Lake County Booking Records

Recent bookings in Lake County are managed by the Lake County Sheriff's Office in Tavares. The sheriff runs the county jail at 551 West Main Street and provides an online inmate search tool for public use. Under Florida's public records law, anyone can look up arrest and booking details for people in Lake County custody. The sheriff's website lets you search by name, and you do not need to give a reason or be a resident to access these records. Lake County is part of the 5th Judicial Circuit and sits in central Florida.

Lake County Inmate Search

The Lake County Sheriff's Office runs an online inmate search tool. This system lets you look up people booked into the Lake 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 internet access. It pulls from the jail's own booking system, so the data stays current.

To search, go to the sheriff's inmate search page and type in the last name. You can add a first name to narrow results. The system shows all matches in the Lake County jail. Each result displays the booking number, date booked, charges, and bond status. If someone has been released, the record may still appear for a while. The Lake County Sheriff's Office keeps this info as part of its duties under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office website is the main hub for law enforcement and jail information in the county.

From here you can access the inmate search, crime reports, and other public safety tools for Lake County.

How Arrests Work in Lake County

When someone is arrested in Lake County, they are brought to the jail at 551 West Main Street in Tavares. Staff take a photo, collect fingerprints, and log personal details. The booking creates a record with the arrest date, charges, arresting agency, and bond amount. This follows Chapter 901 of Florida Statutes, which sets arrest procedures across the state.

Multiple agencies make arrests in Lake County. The sheriff's office covers unincorporated areas. City police departments in Clermont, Leesburg, Eustis, Mount Dora, and other towns handle their own jurisdictions. All agencies bring arrested persons to the county jail for booking. The Lake County jail is the single intake point. After processing, the person posts bond, gets released on their own recognizance, or waits for a first court appearance. Bond amounts follow the 5th Judicial Circuit schedule.

Note: Booking records in Lake County become public immediately upon creation under Florida law.

Lake County Inmate Search Tool

The Lake County Sheriff's inmate search page gives you direct access to current jail booking data.

This search tool is the quickest way to check on a booking in Lake County without calling or visiting the jail.

The inmate search covers people currently in custody and recent releases. Each record has the person's name, booking date, charges, bond amounts, and a mugshot. You can search by last name or by booking number if you have one. The system is updated as new bookings come in throughout the day. For older records that may not appear in the online tool, you can contact the Lake County Sheriff's Office to make a public records request.

Lake County Sheriff's Office

The Lake County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. It runs the jail, handles patrol in the unincorporated areas, and serves court papers. The office is at 360 West Ruby Street in Tavares. The jail is nearby at 551 West Main Street. You can reach the jail at (352) 343-2101 for questions about inmates or booking records in Lake County.

Statewide Search Options

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement keeps arrest records from all 67 counties. FDLE offers a criminal history check for $25 through its online record check system. This covers the whole state, not just Lake County. It helps when you are not sure which county an arrest was in. FDLE data may lag behind what shows in the Lake County jail system.

The Florida Department of Corrections has a search tool for state prison inmates. That covers people sentenced to state prison. It does not show people at the Lake County jail awaiting trial. The Florida Department of State also keeps a directory of all county jails and their inmate search tools across Florida.

Public Records in Lake County

Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes makes all government records open to the public. This includes booking records, arrest reports, and jail logs in Lake County. You do not have to give a reason. You do not have to be a Florida resident. The law applies the same in Lake County as everywhere else in the state.

For a formal records request, write to the Lake County Sheriff's Office. State what you need clearly. Include names, dates, and any case numbers you have. The agency must respond in a reasonable time. They can charge for copies but not for staff time spent searching. Most booking data from Lake County is free to view online through the inmate search tool. You only pay if you need printed or certified copies of documents.

Note: Some records may be exempt from disclosure under specific Florida statute exemptions.

Bond and Bail Process

After booking in Lake County, the bond process begins. Florida's Chapter 903 governs how bail works. Bond amounts depend on the charge. Some offenses have a set amount on the schedule. Others need a judge to set the amount at first appearance. For very serious charges, bond may be denied entirely.

You can post bond in Lake County by paying the full cash amount. A bail bondsman is another choice, typically costing 10% of the bond as a non-refundable fee. Some people get released on their own recognizance without paying anything. The judge decides this. Cash bonds are returned when the case ends if the person appeared at all court dates. The inmate search tool shows bond amounts for each charge, so you can check before making plans.

Cities in Lake County

Lake County has many cities and towns in central Florida. Tavares is the county seat. Clermont, Leesburg, Eustis, Mount Dora, Lady Lake, and Groveland are among the larger communities. All arrests in these areas lead to bookings at the Lake County jail in Tavares. No cities in Lake County meet the population threshold for their own dedicated booking pages, but all records are maintained by the sheriff's office at the county level.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lake County. If an arrest took place in one of these areas, search that county's booking records.