Putnam County Public Records / Putnam County Arrest Records

Putnam County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Putnam County

Arrest records in Putnam County, Florida, are generally considered public records under Florida law. Pursuant to Florida Statute § 119.01, the Public Records Law establishes a broad presumption that all records made or received by a public agency in the course of official business are open to public inspection. Arrest records, including booking reports and related documentation maintained by the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, fall within this framework and are accessible to members of the public upon request.

Florida law draws a meaningful distinction between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not indicate guilt or a criminal conviction. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal judicial finding of guilt following a plea or trial. Under current law, both types of records may appear in background checks, but only conviction records carry the legal weight of an adjudicated criminal offense. Individuals who were arrested but not convicted retain certain rights to seek expungement or sealing of their records, as addressed in Florida Statute § 943.0585.

What's in Putnam County Arrest Records

Arrest records maintained by the Putnam County Sheriff's Office and related agencies contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking. The following categories represent the typical contents of an arrest record in Putnam County.

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and any known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Gender, race, and physical description (height, weight, eye and hair color)
Residential address at time of arrest
Social Security number (may be redacted in public-facing records)

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Name and badge number of arresting officer
Arresting agency (e.g., Putnam County Sheriff's Office, Palatka Police Department)
Incident or case number

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed
Florida Statute citation for each charge
Charge classification (felony, misdemeanor, or civil infraction)
Number of counts per charge

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Date warrant was issued
Jurisdiction of originating warrant

Booking Information:

Booking number and date
Facility where the individual was processed
Fingerprint and photograph (mugshot) notation

Bond/Bail Information:

Bond type (cash, surety, recognizance)
Bond amount set by the court or magistrate
Bond conditions, if any

Court Information:

Assigned court division and case number
Scheduled arraignment or hearing dates
Presiding judge, if assigned at booking

Custody Status:

Current custody status (in custody, released, transferred)
Release date and method of release

Additional Information May Include:

Narrative summary of the incident
Co-defendant information
Vehicle information if relevant to the arrest
Prior arrest history notation

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Putnam County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain arrest records in Putnam County through several official channels. The primary custodian of arrest records is the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, which maintains booking records for individuals processed at the county detention facility.

To request arrest records in person, individuals may visit the Records Division of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office during public counter hours and submit a written public records request. Requests may also be submitted by mail, email, or through the agency's online portal. Under Florida Statute § 119.07, agencies are required to acknowledge requests promptly and provide access to non-exempt records within a reasonable time.

Putnam County Sheriff's Office 2509 Crill Ave, Palatka, FL 32177 (386) 329-0800 Putnam County Sheriff's Office

Steps to request records:

Identify the full name and approximate date of arrest of the subject
Submit a written public records request to the Records Division
Specify the type of records sought (booking report, arrest report, incident report)
Pay any applicable fees for duplication or research, as authorized by Florida law
Receive records in person, by mail, or electronically depending on the method selected

Court-related arrest records, including charging documents and case dispositions, are maintained by the Putnam County Clerk of the Circuit Court.

Putnam County Clerk of the Circuit Court 410 St. Johns Ave, Palatka, FL 32177 (386) 329-0361 Putnam County Clerk of the Circuit Court

Public counter hours for both offices are generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays.

How To Find Putnam County Arrest Records Online

Several official online platforms currently provide access to Putnam County arrest records without requiring an in-person visit.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) maintains the Florida Crime Information Center, which provides public access to criminal history information through its online portal. Members of the public may submit a name-based search for a fee to obtain a Florida criminal history record.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) 2331 Phillips Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32308 (850) 410-7000 Florida Department of Law Enforcement

The Putnam County Clerk of the Circuit Court offers online case search functionality through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, where members of the public may search for criminal case records by name or case number at no charge.

The Putnam County Sheriff's Office may also publish recent arrest logs or booking reports on its official website, which are updated on a regular basis and accessible to the public without a formal request.

How To Search Putnam County Arrest Records for Free?

Members of the public may access certain Putnam County arrest records at no cost through the following methods.

The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal provides free name-based searches of court records, including criminal case filings, arraignment dates, and case dispositions. This resource is maintained by the Florida Office of the State Courts Administrator and is available to the public at no charge.

The Putnam County Sheriff's Office publishes recent arrest logs on its official website, which are available for public viewing without a fee. These logs typically include the name, charges, and booking date of recently arrested individuals.

Florida Office of the State Courts Administrator 500 S Duval St, Tallahassee, FL 32399 (850) 922-5082 Florida Courts

The FDLE's Offender Search tool allows members of the public to search for registered sex offenders and career offenders in Florida at no cost. For a comprehensive criminal history record from FDLE, a processing fee is required.

How To Delete Arrest Records in Putnam County

Florida law provides two primary legal remedies for individuals seeking to limit public access to their arrest records: expungement and sealing. These are distinct legal processes with different eligibility requirements and outcomes.

