Find Suwannee County Police Blotter

Police blotter records in Suwannee County are handled by the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office based in Live Oak at 200 S. Ohio Avenue. This office serves the entire county and processes all public records requests for incident reports, arrest logs, traffic crash reports, and daily law enforcement activity. Sheriff Sam St. John oversees the agency, which maintains records for unincorporated areas and provides contract law enforcement services to some local municipalities. You can contact the main office at (386) 362-2222 to request copies of reports or inquire about accessing police blotter information through their website at suwanneesheriff.com.

Suwannee County Sheriff's Office

The Suwannee County Sheriff's Office sits at 200 S. Ohio Avenue in Live Oak, the county seat. Call (386) 362-2222 for general questions or to request records. The sheriff's office website provides access to information about department services, community programs, and public safety initiatives throughout Suwannee County.

Sheriff Sam St. John leads the agency. His staff handles all law enforcement operations in unincorporated areas of the county. Deputies respond to calls, investigate crimes, maintain the jail, and serve civil process papers throughout Suwannee County. The Records Division manages all reports filed by deputies in the field.

Visit the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office website to learn about their services and access contact information for different divisions. The site offers details about community outreach programs, crime prevention tips, and updates on law enforcement activities in the county. Most public records requests can be initiated through the main office by phone or in person.

How to Request Police Blotter Records

Public records requests in Suwannee County go through the sheriff's office at 200 S. Ohio Avenue in Live Oak. You can visit in person during business hours or call (386) 362-2222 to start a request. Provide as much detail as you can about the incident you're looking for. Include dates, locations, names of people involved, and case numbers if available. Specific information helps staff find records faster.

Florida's public records law requires government agencies to respond to requests promptly. The Suwannee County Sheriff's Office processes requests based on available staff time and the complexity of the search. Simple requests might be filled the same day. Larger requests that require extensive research take more time. Staff will inform you about the timeline and any fees before completing your request.

Some records have restricted access under state law. Active criminal investigations remain confidential until cases close or become inactive. Victim identities in sexual offense cases stay protected. Personal information like home addresses and phone numbers of law enforcement officers get redacted from public records. If your request includes exempt information, the sheriff's office will explain what can and cannot be released.

Note: Fees apply to requests that take more than 15 minutes of staff time or require more than 20 pages of copies.

Police Blotter Information Available

Suwannee County police blotter records include incident reports filed by sheriff's deputies responding to calls throughout the county. These reports document crimes, disturbances, traffic crashes, suspicious activity, and other events requiring law enforcement response. Each report contains the date and time of the incident, location, names of people involved, witness statements, and the deputy's observations and actions taken.

Arrest records show booking information for people taken into custody in Suwannee County. These records include the person's name, booking date, charges filed, bond amount, and booking photo when available. The sheriff's office maintains these records as part of the jail intake process. You can request arrest information through the Records Division.

Traffic crash reports filed by sheriff's deputies are available through the sheriff's office or the statewide Florida Crash Portal. Under Florida Statute 316.066, these reports remain confidential for 60 days after filing if they involve personal injuries. Only parties involved in the crash, their attorneys, insurers, and certain government agencies can access reports during this period. After 60 days, crash reports become public and anyone can purchase them online at services.flhsmv.gov/CrashReportPurchasing for $10 plus a $2 service fee.

Record Request Fees

Suwannee County follows Florida's public records fee structure. The first 15 minutes of staff time and the first 20 pages of copies are free. Requests beyond these limits get charged based on the employee compensation rate of the staff member doing the work. Standard copy fees are $0.15 per single-sided page and $0.20 per double-sided page for additional copies.

Payment is required before records are released. The sheriff's office accepts cash, money orders, and checks. If your request will cost more than the free threshold, staff will calculate the total and inform you before proceeding. You can decide whether to continue with the request, narrow it to reduce costs, or cancel it.

Electronic records delivered by email may reduce or eliminate copy fees. Ask about this option when you make your request. Digital delivery is often faster and less expensive than paper copies.

Florida Public Records Access

All police blotter records in Suwannee County fall under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, which establishes broad public access to government records. This law gives every person the right to inspect and copy public records unless a specific exemption applies. Government agencies must respond in good faith and provide access to non-exempt documents.

Exemptions exist for certain types of information. Florida Statutes Section 119.071 lists categories of exempt records. Active criminal intelligence and investigative information stays confidential until cases conclude. Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and other personal financial information get redacted. Medical records and health information remain protected under both state and federal law.

The Suwannee County Sheriff's Office must redact exempt information before releasing records to the public. If your request includes both public and exempt material, you will receive the public portions with the exempt parts blacked out or removed. The agency cannot charge you for the time spent redacting exempt information.

More Law Enforcement Resources

Florida maintains several statewide databases for accessing criminal justice information. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement offers criminal history checks through their website at fdle.state.fl.us. These checks show arrests and charges from across the state, not just Suwannee County. You need fingerprints and proper authorization to request full criminal history records.

The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department maintains the statewide crash report database. Visit flhsmv.gov/traffic-crash-reports to learn about purchasing crash reports online. You can also view crash statistics and safety data for highways throughout Florida.

Florida's Attorney General provides public information about the state's public records law. The Sunshine Manual at myfloridalegal.com/open-government explains your rights under Chapter 119 and answers common questions about accessing government records. This resource helps citizens understand what records they can request and how agencies should respond.

Nearby Counties

Suwannee County borders several other Florida counties, each with their own sheriff's office and records systems: