Franklin County Police Blotter

Franklin County police blotter records are maintained by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office at 270 State Road 65 in Eastpoint, with the county seat in Apalachicola. The sheriff's office handles law enforcement for all of Franklin County and processes public records requests for incident reports and arrest records. You can call (850) 653-8855 to reach the main office for information about obtaining police blotter records or visit the sheriff's website at franklincountysheriff.com. Public records requests can be submitted in person at the sheriff's office during business hours, where staff will assist with the request process under Florida's public records law.

Franklin County Sheriff's Office

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is located at 270 State Road 65 in Eastpoint. Call (850) 653-8855 for general information about law enforcement services and public records. The website at franklincountysheriff.com provides contact details and information about sheriff's office operations.

Submit public records requests in person at the sheriff's office during business hours. Bring identification and information about the records you need: incident date, location, names involved, and any case numbers. Staff will help you complete request forms and explain fee structures.

The sheriff's office maintains all police blotter records for Franklin County. These include incident reports, arrest records, booking information, and traffic crash reports filed by deputies. Records are provided according to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes.

How to Get Police Reports

To request police blotter records from Franklin County, call the sheriff's office at (850) 653-8855. Ask about the public records process and what information is needed for your request. Staff can provide guidance on fees and processing times.

Visit the sheriff's office in person at 270 State Road 65 in Eastpoint. Staff can assist you with completing request forms and answer questions about what records are available. Bring details about the incident: date, location, names, and any case numbers.

Specific requests process faster than broad searches. Providing complete information helps staff locate records quickly and reduces costs. Vague requests require more research time, which may result in higher fees.

The sheriff's office charges standard copy fees of $0.15 per single-sided page and $0.20 per double-sided page. Requests requiring extensive staff time may result in service charges based on employee hourly rates. You will receive cost information before records are released.

Types of Police Blotter Records

Franklin County police blotter records include incident reports documenting calls for service handled by sheriff's deputies. These reports contain details about crimes, crashes, disturbances, and other events requiring law enforcement response. Deputies write narratives describing what occurred and what actions they took.

Arrest and booking records show people taken into custody in Franklin County. Booking information includes the arrestee's name, charges, bond amount, and booking date. Booking photos may be available as part of the arrest record. These documents are generally public immediately after arrest unless exemptions apply.

Traffic crash reports follow special confidentiality rules under Florida Statute 316.066. Reports remain confidential for 60 days after filing. After the confidentiality period expires, anyone can purchase crash reports through the Florida Crash Portal at services.flhsmv.gov/CrashReportPurchasing for $10 per report.

Public Records Fees

Franklin County charges fees based on the actual cost of producing public records. Standard copy fees are $0.15 per single-sided page and $0.20 per double-sided page under Florida law. These fees cover the cost of materials and machine time for copying documents.

Requests requiring significant staff time for research, review, or redaction may result in service charges. These charges are calculated based on the hourly compensation rate of the employee performing the work. You will receive cost estimates before work begins on time-consuming requests.

Simple requests requiring minimal staff time are often provided at low cost. Payment is required before records are released. The sheriff's office accepts various payment methods for public records fees.

Public Records Law

Franklin County follows Chapter 119, Florida Statutes for all public records. This law establishes that government records are presumed public unless an exemption applies. The sheriff's office must provide access to records and can charge the actual cost of duplication.

Exemptions protect sensitive information under Florida Statutes Section 119.071. Active criminal investigations remain confidential until they conclude. Victim identities in sexual offense cases are protected. Officer home addresses and personal information are exempt from disclosure.

The sheriff's office redacts exempt information and provides the remainder of requested records. If records are denied or partially redacted, staff will explain which exemption applies and why certain information cannot be released.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County is located in the Florida Panhandle on the Gulf Coast. Neighboring counties maintain their own sheriff's offices: