Lafayette County Police Blotter

Lafayette County police blotter records come from the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office located at 23 SW Court Circle in Mayo. The sheriff's office serves all unincorporated areas and handles law enforcement for most of the county. Records staff process public requests for incident reports, arrest logs, traffic crash reports, and booking records filed by deputies. You can request police blotter information by visiting the office in person, calling (386) 294-1221, or submitting written requests. The sheriff's website at lafayettesheriff.com provides contact information and details about agency services throughout Lafayette County.

Getting Police Reports in Lafayette County

Police blotter records in Lafayette County are maintained by the sheriff's office in Mayo. Visit 23 SW Court Circle during regular business hours to request incident reports or arrest records. Staff can help you complete request forms and provide cost estimates based on the size of your request.

Call (386) 294-1221 to discuss your request before visiting. Have the date, location, and names of people involved ready when you call. This information helps records staff locate the correct reports. Case numbers speed up the search process if you have them from a prior contact with law enforcement.

Simple requests requiring minimal time and few pages are often provided free. Larger requests are charged based on employee time and standard copy fees. Florida law allows agencies to charge $0.15 per single-sided page and $0.20 per double-sided page. Payment is required before records are released to requesters.

Lafayette County Sheriff's Office Details

The Lafayette County Sheriff's Office operates from 23 SW Court Circle in Mayo, the county seat. The main phone number is (386) 294-1221 for general inquiries and records requests. The sheriff's office website at lafayettesheriff.com provides additional contact information and agency news.

The sheriff's office handles law enforcement for unincorporated areas throughout the county. Deputies respond to calls for service, investigate crimes, patrol roads, and make arrests. All incident reports, traffic crash reports, and arrest records filed by deputies are maintained at the main office in Mayo.

Victims of crimes can request free copies of police reports. Bring identification showing you were involved in the incident. These reports are needed for insurance claims, victim compensation applications, and court proceedings. The sheriff's office works to provide victim reports promptly to support recovery and legal needs.

Note: Some records may be withheld or redacted due to active investigations or privacy exemptions.

Types of Police Blotter Records

Lafayette County police blotter records include several document types. Incident reports describe law enforcement responses to calls. They contain the date and time, location, names of people involved, witness statements, and deputy observations. Some details may be redacted to protect victims or ongoing investigations.

Arrest records show people booked into custody. These include names, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and booking photos. Jail logs update as arrests occur and inmates are released. Booking information helps families locate arrested individuals and provides details about charges filed.

Traffic crash reports filed by sheriff's deputies contain driver information, vehicle details, crash diagrams, and officer narratives. Florida law protects crash reports involving personal injuries for 60 days. During this time, only parties involved, their attorneys, insurance companies, and government agencies can access them. After 60 days, crash reports become public and can be purchased through the state system.

Florida Public Records Requirements

All police blotter records in Lafayette County are subject to Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes. This law grants broad public access to government records. Every person has the right to inspect and copy public records unless specific exemptions apply. The sheriff's office must respond promptly and act in good faith when processing requests.

Certain records are exempt from disclosure under Florida law. Active criminal investigative information remains confidential while investigations are ongoing. Florida Statutes Section 119.071 protects victim identities in sexual offenses, home addresses of law enforcement officers, and other sensitive personal data. These exemptions balance transparency with privacy and safety.

Traffic crash reports follow special confidentiality rules in Florida Statute 316.066. Reports with personal injury information stay confidential for 60 days after filing. Unauthorized disclosure during this period is a felony. After the confidentiality period, anyone can purchase crash reports through the Florida Crash Portal at services.flhsmv.gov/CrashReportPurchasing for $10 plus a $2 service fee.

How to Make an Effective Request

Specific requests are processed faster and cost less than broad searches. Include the date or date range, location, names of people involved, and type of incident. If you have a case number from a deputy or incident card, provide it. These details help staff find the right records quickly.

Visit the sheriff's office at 23 SW Court Circle in Mayo to submit requests in person. Staff can answer questions and help you refine your request if needed. You can also call (386) 294-1221 to discuss what records are available before submitting a formal request.

Written requests should include all identifying information and your contact details. Provide a phone number and email address so staff can reach you with questions or updates. Mail written requests to Lafayette County Sheriff's Office, 23 SW Court Circle, Mayo, FL 32066.

Be prepared to pay before receiving records. Accepted payment methods typically include cash, money orders, and business checks. Credit cards may be accepted with a processing fee added. Some agencies do not accept personal checks for public records fees.

Florida Statewide Record Systems

Florida operates centralized systems for some types of police records. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains criminal history records for the entire state. FDLE background checks show arrests and charges from all counties, not just Lafayette County. These checks are used for employment, licensing, and other authorized purposes.

The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles department runs the crash report purchasing system. After the 60-day confidentiality period ends, any crash report filed in Florida can be bought online at services.flhsmv.gov/CrashReportPurchasing. Search using the crash report number, driver's license number, or vehicle information.

The Florida Attorney General's office provides public records guidance at myfloridalegal.com/open-government. Their resources explain your rights under Chapter 119, common exemptions, and how to file complaints if agencies deny access improperly. The Sunshine Manual offers detailed explanations of Florida's open government laws.

Nearby Counties

Lafayette County shares borders with several other Florida counties, each with separate law enforcement agencies: