Monroe County Criminal Records
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Monroe County in 2026
Members of the public seeking criminal records in Monroe County may access publicly available information through a combination of official government portals, court clerk offices, and third-party aggregators such as MonroeGERecords.us. Monroe County maintains criminal record data across several agencies, and the type of information accessible depends on the source consulted and the nature of the record requested.
Records that may be found through official channels include arrest logs, booking records, court case filings, charge dispositions, sentencing information, and active warrant data. The availability of any specific record is subject to applicable state law, court orders, and agency policy.
Relevant record categories that members of the public may encounter include:
- Arrest and booking records
- Felony and misdemeanor case filings
- Court dispositions and sentencing orders
- Probation and parole status (where publicly disclosed)
- Sex offender registration entries
- Active and recalled warrants
- Jail inmate rosters
Criminal records may be searched through official resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools. The following five methods outline the primary avenues available to the public.
1. County Court Records
The Monroe County Circuit Court maintains case files for felony, misdemeanor, and traffic matters filed within the county. Members of the public may inspect court records in person at the clerk's office during regular business hours.
Monroe County Circuit Court Clerk
500 Whitehead Street
Key West, FL 33040
Phone: (305) 292-3423
Monroe County Clerk of Courts
Requestors should bring a valid government-issued photo identification and, where possible, the full legal name of the subject and an approximate case filing date or case number. Public access terminals are available in the clerk's lobby for self-service case lookups at no charge.
2. Sheriff's Office
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest logs, booking records, and current inmate rosters. Requests for arrest records may be submitted in person or in writing. Fees for copies are assessed per applicable Florida law.
Monroe County Sheriff's Office
5525 College Road
Key West, FL 33040
Phone: (305) 292-7000
Monroe County Sheriff's Office
The Sheriff's Office publishes a current jail inmate roster on its official website, which is updated regularly and accessible to the public at no cost.
3. Online Court Search
The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal and the Monroe County Clerk's online case search tool allow members of the public to search court records by party name, case number, or filing date. Users may access the Florida Courts case search system to locate Monroe County case information. Search results display case status, charge descriptions, and scheduled hearing dates. Records that have been sealed or expunged do not appear in online search results.
4. State Criminal History Repository
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) serves as the state's central criminal history repository. Formal background check requests require submission of the subject's full name, date of birth, and, for certified reports, fingerprints. Processing times and fees vary by request type.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
2331 Phillips Road
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: (850) 410-7000
FDLE Criminal History Records
5. Written and Mail Requests
Written requests for court records may be directed to the Monroe County Clerk of Courts at 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040. Requests should include the subject's full legal name, date of birth, and the nature of the records sought. Under Florida Statute § 119.07, agencies are required to respond to public records requests within a reasonable time.
What Is Monroe County Criminal Records
A criminal record in Monroe County is an official compilation of documented interactions between an individual and the criminal justice system, maintained by law enforcement agencies, courts, and state repositories. These records are created at each stage of the criminal process—from initial arrest through final disposition—and are updated as cases progress.
Key distinctions within criminal records include:
- Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that an individual was taken into custody; a conviction record reflects a finding of guilt by plea or verdict. An arrest without conviction does not establish criminal liability.
- Felony vs. misdemeanor records: Felonies are more serious offenses carrying potential sentences exceeding one year of incarceration; misdemeanors carry lesser penalties. Both categories are documented in county court files.
- Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are subject to public access under Florida law. Juvenile records are confidential under Florida Statute § 985.04 and are not available to the general public.
- Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants reflect outstanding judicial orders for arrest; historical records document past proceedings regardless of current warrant status.
The agencies responsible for maintaining criminal records in Monroe County include:
- Monroe County Sheriff's Office — arrest records, booking records, jail records
- Monroe County Circuit Court — case filings, charge information, dispositions, sentencing orders
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement — statewide criminal history repository
- Local police departments — incident reports and arrest records within their respective jurisdictions
Records may include charges filed, arraignment dates, plea agreements, trial outcomes, sentencing details, fines, restitution orders, and probation or parole conditions. The Monroe County Clerk of Courts serves as the primary custodian of court-based criminal records within the county.
Are Criminal Records Public In Monroe County
Criminal records in Monroe County are public records under Florida law. The Florida Public Records Law, codified at Florida Statute § 119.01, establishes that all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying by any person. Court records, arrest logs, booking information, and case dispositions are accessible to members of the public absent a specific statutory exemption.
As stated in the statute, "It is the policy of this state that all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying by any person." This presumption of openness applies broadly to criminal justice records maintained by Monroe County agencies.
Records that remain restricted or exempt from public disclosure include:
- Sealed or expunged records pursuant to court order
- Juvenile records under Florida Statute § 985.04
- Active criminal investigative information that would jeopardize an ongoing investigation
- Victim and witness identifying information in certain cases
- Records subject to federal confidentiality requirements
The Florida Attorney General's Office provides guidance on public records access and exemptions through the Florida Attorney General's Government-in-the-Sunshine Manual, which is updated periodically to reflect legislative changes.
How To Find Criminal Records in Monroe County Online
Official County Resources
The Monroe County Clerk of Courts provides an online case search portal where members of the public may search court records by name or case number. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office publishes a current inmate roster on its website at keysso.net, which is updated regularly. These portals display case status, charge descriptions, and booking information for records that are not sealed or expunged.
