Broward County Arrest Records

Broward County 24 hour booking records are maintained by the Broward Sheriff's Office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The BSO provides an online arrest search tool that lets you look up inmates by first and last name. This database is offered as a courtesy and is meant for informational purposes only. It is not the official record. Under Florida law, all booking data is public, so you can search freely without paying a fee or creating an account. The main jail can be reached at 954-831-8901.

Broward County Arrest Search Tool

The Broward Sheriff's Office runs an arrest search page where you can look up current and recent inmates. The tool takes a last name and first name as input. Once you submit the search, it returns matching results with booking details. The BSO notes that this database is provided as a courtesy. It is for informational purposes and should not be treated as the official record of an arrest.

Results from the Broward County search include the person's name, charges, and booking date. One useful feature is the "Information On How To Bond Inmate" link that appears in the results. If you are trying to help someone get out of jail, this link takes you to the bonding process and what steps are needed. This sets the Broward system apart from many other county search tools that only show booking data without guidance on next steps.

The search is free. You do not need to log in or create an account. It works on phones, tablets, and desktop computers. New bookings appear as the jail processes them. Broward County is one of the most populated counties in Florida, so the volume of bookings is high. Checking regularly throughout the day is the best way to catch recent 24 hour booking entries.

Here is a look at the Broward County arrest search results page.

The search results give you a quick view of who has been booked and what charges they face.

Broward County Booking Process

Broward County has a large jail system. The main jail is at 2601 West Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312. This is one of the biggest jail facilities in South Florida. Dozens of law enforcement agencies in the county bring people here for booking. Fort Lauderdale PD, Pembroke Pines PD, Hollywood PD, Coral Springs PD, and many other local departments all use the same county jail for intake.

The booking process is standard. Officers collect the person's name, date of birth, and physical description. A booking photo is taken. Fingerprints are collected. Charges are logged. Bond is set. The whole thing generates a booking record that becomes public. Under Section 119.07 of the Florida Statutes, this data must be made available to anyone who asks.

Because Broward County is so large, the volume of daily bookings is significant. The jail processes a steady stream of new intakes around the clock. If you are checking for a specific person, search by both last and first name to narrow the results. Common names can return many matches in a county this size.

Contacting the Broward Sheriff's Office

The main jail number is 954-831-8901. Use this for questions about inmates, bond info, and booking details. The non-emergency line is 954-764-4357 for general sheriff's office inquiries. The Broward Sheriff's Office website has links to various divisions, services, and community programs.

Below is the Broward Sheriff's Office main website.

From this site you can reach the arrest search, community programs, and general contact information for the BSO.

For formal copies of booking records, file a public records request with the BSO. Under Section 119.011, booking data qualifies as a public record. The office may charge a fee for copies, but viewing the online search tool is always free. You can visit the jail in person at 2601 West Broward Boulevard if you need to handle a request face to face.

Broward County Records and Florida Law

Florida's public records law is among the broadest in the country. Booking records are not exempt. When someone gets arrested in Broward County, the record is public right away. You can see it online. You can call and ask about it. You can request copies.

There are some limits. Section 119.071 lists exemptions to the public records law. Sealed and expunged records are not visible. Juvenile cases are handled separately. But for adult bookings in Broward County, the vast majority of data is open to the public and free to access through the BSO's search tool.

The FDLE Criminal History portal offers statewide background checks. This is useful if someone has been arrested in multiple counties across Florida. Each search costs $24 per Section 943.053. The Florida Department of State directory also lists jail search links for every county in the state.

Arrested persons have the right to make phone calls under Section 901.243. This right applies during the booking process. It is the same in Broward County as in every other Florida county. A booking record shows an arrest took place. It does not prove guilt. Courts determine outcomes.

Cities in Broward County

Broward County contains many cities and communities across South Florida. Fort Lauderdale is the county seat and the largest city. Several other cities in Broward have populations above the qualifying threshold. All of these cities have their own police departments, but arrests from all of them are processed through the Broward County jail system. The same BSO arrest search covers booking records from every city in the county.

Nearby Counties

Broward County sits between Miami-Dade to the south and Palm Beach to the north. Several other counties are nearby as well. If you are searching for an arrest that may have happened in a neighboring county, check these links.