Sumter County Busted Mugshots
Sumter County busted mugshots are processed by the Sheriff's Office based in Bushnell. This central Florida county has grown significantly due to The Villages retirement community, pushing the population past 140,000. The Sumter County Sheriff's Office runs the detention center and handles all bookings for the area. Arrest records in Sumter County are public under Florida law, and the sheriff's office provides access to booking data through their online tools and public records process.
Sumter County Quick Facts
Sumter County Sheriff Arrest Records
The Sumter County Sheriff's Office is at 219 East Anderson Avenue in Bushnell. This is the main office and the location of the detention center where all bookings take place. When someone gets arrested in Sumter County, they come here for processing. Staff take the mugshot, record charges, and enter everything into the jail management system.
Call the Sumter County Sheriff at 352.569.1700 for questions about arrest records. Under Section 119.01 of Florida's public records law, the sheriff must share arrest data with anyone who requests it. You do not need to explain why you want the records. The Sumter County jail handles bookings from the sheriff's office, Bushnell Police, Wildwood Police, Center Hill Police, and Coleman Police. The Villages Public Safety Department also brings arrests to this jail when those arrests fall within Sumter County borders.
The screenshot below shows the Sumter County Sheriff's detention center page where you can find jail and booking information.
| Address | 219 East Anderson Avenue, Bushnell, FL 33513 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 352.569.1700 |
| Detention Center | sumtercountysheriff.org/detention_center |
Search Sumter County Mugshots Online
Finding Sumter County busted mugshots starts with the sheriff's website. The detention center page provides information about the jail and links to search inmates. You can search by name to find current inmates along with their charges and bond status.
If the person has left the Sumter County jail, other state tools can help. The Florida Department of Corrections offender search shows inmates who have moved into the state prison system. The Florida Jail Information System from the Sheriffs Association pulls recent booking data from multiple counties. You can filter by time frame to see bookings from the last 24, 48, or 72 hours across the state.
The Florida Department of State keeps a full directory of county jail search tools for all 67 counties. This helps if you need to check Sumter County and nearby counties at the same time. For statewide criminal history, contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement at 850.410.8109. A state background check costs $24.
Note: The Sumter County online search shows people currently in custody and may not include those who have bonded out or been released.
Sumter County Arrest Records and Florida Law
Florida's public records law makes arrest records in Sumter County open to the public. Chapter 119 states that all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying. Mugshots, booking data, and charge info from the Sumter County jail fall under this rule. You can request them without giving your name or a reason.
Section 119.071 provides limited exceptions. Booking photos of active or former law enforcement officers can be withheld upon written request. Victim details in sexual offense cases are also exempt. These exceptions apply statewide, including in Sumter County. But for the vast majority of arrests, the full record stays public.
Sumter County Jail Booking Process
The booking process in Sumter County follows standard Florida procedures. Every arrest creates a booking record that includes the mugshot, charges, and personal details. The Sumter County jail in Bushnell handles all of this.
During booking at the Sumter County jail, staff handle these steps:
- Take the booking photo
- Record name, date of birth, and physical description
- Log charges from the arresting officer
- Set bond based on the county schedule
- Check for warrants across Florida and nationally
Sumter County is unique in Florida because The Villages community spans three counties. The Villages stretches into Sumter, Lake, and Marion counties. Arrests that happen within the Sumter County portion of The Villages get booked at the Sumter County jail. If the arrest occurs in the Lake or Marion County portions, it goes to those respective jails instead. This can cause some confusion when searching for mugshots tied to The Villages area. Always check which county border the arrest fell in before you search.
Note: Arrests from The Villages that occur in the Sumter County portion are processed here, but those in Lake or Marion County are not.
Sealing Sumter County Arrest Records
If you want a Sumter County arrest removed from public view, Florida has two paths. Sealing under Section 943.059 puts the record under seal. Expunging under Section 943.0585 destroys it entirely. Both require a court order.
Start the process at the FDLE seal and expunge section. The fee is $75 by money order. Processing takes about 12 weeks. Contact them at 850.410.7870 or email SEinfo@fdle.state.fl.us with questions. Once the order goes through, the Sumter County Sheriff removes the record from public access. Private mugshot websites are not required to comply with the court order and may keep the booking photo online even after it has been sealed or expunged in Sumter County.
Requesting Sumter County Booking Records
File a public records request with the Sumter County Sheriff's Office for detailed arrest information that is not available through the online tools. Call 352.569.1700, send a letter, or visit the office at 219 East Anderson Avenue in Bushnell. Florida law lets anyone make a records request without identifying themselves.
Standard copy fees apply in Sumter County. Single-sided copies run 15 cents per page. Double-sided pages cost 20 cents. Certified copies cost up to $1.00 each. Large requests that take significant staff time may carry additional labor charges. The sheriff's office may ask for a deposit before processing big requests in Sumter County.
Cities in Sumter County
Sumter County includes Bushnell, Wildwood, Center Hill, Coleman, and a large portion of The Villages community. All arrests within Sumter County borders get processed at the jail in Bushnell. The Villages is the largest population center in Sumter County with over 82,000 residents.
Other communities in Sumter County include Bushnell, Wildwood, Center Hill, and Coleman. All bookings in these areas go through the same Sumter County Sheriff's Office system.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Sumter County. Check their jail databases if you cannot find someone in the Sumter County system, especially for arrests near The Villages which spans multiple counties.