Access Union County Police Blotter

Union County police blotter records come from the Union County Sheriff's Office in Lake Butler at 55 W. Main Street. Sheriff Brad Whitehead runs the department, which provides law enforcement services across this small rural county. The sheriff's office processes all public records requests for incident reports, booking logs, traffic crash reports, and daily law enforcement activity. Contact the office at (386) 496-2501 to request police blotter information or visit their website at unioncountysheriff.us for more details about their services and how to access public records in Union County.

Union County Sheriff's Office

Visit the Union County Sheriff's Office at 55 W. Main Street in Lake Butler to request records or get information about law enforcement services. The main phone number is (386) 496-2501. Sheriff Brad Whitehead leads the department and oversees all operations in this small county. Deputies patrol the entire county, respond to calls, investigate crimes, and maintain the county jail.

The sheriff's office handles all aspects of public safety in Union County. Deputies file reports on every call they answer, from traffic stops to criminal investigations. The Records Division maintains these reports and provides access according to Florida's public records laws. Visit during business hours to submit a request in person, or call to start the process by phone.

Check the Union County Sheriff's Office website for information about department services, community programs, and contact details for specific divisions. The site provides updates on law enforcement activities and public safety initiatives. Most records requests can be made through the main office by calling or visiting in person.

How to Get Police Blotter Records

Request police blotter records from the Union County Sheriff's Office by calling (386) 496-2501 or visiting 55 W. Main Street in Lake Butler. Provide details about the incident you need. Include the date it happened, where it took place, names of people involved, and case numbers if you have them. Specific information helps staff find records quickly and reduces search time.

Florida law requires government agencies to respond to public records requests in good faith. The Union County Sheriff's Office processes requests as staff time allows. Simple requests might be completed the same day. Larger searches that involve many files or extensive review take more time. Staff will tell you about expected timelines and any fees before they start work.

Some records have restricted access under state law. Active criminal investigations remain confidential until cases close. Personal information like Social Security numbers and home addresses of law enforcement officers gets redacted. Victim identities in certain crimes stay protected. If your request includes exempt material, the sheriff's office will explain what can and cannot be released under Florida law.

Types of Police Blotter Records

Union County maintains several types of police blotter records. Incident reports document all calls answered by sheriff's deputies. These reports cover crimes, traffic crashes, disturbances, welfare checks, and other events requiring law enforcement response. Each report includes the date and time, location, people involved, what happened, and the deputy's actions and observations.

Arrest records show booking information for people taken into custody in Union County. The jail maintains these records as part of the intake process. Booking records include the person's name, age, address, charges, arresting officer, booking date and time, and bond amount. Mugshots are part of arrest records when available. All booking information becomes public once the arrest is processed.

Traffic crash reports filed by Union County deputies are available through the sheriff's office or the statewide Florida Crash Portal. These reports contain driver information, vehicle details, crash diagrams, road and weather conditions, and contributing factors. Under Florida Statute 316.066, crash reports with personal injuries stay confidential for 60 days. Only parties in the crash, their lawyers, insurance companies, and certain government agencies can access them during this period. After 60 days, anyone can buy crash reports online at services.flhsmv.gov/CrashReportPurchasing for $10 plus a $2 service fee.

Criminal investigation records may be partially withheld while cases are active. Once investigations close, more information becomes available to the public. The sheriff's office reviews each request to determine what can be released without compromising ongoing cases or violating privacy protections.

Note: Some police blotter information remains confidential under Florida law to protect active investigations and personal privacy.

Record Fees in Union County

Union County follows Florida's standard fee structure for public records. The first 15 minutes of staff time is free. The first 20 pages of copies cost nothing. Requests that go beyond these thresholds are charged for additional time and materials.

Staff time gets billed at the hourly compensation rate of the employee processing your request. This covers searching, reviewing, redacting exempt information, and preparing copies. Standard copy fees are $0.15 per single-sided page and $0.20 per double-sided page.

For large requests, the sheriff's office will estimate the total cost before starting work. You can choose to proceed with the full request, narrow it to reduce costs, or cancel it. Payment is required before records are released. The office accepts cash, checks, and money orders. Ask about electronic delivery, which may lower or eliminate copy fees while speeding up the process.

Florida's Public Records Law

Police blotter records in Union County are governed by Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, which gives the public broad access to government records. Every person has the right to inspect and copy public records unless a specific exemption applies. Government agencies must respond to requests promptly and in good faith.

Exemptions protect certain types of information from public disclosure. Florida Statutes Section 119.071 lists categories of exempt records. Active criminal intelligence and investigative information stays confidential until cases close or become inactive. Personal financial information like bank account numbers gets redacted. Medical records remain protected under state and federal law. Home addresses and personal phone numbers of law enforcement personnel are exempt from public records.

When records contain both public and exempt information, the Union County Sheriff's Office must provide the public portions with the exempt parts redacted. You cannot be charged for the time spent redacting exempt material. The agency should cite the specific legal exemption for anything withheld from your request.

Florida's public records law applies to all levels of government. State agencies, county offices, city departments, and special districts must all comply with Chapter 119. The law makes Florida one of the most open states for public access to government information.

Additional Florida Resources

Florida maintains several statewide systems for accessing criminal justice information. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement offers background checks at fdle.state.fl.us. These checks show arrests and charges from across Florida, not just Union County. Full criminal history records require fingerprints and proper authorization.

The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department operates the official crash report system. Visit flhsmv.gov/traffic-crash-reports to purchase crash reports from anywhere in the state. The portal accepts credit cards and provides electronic delivery. You can also access crash statistics and highway safety data.

The Florida Attorney General publishes helpful guides about public records rights. The Government-in-the-Sunshine Manual at myfloridalegal.com/open-government explains how to request records and what to do if agencies deny access. This resource answers common questions and provides contact information for assistance with public records issues.

Nearby Counties

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