Expungement refers to the physical destruction or obliteration of a criminal history record. Once a record is expunged, the arresting agency and FDLE are required to destroy the record, and the individual may lawfully deny the arrest in most circumstances.

Sealing refers to the restriction of public access to a criminal history record. A sealed record is not destroyed but is removed from public view. Certain government agencies and employers may still access sealed records under specific circumstances.

Pursuant to Florida Statute § 943.0585 and Florida Statute § 943.059, individuals may be eligible for expungement or sealing if:

The arrest did not result in a conviction
The individual has not previously had a record expunged or sealed
The charge is not among those statutorily ineligible for expungement or sealing (e.g., certain violent or sexual offenses)
The individual meets all other statutory criteria

Steps to pursue expungement or sealing in Putnam County:

Obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement by submitting the required application and fee
File a Petition to Expunge or Seal with the Putnam County Circuit Court
Serve the petition on the State Attorney's Office for the Seventh Judicial Circuit
Attend a court hearing if required by the presiding judge
If granted, the court order is forwarded to FDLE and all relevant agencies for compliance

Florida Department of Law Enforcement – Expungement Unit 2331 Phillips Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32308 (850) 410-8109 FDLE Expungement and Sealing

What Happens After Arrest in Putnam County?

The criminal justice process in Putnam County follows a structured sequence from the point of arrest through final case disposition.

Upon arrest, the individual is transported to the Putnam County Jail for booking, where identifying information, fingerprints, and photographs are collected. A first appearance hearing is typically held within 24 hours of arrest, at which a judge reviews the charges, determines probable cause, and sets bond conditions.

Following first appearance, the State Attorney's Office for the Seventh Judicial Circuit reviews the case and determines whether to file formal charges. If charges are filed, the defendant is arraigned and enters a plea. Cases may proceed through pretrial motions, plea negotiations, or trial. Final disposition may result in conviction, acquittal, dismissal, or a nolle prosequi (decision not to prosecute).

State Attorney's Office – Seventh Judicial Circuit 251 N Ridgewood Ave, Daytona Beach, FL 32114 (386) 239-7710 State Attorney's Office – Seventh Judicial Circuit

Putnam County Jail 2509 Crill Ave, Palatka, FL 32177 (386) 329-0800 Putnam County Sheriff's Office

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Putnam County?

Arrest records in Putnam County are subject to retention schedules established under Florida law and the rules of the Florida Division of Library and Information Services. Under the Florida General Records Schedule GS2 for Law Enforcement Agencies, arrest records and related documentation are subject to specific minimum retention periods.

At present, the following general retention guidelines apply:

Arrest reports for cases resulting in conviction: retained permanently or for the duration of the sentence plus a defined period
Arrest reports for cases not resulting in conviction: retained for a minimum period, often three to five years, depending on the charge classification
Booking photographs (mugshots): retained in accordance with the associated arrest record
Fingerprint records: retained by FDLE indefinitely as part of the statewide criminal history repository

Different agencies within Putnam County maintain their own records in accordance with applicable schedules. The Putnam County Sheriff's Office, the Clerk of the Circuit Court, and FDLE each serve as custodians of distinct portions of the arrest record. Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for ongoing legal proceedings and maintaining accountability within the criminal justice system.

Florida Division of Library and Information Services – Records Management 500 S Bronough St, Tallahassee, FL 32399 (850) 245-6750 Florida Division of Library and Information Services

How to Find Mugshots in Putnam County

What Mugshots Are A mugshot is a standardized photograph taken by law enforcement at the time of booking. Mugshots are part of the official arrest record and serve as an identifying document within the criminal justice system.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained Mugshots in Putnam County are maintained by the Putnam County Sheriff's Office as part of the booking record. FDLE also retains booking photographs as part of the statewide criminal history record.

Finding Mugshots Members of the public may request mugshots through a formal public records request submitted to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office Records Division. Requests should include the full name of the subject and the approximate date of arrest.

Can They Be Found Online The Putnam County Sheriff's Office may publish recent booking photographs on its official website as part of the public arrest log. These images are accessible without a formal request while they remain posted. Third-party websites may also aggregate and republish mugshots, though these sources are not official and may not reflect current custody status or case disposition.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially To obtain a certified or official copy of a mugshot, members of the public must submit a written public records request to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. Applicable duplication fees may apply under Florida law.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access Certain mugshots may be exempt from public disclosure under Florida law. Records involving juveniles, confidential informants, or individuals whose records have been sealed or expunged are not subject to public release. Agencies are required to redact or withhold exempt information prior to disclosure.

Putnam County Sheriff's Office – Records Division 2509 Crill Ave, Palatka, FL 32177 (386) 329-0800 Putnam County Sheriff's Office