Search Suwannee County Bookings

Recent bookings in Suwannee County are handled by the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office in Live Oak. The sheriff runs the county jail at 200 South Ohio Avenue and keeps booking records for all arrests in the county. Under Florida's public records law, anyone can look up arrest and booking data from the Suwannee County jail without stating a reason. The sheriff's office provides an inmate search tool for the public. You can also reach the jail at 386.364.3778 to ask about a specific person who has been booked. Suwannee County is a rural county in north central Florida, and the jail in Live Oak serves the entire area.

Suwannee County Booking Records

The Suwannee County Sheriff's Office is the main source for booking records in the county. When someone is arrested in Suwannee County, they are brought to the jail at 200 South Ohio Avenue in Live Oak. Staff log the arrest, take a booking photo, and enter charges into the system. The record then goes into the inmate search where it can be pulled up by name. This is the standard process for all arrests in Suwannee County, whether the arrest was made by a sheriff's deputy, Live Oak Police, or another agency working in the area.

You can call the jail at 386.364.3778 to ask about a specific booking. Staff can tell you if someone is in custody, what the charges are, and what the bond amount is. For written records, you can file a public records request with the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office. Put your request in writing and include the name and date range you need. The office must respond under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, which covers public records access in the state.

The FDLE homepage provides statewide search tools that include arrest records from Suwannee County and all other Florida counties.

The FDLE site is a good resource when you need to search beyond just the Suwannee County jail system.

Note: Booking photos from Suwannee County are public records and can be obtained through a request to the sheriff's office.

Suwannee County Arrest Process

Arrests in Suwannee County follow the rules set by Chapter 901 of Florida Statutes. Officers can arrest someone with a warrant signed by a judge. They can also arrest without a warrant when a crime happens in their presence, when there is probable cause for a felony, or in domestic violence situations. These rules apply the same way across all of Suwannee County.

Once the arrest is made, the person goes to the jail on South Ohio Avenue for booking. The process includes a search, fingerprinting, and a photo. Staff enter the charges and personal info into the booking system. A bond amount is set based on the schedule or by a judge at first appearance. Under Florida law, the arrested person must see a judge within 24 hours. The first appearance hearing is where probable cause is reviewed and bond can be adjusted for Suwannee County cases.

The Suwannee County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. Live Oak Police handle the city, but all bookings still go through the county jail.

Searching Beyond Suwannee County

If you need to search outside of Suwannee County, state-level tools can help. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement runs the central criminal records database for all of Florida. Their online record check costs $25 and covers every county. This is helpful if you are not sure where the arrest happened or want to check multiple counties at once.

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

Note: FDLE record checks may take a few days to reflect arrests that just happened in Suwannee County.

Bond and Bail in Suwannee County

Chapter 903 of Florida Statutes governs bond and bail. The Suwannee County jail uses a bond schedule that sets amounts for common charges. Misdemeanors have lower bonds. Felonies carry higher amounts. For serious charges, bond may be denied. A judge can adjust the bond at the first appearance hearing based on the specifics of the case.

There are a few ways to post bond in Suwannee County. Cash bond means paying the full amount at the jail. A bail bondsman charges about 10% of the bond as a fee that is not returned. Some people get released on their own recognizance, which means no money is needed. The judge makes that decision at first appearance. Cash bonds are returned at the end of the case if the person shows up for all court dates. Being a rural county, Suwannee has fewer bail bond companies than urban areas, but options are still available.

Suwannee Booking Record Details

A booking record from Suwannee County holds the person's full name, date of birth, and a booking photo. Charges are listed with statute numbers and offense levels. Bond amounts show up for each charge. The record also includes the booking date, the arresting agency, and the housing location in the jail.

Court dates get added once they are set by the clerk. Release dates appear after the person leaves custody. Prior bookings for the same person may show up in the system. A booking record is not a conviction. It means the person was arrested and processed. The case still has to go through court before any guilt is found. Under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, all booking data in Suwannee County is public record.

Public Records in Suwannee County

Florida's Chapter 119 makes booking records open to the public. You do not need to give your name or a reason to look at these records. You do not have to be a Florida resident. The law says government records belong to the people, and the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office must provide access.

Copy fees follow state law. Single-sided copies cost 15 cents per page. Double-sided are 20 cents. Viewing records online or in person is free. Most current booking data from Suwannee County can be checked without a formal request. For certified copies or older records, contact the sheriff's office at the jail address in Live Oak.

Suwannee County Jail Contact

The Suwannee County jail handles all bookings for the county. Call or visit in person for records requests and inmate questions.

The Florida Department of State also lists Suwannee County in its directory of county jails and inmate search resources. This covers all 67 Florida counties and can help when searching multiple areas.

Cities in Suwannee County

Suwannee County includes Live Oak and Branford, along with other small communities. Live Oak is the county seat and where the jail is located. All arrests in these areas go through the Suwannee County jail on South Ohio Avenue. No cities in Suwannee County have individual booking pages, but all bookings are handled by the sheriff's office at the county level.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Suwannee County. If an arrest happened in one of these areas, search that county's booking records.