Monroe County Booking Search

Recent bookings in Monroe County are processed at the county jail in Key West. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office handles all booking intake and provides arrest and inmate search tools for public use. Monroe County covers the Florida Keys, stretching from Key Largo down to Key West. Under Florida's public records law, booking data is open to anyone. You do not need to explain your reason for searching. The jail sits at 5501 College Road in Key West, and it serves as the central intake facility for every arrest made across the Keys.

Monroe County Inmate and Arrest Search

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office provides online tools for searching inmate and arrest records. The system allows you to look up people who have been booked into the Monroe County jail. Search by name and the tool returns matching results with booking details. You can see charges, bond amounts, booking dates, and the agency that made the arrest. The data pulls from the jail's live system, so it reflects current conditions at the facility in Key West.

The search tool is free and accessible from any device. Enter a last name to get started. Adding a first name helps narrow down results. Each listing shows the booking number, charges with Florida statute references, and bond status. This is the fastest way to check on recent bookings in Monroe County. It saves you from having to call the jail or travel to Key West in person. The sheriff's office runs this tool as part of its duties under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, which requires public records to be accessible.

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office website is the main hub for accessing jail records and arrest search tools in the Keys.

From the sheriff's site you can reach the inmate search along with crime maps, reports, and other public data for Monroe County.

How Arrests Work in Monroe County

Monroe County is unlike most Florida counties because of its geography. The county stretches over 100 miles along the Overseas Highway from Key Largo to Key West. Arrests can happen anywhere along this chain of islands. No matter where in the Keys an arrest takes place, the person ends up at the Monroe County jail in Key West for booking. This can mean a long transport for arrests made in the Upper Keys.

The arrest process follows Chapter 901 of the Florida Statutes. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office handles patrol for most of the Keys. Key West Police and other local departments also bring people to the same jail. Florida Highway Patrol, Fish and Wildlife, and the U.S. Border Patrol all operate in the Keys and may make arrests that lead to bookings at the Monroe County facility. After booking, bond is set based on the charges. The 16th Judicial Circuit covers only Monroe County. Chapter 903 of Florida law covers bail and bond rules. First appearance hearings happen within 24 hours of arrest.

Note: Transport times in Monroe County can be longer than usual due to the geography of the Florida Keys. Booking may be delayed compared to mainland counties.

Other Ways to Search Records

Beyond the online tools, you can call the Monroe County jail at 305.293.7300 to ask about a specific person. Staff can confirm whether someone is in custody and share charge and bond details. In-person visits to the jail on College Road in Key West also work for getting booking information. For older or detailed records, submit a written public records request to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement keeps arrest records from all 67 Florida counties, including Monroe. A criminal history record check costs $25 and searches the entire state. This is useful when you do not know where an arrest took place. It can also pick up arrests that happened in other counties besides Monroe. FDLE data may be a few days behind the local Monroe County jail system since records have to be transmitted to the state.

The Florida Department of Corrections has an inmate search for people in state prison. This only covers those who have been convicted and transferred from Monroe County to a state facility. It does not show pretrial inmates at the Key West jail. The Florida Department of State lists Monroe County in its statewide directory of county jails and inmate search tools.

Booking Record Details

Booking records from Monroe County contain the standard fields. The person's full name, date of birth, and physical details are recorded at intake. Each charge is listed with its Florida statute number. The record shows whether each charge is a misdemeanor or felony. Bond amounts are assigned per charge. The booking date and time, arresting agency, and booking number are all included. A booking photo is taken and becomes part of the public record.

Court dates get added once the 16th Judicial Circuit clerk sets a hearing. Release information appears when the person posts bond or is otherwise released. Some Monroe County records also note the housing unit within the jail. Keep in mind that a booking record only documents an arrest. It is not proof that the person did anything wrong. The court system in Monroe County decides guilt or innocence through legal proceedings after the arrest. Charges get dropped, reduced, or resolved in many different ways.

Note: Because Monroe County is the only county in the 16th Judicial Circuit, all local court matters go through the same court system in Key West or Marathon.

Public Records Access in Monroe County

Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes makes government records open to the public. Booking records, arrest reports, incident reports, and jail logs in Monroe County all fall under this law. You can request records without giving a reason. You do not have to live in Monroe County or Florida. The right is available to everyone.

For a formal records request, write to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. Be clear about what you need. Include names and dates if you have them. The agency must reply within a reasonable time. Copy fees apply for printed documents, usually around 15 cents per standard page. Certified copies cost more. The online search is free to use. Phone calls for basic info are also free. Monroe County cannot charge for the staff time it takes to look up your records. They can only charge for the actual copies you request.

Monroe County Jail Contact

The Monroe County jail is the main contact for booking records and inmate questions. Use the online tools, phone, or visit in person at the Key West facility.

For the quickest results on recent bookings in Monroe County, use the online search tool on the sheriff's website. Phone calls during business hours are another fast option. For formal or bulk records requests, a written submission works best and creates a paper trail. The sheriff's office responds to all public records requests per the requirements of Florida law.

Cities in Monroe County

Monroe County includes Key West, Marathon, Key Largo, Islamorada, Tavernier, Big Pine Key, and many other communities throughout the Florida Keys. Key West is the county seat. All arrests in these areas lead to bookings at the Monroe County jail. None of the cities in Monroe County meet the population threshold for a separate page, but all booking records from these communities are handled by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

Nearby Counties

Monroe County has limited neighbors due to its geography in the Florida Keys. These counties connect to Monroe County on the mainland side.