Okaloosa County Busted Mugshots

Okaloosa County busted mugshots are handled by the Sheriff's Office headquartered in Shalimar. This Florida Panhandle county stretches from the Gulf Coast inland and includes cities like Fort Walton Beach, Crestview, Niceville, and Destin. The Okaloosa County jail processes all arrest bookings for the area. Mugshots and booking records are public under Florida law. Anyone can request them without giving a reason. The sheriff's office has a dedicated records section that manages public records requests and makes arrest data available to the community.

Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Arrests

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) is based at 50 2nd Street in Shalimar. They run the county jail and process all bookings. When someone gets arrested in Okaloosa County, they go through intake at the detention facility. Staff take the mugshot, record the charges, and set bond. This data becomes part of the public record almost right away.

The main phone line is 850.651.7400. For questions about specific arrest records, the records section can be reached at 850.651.7434. The OCSO also has substations around the county where you can make records requests in person. The office serves Fort Walton Beach, Crestview, Niceville, Destin, and all unincorporated parts of Okaloosa County. Local police departments in those cities also book their arrests into the Okaloosa County jail.

Okaloosa County Public Records Requests

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office has clear rules for public records requests. All requesters can stay anonymous. You do not have to put your request in writing or say why you want the record. This is straight from the OCSO policy, based on Florida's open records law. The custodian of records is Regina Godwin, the Records Manager. Lieutenant Matt Harrison serves as the alternate custodian.

You have several ways to get Okaloosa County arrest records. Call the records section at 850.651.7434. Send your request by mail to Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, Attn: Central Records, 50 2nd Street, Shalimar, FL 32579. You can also submit it through email using the form on the sheriff's website. Walk-in requests are accepted at the headquarters in Shalimar or at any OCSO substation in Okaloosa County.

The screenshot below shows the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office public records page, which lays out the request process and contact details.

Standard copy fees apply. Single-sided pages cost 15 cents each. Double-sided are 20 cents. If your request needs a lot of staff time, the office may charge labor costs beyond the first 30 minutes. They will give you an estimate before they start on big requests.

Note: Under Florida law, any email address you provide when making a public records request becomes part of the public record in Okaloosa County.

Search Okaloosa County Mugshots Online

To find busted mugshots in Okaloosa County, start with the sheriff's inmate search tool. The OCSO provides online access to current inmates and recent bookings. You can search by name or booking number. Results show the mugshot, charges, and bond amount for people in the Okaloosa County jail.

The Florida Department of State jail directory also links to Okaloosa County resources. This state page lists search tools for all 67 counties. The Florida Jail Information System from the Florida Sheriffs Association covers Okaloosa County too. It allows searches for recently booked people within 24, 48, or 72 hours and includes a watch feature.

For Okaloosa County arrests that led to state prison time, use the Department of Corrections offender search. A statewide criminal history check through FDLE costs $24 and covers all counties. Call FDLE at 850.410.8109 for those requests.

Okaloosa County Arrest Records and the Law

Florida's public records law, Chapter 119, makes arrest records in Okaloosa County open to everyone. Section 119.01 says all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying. Booking photos, charge sheets, bond amounts, and arrest reports all fall under this rule. The Okaloosa County Sheriff must provide these records to anyone who asks.

Some records are exempt. Under Section 119.071(4)(d), mugshots of current or former law enforcement officers can be withheld if the officer files a written request. This protects the safety of officers and their families. Victim information in sexual offense cases is also confidential in Okaloosa County under Section 119.071(4)(h). These are narrow exceptions. The vast majority of arrest records remain fully public.

Okaloosa County Media and Press Requests

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office has a Public Information Office that handles media requests. Reporters and news outlets can reach the PIO at 850.651.7410 during business hours, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After hours, call the main line at 850.651.7400. The PIO handles press inquiries about mugshots, arrests, and active cases in Okaloosa County.

Media requests for booking photos and arrest details go through the same public records process as regular requests. The difference is speed. The PIO can often turn things around faster for time-sensitive stories. All records provided to media are the same public records available to anyone in Okaloosa County.

Removing Okaloosa County Mugshots

To get a mugshot removed from the Okaloosa County system, you need a court order. Florida offers two paths. Sealing under Section 943.059 hides the record. Expungement under Section 943.0585 destroys it. Both require an application through the FDLE seal and expunge process.

The fee is $75, paid by money order to FDLE. Processing takes around 12 weeks. Once complete, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office removes the record from public search tools. Private websites that have already copied the mugshot are not required to take it down. That is a gap in the law that frustrates many people who clear their Okaloosa County record through the official process.

Note: You can reach the FDLE Seal and Expunge Section at 850.410.7870 or email SEinfo@fdle.state.fl.us for questions about removing Okaloosa County arrest records.

Cities in Okaloosa County

Okaloosa County includes Fort Walton Beach, Crestview, Niceville, Destin, Valparaiso, and Mary Esther. All arrests in these cities are booked into the Okaloosa County jail. None of the cities in Okaloosa County meet the population threshold for their own page on this site, but the county sheriff handles all booking records for each of them.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Okaloosa County. Check their jail databases too if you are not sure where someone was booked in the Florida Panhandle.