Search Sarasota County Bookings

Recent bookings in Sarasota County are kept by the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff runs the county jail at 2020 Main Street in Sarasota and provides an inmate search tool for the public. Under Florida's public records law, anyone can look up booking data from the Sarasota County jail without giving a reason. The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office makes all reports available per Chapter 119 of the Florida State Statutes. You can reach the jail at 941.861.4165 for questions about current inmates. For records requests, call 941.861.4025 or email Records@sarasotasheriff.org.

Sarasota County Inmate Search

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office provides an online inmate search tool. This system lets you look up people who have been booked into the Sarasota County jail. You can search by name to find booking dates, charges, and bond information. The tool is free and available around the clock. It draws data from the jail's live booking system, so results are current for Sarasota County.

To use the inmate search, go to the sheriff's website and find the jail or inmate lookup link. Enter the last name of the person you want to find. You can add a first name to narrow your results. Each record shows the booking number, arrest date, charges with statute numbers, and bond status. Mugshots and housing details are included for current inmates. The system keeps records for a period after release too, so you may find recent bookings even if the person is no longer in the Sarasota County jail. All of this data falls under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, which makes government records open to everyone.

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office website offers inmate search tools and jail information for the county.

This is the main portal for checking who has been booked into the Sarasota County jail.

How Sarasota County Arrests Work

After an arrest in Sarasota County, the person is brought to the jail at 2020 Main Street. The booking process starts with identification. Staff take a photo, collect fingerprints, and enter the person's info into the system. Charges are logged along with the arrest report. This follows Chapter 901 of the Florida Statutes, which sets the rules for arrests statewide.

Multiple law enforcement agencies work in Sarasota County. The sheriff's office handles arrests in unincorporated areas. Sarasota Police, Venice Police, North Port Police, and Longboat Key Police all bring people to the same county jail for booking. The Florida Highway Patrol also makes arrests in the area from time to time. Regardless of which agency makes the arrest, the booking record ends up in the same Sarasota County system. After intake, the person either posts bond or waits for a first appearance hearing.

Note: All law enforcement agencies in Sarasota County use the same jail at 2020 Main Street for booking and intake.

Sarasota County Records Requests

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office has a dedicated records unit for public records requests. You can reach them at 941.861.4025 or email Records@sarasotasheriff.org. The records office is at 2071 Ringling Boulevard in Sarasota. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. Walk-in requests are welcome during business hours.

Copy fees for Sarasota County records are set by state law. Single-sided copies cost 15 cents per page. Double-sided copies are 20 cents. The first 30 minutes of research time is free. After that, staff time may be charged. These are the standard fees under Florida's public records law. Looking at records in person or searching the online inmate tool costs nothing. You only pay if you need printed or certified copies from the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.

For a statewide background check that goes beyond Sarasota County, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement handles those for $24. You can call FDLE at 850.410.8109 for questions about state-level checks. The Sarasota County level search through the sheriff's office is free.

Searching Beyond Sarasota County

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement keeps arrest records from all 67 Florida counties. Their online record check pulls from a statewide database. This is useful when you are not sure whether an arrest happened in Sarasota County or somewhere else in Florida. The FDLE check covers criminal history from across the state in a single search.

The Florida Department of Corrections has a separate tool for state prison inmates. This covers people who have been convicted and sent to a state facility. It does not include those sitting in the Sarasota County jail waiting for trial. Use the county inmate search for local bookings and the state tools when you need to look further.

Note: FDLE search results may take several days to show arrests that just happened in Sarasota County.

Sarasota Booking Record Details

A booking record from Sarasota County contains several pieces of information. The record shows the person's full name, date of birth, and a booking photo. Charges are listed along with statute numbers and whether the offense is a misdemeanor or felony. Bond amounts appear for each charge. The record also includes the date and time of booking, which agency made the arrest, and the housing location inside the jail.

Some Sarasota County records also show prior bookings for the same person. Court dates get added once they are scheduled. Release info shows up after the person leaves custody. Keep in mind that a booking record is not the same as a conviction. It means the person was arrested and brought into the Sarasota County jail. The criminal case still has to work through the court system before any finding of guilt is made. Under Florida's Chapter 119, all of this data is public.

Bail and Bond in Sarasota County

After booking in Sarasota County, bond is set based on Chapter 903 of Florida Statutes. The jail uses a standard bond schedule for common charges. Misdemeanors carry lower bonds. Felonies are higher. For serious offenses, a judge may deny bond at the first appearance hearing. The judge considers the nature of the charges, community ties, and criminal history when making bond decisions in Sarasota County cases.

You can post bond in Sarasota County by paying cash at the jail, using a bail bondsman, or getting released on your own recognizance. A bail bondsman typically charges 10% of the bond amount as a non-refundable fee. Cash bonds are returned at the end of the case if the person attends all court dates. The first appearance hearing happens within 24 hours of the arrest, which is when the judge can adjust the bond.

Sarasota County Jail Contact

The Sarasota County jail is the main point of contact for booking records and inmate questions. Call, visit, or send a written request for records.

The Florida Department of State also lists Sarasota County in its statewide directory of county jails and inmate search tools. This can help if you need to check several Florida counties at once.

Cities in Sarasota County

Sarasota County includes the cities of Sarasota, Venice, North Port, and Longboat Key, along with smaller communities. All arrests in these areas go through the Sarasota County jail for booking. The city of Sarasota is the county seat. North Port is the largest city in the county by population.

Other cities in Sarasota County include Venice, Longboat Key, and several unincorporated communities. All bookings from these areas go through the Sarasota County jail system.

Nearby Counties

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