State-Level Resources
The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal provides statewide access to court case information, including Monroe County filings. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement offers an online criminal history background check system for both public and certified requests. Statewide searches through FDLE return records from all Florida jurisdictions where the subject has a documented criminal history.
Search Tips
- Search using the subject's full legal name and any known aliases
- Case number searches return the most precise results
- Cross-reference multiple databases to obtain a complete picture
- Note that records predating electronic filing may not appear in online systems
- Sealed and expunged records do not appear in public online searches
Limitations
Online databases may reflect a data lag of several days to weeks following a court event. Historical records predating the county's electronic filing system may require an in-person request. Online results do not constitute an official background check and are not suitable for employment or licensing purposes.
Can You Search Monroe County Criminal Records for Free?
Free Options
1. In-Person Inspection
Florida law mandates that public records be available for inspection at no charge. Under Florida Statute § 119.07, agencies must allow inspection of public records without imposing a fee for the act of inspection itself. Copying fees may apply. In-person inspection is available at the Monroe County Clerk of Courts and the Monroe County Sheriff's Office during regular business hours.
2. Free Online Databases
The following resources are available at no cost:
| Resource | What's Available | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Monroe County Clerk Case Search | Court filings, dispositions | clerk-of-the-court.com |
| Monroe County Jail Roster | Current inmates, booking info | keysso.net |
| Florida Courts Portal | Statewide case search | flcourts.gov |
3. Sheriff's Logs
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office publishes daily arrest and booking reports, which are accessible to the public through the agency's website at no charge.
What Costs Money
- Certified copies of court records: fees set by Florida law (currently $1.00 per page for the first two pages, $0.15 per page thereafter for standard copies)
- Official FDLE criminal history background checks: fees vary by request type
- Staff-assisted record searches involving extensive retrieval
- Expedited processing requests
What's Included in a Monroe County Criminal Record
Identifying Information
A Monroe County criminal record includes the subject's full legal name and known aliases, date of birth, physical description, photograph (mugshot), last known address, state identification number (SID), and FBI number where applicable.
Arrest Information
Arrest records document the date and time of arrest, the arresting agency, booking number, charges filed at the time of arrest, bail or bond amount, and the jail facility where the subject was held.
Court Case Information
Court records include the case number, court of jurisdiction, filing date, statutory charges (with felony or misdemeanor classification), plea entered, and attorney of record information.
Disposition
Disposition records reflect the verdict or case outcome, conviction date where applicable, sentencing details (type, length, fines, restitution, and conditions of supervision), any appeals filed, and probation or parole status.
Additional Record Types
- Active or recalled warrants
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender registration status (searchable through the FDLE Sex Offender Registry)
- DUI and DWI adjudications
- Pending charges
NOT Included in Public Records
- Juvenile records (confidential by statute)
- Expunged or sealed records
- Records from other states or federal jurisdictions
- Completed pretrial diversion program records (where sealed by court order)
Accuracy Note
Members of the public who identify errors in their own criminal records may petition the maintaining agency or court for correction. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement provides a formal process for challenging inaccurate criminal history information through its criminal history records correction procedures.
How Long Does Monroe County Keep Criminal Records
Legal Requirements
Florida's records retention requirements for criminal justice records are established by the Florida Department of State's General Records Schedule and applicable court rules. The Florida Department of State Division of Library and Information Services publishes retention schedules that govern how long agencies must maintain specific record types.
Retention by Record Type
| Record Type | Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Felony convictions | Permanent |
| Misdemeanor convictions | Permanent |
| Arrest records (no conviction) | Minimum 5 years; varies by agency |
| Dismissed or acquitted cases | Permanent (disposition noted in record) |
| Juvenile records | Sealed at age 21; destruction timeline governed by Florida Statute § 985.04 |
| Pending cases | Retained until final resolution |
Agency Differences
- County courts: Court records are retained permanently under Florida Supreme Court administrative orders.
- Sheriff and jail records: Booking and arrest records are retained for a minimum period established by the General Records Schedule, with many agencies retaining records indefinitely in electronic form.
- State repository (FDLE): Conviction records are retained permanently; non-conviction records may be subject to removal upon court order.
Physical vs. Electronic Records
Electronic records are retained for longer periods than paper records. Paper documents may be destroyed after scanning and verification, but the electronic record remains accessible.
Destruction vs. Sealing vs. Expungement
- Destruction refers to the physical or electronic elimination of a record.
- Sealing restricts public access to a record while preserving it for law enforcement use.
- Expungement results in the physical destruction of the record by the custodial agency, though FDLE retains a confidential notation. Eligibility and procedures are governed by Florida law, and petition forms are available through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Even if a county agency destroys physical records, electronic copies may exist in state databases unless the record has been legally expunged pursuant to a valid court order.
Federal Records
Criminal records maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation are subject to separate federal retention rules and are not affected by state expungement orders. Federal records are maintained independently of county and state systems.
Practical Implications
Felony and misdemeanor convictions remain part of the permanent public record and appear on background checks conducted for employment, licensing, and housing purposes. Employment background checks conducted under the Fair Credit Reporting Act are subject to a seven-to-ten-year reporting limitation for certain record types, though this limitation does not apply to positions with salaries above applicable thresholds or to professional licensing inquiries.