public. Jefferson County is one of the smaller counties in Florida, located between Tallahassee and Madison in the Big Bend region. Under Florida's public records law, anyone can look up arrest and booking details for people held in Jefferson County custody. You do not need to be a local resident or give a reason to search.
Jefferson County Quick Facts
Jefferson County Booking Process
When an arrest happens in Jefferson County, the person is taken to the jail at 171 Industrial Park in Monticello. Booking starts right away. Staff photograph the person, take fingerprints, and enter personal details into the system. The booking record includes the arrest date, charges, arresting agency, and bond amount. This follows Chapter 901 of Florida Statutes, which sets the rules for how arrests are handled across the state.
Most arrests in Jefferson County come from the sheriff's office or the Monticello Police Department. The Florida Highway Patrol also makes arrests on the highways that pass through the county. All agencies bring people to the same jail. The Jefferson County jail is the only intake point for the area. After booking, the person posts bond, gets released on their own recognizance, or stays in custody to wait for a first appearance before a judge in the 2nd Judicial Circuit.
Florida's Chapter 901 outlines the arrest procedures that every law enforcement agency in Jefferson County must follow.
These rules apply to every arrest made in Jefferson County and across the state.
Searching Jefferson County Records
Jefferson County is a small county, and online booking search tools may be limited compared to larger areas. The most direct way to check on a recent booking is to call the jail at (850) 997-5094. Staff can tell you if someone is in custody and share basic booking details. For more complete records or copies of documents, you can make a public records request in writing to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains arrest records from all 67 Florida counties. FDLE offers a criminal history check for $25 through its online record check system. This covers all of Florida and is useful if you do not know which county an arrest was in. FDLE data may take some time to reflect what the local Jefferson County jail has on file.
The Florida Department of Corrections has a search tool for state prison inmates. That covers people who have been convicted and sent to a state facility. It does not include people being held at the Jefferson County jail before trial.
Note: Calling the Jefferson County jail is often the fastest way to check on a current booking.
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county. It handles patrol duties, investigations, and runs the county jail. The sheriff's office also maintains the booking system that stores all recent bookings in Jefferson County. You can reach the jail by calling (850) 997-5094 for questions about inmates or booking records.
The jail at 171 Industrial Park in Monticello serves the whole county. It is a small facility that handles intake, housing, and release of inmates. For written records requests, send a letter to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office at the jail address. The sheriff's office must respond to public records requests under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes.
| Jail Address | 171 Industrial Park, Monticello, FL 32344 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (850) 997-5094 |
| County Seat | Monticello |
Booking Record Details
A booking record in Jefferson County contains several pieces of info. It shows the person's full name, date of birth, and a booking photo. Charges are listed with their statute numbers. You can see if a charge is a misdemeanor or felony. Bond amounts appear for each charge. The record also includes the date and time of booking, the arresting agency, and the housing location inside the jail.
Some records may show prior bookings for the same person. Court dates are added once set by the judge. Release dates appear after the person leaves custody. A booking record is not a conviction. It just means the person was arrested and brought to the Jefferson County jail for processing. The case still must go through the court system. All of this information is open to the public under Chapter 119.
Public Records Law
Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes makes all government records open to the public. This includes booking records, arrest reports, and jail logs in Jefferson County. You do not have to state a reason for your request. You do not need to be a Florida resident. The law applies the same in Jefferson County as it does in every other county in the state.
For a formal records request, write to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. Be specific about what you need. Include names and dates when possible. The agency must respond within a reasonable time frame. They can charge for copies but not for the staff time spent locating records. Most basic booking info in Jefferson County can be obtained by calling the jail. You only pay for printed copies or certified documents.
Bond and Bail Process
After booking in Jefferson County, the bond process starts. Florida's Chapter 903 governs bail and bonds. The bond amount depends on the charge. Some offenses have a set amount on the bond schedule. Others need a judge to set the amount at first appearance. Serious charges may result in bond being denied.
You can post bond in Jefferson County by paying the full cash amount at the jail. A bail bondsman is another option and typically costs 10% of the bond as a non-refundable fee. Some people qualify for release on their own recognizance without paying. The judge decides this at the first appearance hearing. Cash bonds get returned at the end of the case if the person shows up for all court dates in the 2nd Judicial Circuit.
Note: Bond amounts may change after a judge reviews the case at the first appearance hearing.
Jefferson County Jail Operations
The Jefferson County jail is at 171 Industrial Park in Monticello. It is a small facility that serves the entire county. Intake, housing, and release all happen here. When someone is booked, the process can take a couple of hours. Staff check for warrants, look into medical needs, and verify any holds from other agencies during the intake process.
Visitation rules at the Jefferson County jail follow a set schedule. Call (850) 997-5094 to find out current visiting hours before you go. Phone service is available for inmates. The Florida Department of State keeps a directory of county jails across Florida, and Jefferson County is listed there. If you need to search jails in multiple counties, that page can help point you in the right direction.
Cities in Jefferson County
Jefferson County has a small number of communities. Monticello is the county seat and the largest town. Lamont and Lloyd are also in the county. All arrests in these areas go through the Jefferson County jail for booking. No cities in Jefferson County have populations large enough for their own dedicated booking pages, but all booking records are kept at the county level by the sheriff's office.
Nearby Counties
These counties share a border with Jefferson County. If an arrest took place in one of these areas, you will need to search that county's records instead.