Jefferson County Mugshot Database

Jefferson County busted mugshots are kept by the Sheriff's Office in Monticello, one of the smallest and least populated counties in Florida. Located between Tallahassee and the Big Bend region, Jefferson County has roughly 14,500 residents. Despite the small population, arrest records and booking photos in Jefferson County are public just like every other Florida county. The sheriff's office runs the local jail and handles all bookings. Anyone looking for mugshots or arrest data can contact the Jefferson County Sheriff directly or use statewide search tools to find records. Florida's public records laws ensure these files remain open to anyone without requiring a reason for the request.

Jefferson County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is located at 171 Industrial Park in Monticello. This is the sole law enforcement agency running the county jail. When someone gets arrested in Jefferson County, they are brought to this facility for booking. The jail staff take a mugshot, log the charges, and record personal details. The entire booking record becomes public once it is entered into the system.

You can call 850.997.5094 to reach the Jefferson County Sheriff. The Jefferson County Sheriff's website has information about their operations and services. Under Section 119.01 of the Florida Statutes, all arrest records in Jefferson County are public. The sheriff has to provide copies of mugshots, charge sheets, and booking data when asked. You do not need to give your name or explain why you want the records. This is true for everyone who makes a request, whether they are local or from out of state.

Jefferson County sits in the 2nd Judicial Circuit along with Leon, Wakulla, Gadsden, Franklin, and Liberty counties. The circuit court in Tallahassee handles some of the judicial proceedings, which means court records might be filed across county lines within the circuit.

Search Jefferson County Mugshots

Looking for busted mugshots in Jefferson County usually means contacting the sheriff's office directly. A county this small may not have a full online inmate search tool. Call 850.997.5094 and the staff can look up current inmates and recent bookings by name. You can also visit the office in Monticello or send a written request if you need copies of booking records.

The Florida Jail Information System from the Florida Sheriffs Association is another option. This statewide database pulls booking data from agencies across Florida, including Jefferson County. It lets you search for people booked within the last 24, 48, or 72 hours. You can set up watch alerts for specific names. The Florida Department of State also keeps a county-by-county directory of jail search tools.

If someone has moved from the Jefferson County jail to the state prison system, the Florida Department of Corrections offender search tracks their location. This database covers all state correctional facilities and includes photos, sentences, and release projections.

Note: Due to its small size, Jefferson County may not update online databases as frequently as larger counties with more resources.

Jefferson County Arrest Records Law

All arrest records in Jefferson County fall under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. This law says all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying. Mugshots, charge details, bond data, and booking dates from the Jefferson County jail are all covered. The sheriff cannot refuse a request unless one of the narrow legal exemptions applies.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office maintains a website with department information. The screenshot below shows the sheriff's office website for Jefferson County.

Under Section 119.071, booking photos of law enforcement officers can be held back if the officer submits a written request. This protects officer safety. Victim information from sexual offense cases is also exempt. These are narrow exceptions. For nearly all arrests in Jefferson County, the booking record is fully open to the public. You can get copies of these records by contacting the sheriff at 850.997.5094.

Jefferson County Jail Booking Process

Every arrest in Jefferson County leads to a booking at the county jail in Monticello. The process is standard across all Florida counties, regardless of size. The sheriff's deputies and any local police bring arrested individuals to the same Jefferson County facility for intake.

At the Jefferson County jail, booking staff complete these tasks:

• Take a mugshot photograph
• Record the person's name, date of birth, and address
• Log all charges filed by the arresting officer
• Set bond amounts based on the charge schedule
• Check for outstanding warrants in other jurisdictions

This data becomes part of the public record in Jefferson County shortly after the booking is complete. Bond amounts range depending on the charges. Minor offenses might carry bonds of just a few hundred dollars. Serious felonies in Jefferson County could mean much higher bonds or no bond at all. The jail is small, and inmates may be transferred to larger regional facilities when capacity becomes an issue. People stay until they post bond, get released by the court, or transfer out.

Requesting Jefferson County Booking Records

You can get copies of arrest records from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office through a public records request. Call 850.997.5094, write a letter, or go to the office at 171 Industrial Park in Monticello. Florida law allows you to stay anonymous. You do not need to explain your reason for asking.

Copy fees match the state standard. Single-sided copies cost 15 cents per page. Double-sided pages are 20 cents. Certified copies can run up to $1.00 each. If the request takes significant staff time, the Jefferson County Sheriff may charge for labor, but they must give you an estimate first. For statewide criminal history searches beyond Jefferson County, the FDLE offers checks for $24 covering all 67 counties. Call 850.410.8109 or email publicrecords@fdle.state.fl.us to get started.

Jefferson County Mugshot Removal

Removing a mugshot from the Jefferson County public records system requires a court order. Florida law offers two paths. Sealing under Section 943.059 hides the record from public searches. Expungement under Section 943.0585 destroys it. Both go through the FDLE seal and expunge process.

The fee is $75 by money order to FDLE. Processing takes around 12 weeks. Once the order is complete, the Jefferson County Sheriff removes the arrest record from their files. Third-party websites that already copied the mugshot are not bound by the order. They can keep the photo even after the official Jefferson County records are sealed or expunged. This is a common issue across all of Florida.

Note: Only certain arrests qualify for sealing or expungement, and there are limits on using the process more than once.

Cities in Jefferson County

Jefferson County has one main town. Monticello serves as the county seat and the only incorporated city. It has a small population. No cities in Jefferson County meet the threshold for a separate page. All arrests in the area go through the Jefferson County jail in Monticello for processing.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Jefferson County. If you need to check arrest records in the surrounding Big Bend area of Florida, try these neighboring counties.