Lake County Busted Mugshots

Lake County busted mugshots are handled by the Sheriff's Office based in Tavares. This central Florida county has roughly 400,000 residents spread across cities like Clermont, Leesburg, and Eustis. The Lake County Sheriff's Office runs the jail and books all arrests for the area. You can search their online inmate database to find mugshots, charges, and bond details. Arrest records in Lake County are public under Florida's open records law, so anyone can look them up. Both the sheriff and local police agencies process arrests that end up in the Lake County booking system.

Lake County Sheriff's Office Arrests

The Lake County Sheriff's Office handles bookings and runs the detention center. Their main office is at 551 West Main Street in Tavares. When someone gets arrested in Lake County, the booking process creates a mugshot and a log of all charges. This data goes into the jail management system right away. Staff take the photo, collect personal details, and set bond amounts based on the charges filed.

You can call the Lake County Sheriff's Office at 352.742.4000 for questions about arrest records or current inmates. The Lake County Sheriff's website gives you access to their inmate lookup tools and public records info. Under Section 119.01 of Florida's public records law, the sheriff must make arrest data available to anyone who asks. You do not need to explain why you want the records. The Lake County jail processes hundreds of bookings each month, and most of that data is available online.

Search Lake County Mugshots Online

The best way to find Lake County busted mugshots is through the sheriff's inmate search page. This tool shows people currently in the Lake County jail along with their booking photo and charge info. You can search by name or booking number. Results include the mugshot, charges, bond amount, and the date of booking.

The screenshot below shows the Lake County Sheriff's Office inmate search portal where you can look up current bookings and mugshots.

The Florida Department of State also keeps a directory of county jail search tools that links to Lake County and all 66 other counties. For people who have moved to the state prison system after their time in the Lake County jail, the Florida Department of Corrections offender search tracks their current status and location.

Note: The Lake County inmate search shows current inmates and may not include people who have been released from the jail.

Lake County Arrest Records and Florida Law

Florida's public records law, Chapter 119, makes arrest records in Lake County open to the public. This covers mugshots, booking details, charges, and bond data. The law states that all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying. Arrest information in Lake County falls under this rule. You can ask for records anonymously, too. Florida does not require you to give your name or reason when making a public records request.

There are a few limits. Under Section 119.071, booking photos of current or former law enforcement officers can be held back if the officer files a written request. Victim information in sexual offense cases is also confidential. These exemptions apply across all 67 Florida counties, not just Lake County.

The Florida Sheriffs Association runs a statewide jail information system that pulls booking data from agencies across the state, including Lake County. You can search for recently booked individuals within 24, 48, or 72 hours through that tool.

Lake County Booking Process

When law enforcement arrests someone in Lake County, the person goes through a standard booking at the detention center. This is how busted mugshots get created. The process starts when the arresting officer brings the individual to the Lake County jail in Tavares.

During booking in Lake County, jail staff handle these steps:

• Take the booking photo (mugshot)
• Record personal info such as name, date of birth, and address
• Log all charges and the arresting agency
• Set bond amounts based on the charge schedule
• Check for outstanding warrants in other counties

Most of this data becomes public right away in Lake County. The mugshot and charge details usually show up in the online search within a few hours of booking. Bond amounts vary based on the charges. Minor misdemeanors in Lake County might have bonds under $1,000, while serious felony charges could mean no bond. The Lake County jail holds inmates until they bond out, the court releases them, or they transfer to another facility.

Requesting Lake County Arrest Records

You can file a formal public records request with the Lake County Sheriff's Office if you need more than what the online search provides. Florida law lets anyone request records without giving their name or a reason. Make the request by phone at 352.742.4000, by mail, or in person at the sheriff's office in Tavares.

Copy fees in Lake County follow state rules. Single-sided copies cost 15 cents per page. Double-sided pages run 20 cents each. Certified copies can cost up to $1.00 per page. If your request takes a lot of staff time, the sheriff's office may charge for the labor. For statewide criminal history checks, contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement at 850.410.8109. A state background check costs $24 and covers all 67 counties, including Lake County.

Note: Extensive records requests in Lake County may require a deposit before the sheriff's office begins pulling files.

Lake County Record Sealing and Expungement

Some people want to get their mugshot removed from the Lake County system. Florida provides two legal paths for this. Court-ordered sealing under Section 943.059 puts the record under seal so the public can't see it. Court-ordered expungement under Section 943.0585 destroys the record entirely. Both need a court order and an application through FDLE.

The FDLE seal and expunge section manages these cases. Reach them at 850.410.7870 or email SEinfo@fdle.state.fl.us. Processing takes about 12 weeks from the time FDLE gets your completed paperwork. The fee is $75, paid by money order. Once a Lake County arrest record is sealed or expunged, the sheriff's office removes it from their public search. Private websites, though, are not required to take down mugshots even after a court order.

Cities in Lake County

Lake County has many cities and towns across its area. Clermont, Leesburg, and Eustis are among the largest. All arrests made by local police in these places get processed through the Lake County jail system in Tavares.

Cities and towns in Lake County include Clermont, Leesburg, Eustis, Mount Dora, Groveland, Lady Lake, Fruitland Park, Minneola, Umatilla, Tavares, and Mascotte. None of these cities meet the 75,000 population threshold for a dedicated page, but all arrests in these areas go through the Lake County Sheriff's booking process.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lake County. If you are not sure where someone was arrested, check the surrounding county jail databases too.