Wakulla County Police Records

Police blotter records for Wakulla County come from the Wakulla County Sheriff's Office in Crawfordville at 15 Oak Street. Sheriff Jared Miller leads this small coastal county's law enforcement agency, which serves all of Wakulla County. The sheriff's office handles all public records requests for incident reports, arrest logs, traffic crash reports, and daily law enforcement activities. Contact the office at (850) 745-7100 to request police blotter information or visit in person during business hours to access public records according to Florida's public records laws.

Wakulla County Sheriff's Office

The Wakulla County Sheriff's Office sits at 15 Oak Street in Crawfordville. Call (850) 745-7100 to reach the main office. Sheriff Jared Miller oversees all law enforcement operations in this coastal county south of Tallahassee. Deputies patrol the entire county, respond to emergency calls, investigate crimes, and maintain the county jail.

This small agency handles all aspects of public safety in Wakulla County. Deputies file reports on every call they answer, from minor traffic stops to serious criminal investigations. The Records Division maintains these reports and provides public access under Florida law. Visit the office during business hours to submit records requests in person, or call to start the process by phone.

The sheriff's office serves unincorporated areas and provides law enforcement to the entire county. Staff at the office can direct you to the right person for your records request and explain the process for obtaining police blotter information. Most requests can be made through the main office by calling or visiting.

Requesting Police Blotter Records

Start your records request by calling the Wakulla County Sheriff's Office at (850) 745-7100. Tell staff what records you need. Provide the date of the incident, location, names of people involved, and case numbers if you have them. Specific details help staff locate records quickly and reduce search time.

You can also visit the sheriff's office in person at 15 Oak Street in Crawfordville. Bring identification and be ready to fill out a records request form. Staff will search for the documents and inform you about any fees before processing your request. In-person visits often result in faster service for simple requests.

Florida law requires government agencies to respond to public records requests promptly. The Wakulla County Sheriff's Office processes requests based on staff availability and the complexity of the search. Simple requests might be completed the same day. Larger searches that involve extensive files or review take more time. Staff will keep you informed about timelines and costs.

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

Note: Payment is required before records are released to requesters.

Types of Police Blotter Records

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

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

Traffic crash reports filed by Wakulla 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 involving personal injuries remain confidential for 60 days after filing. Only parties in the crash, their lawyers, insurers, and certain government agencies can access them 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.

Criminal investigative files 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 investigations or violating privacy protections.

Fees for Public Records

Wakulla 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 exceed these limits are charged for additional staff time and materials.

Staff time is billed at the hourly compensation rate of the employee processing your request. This covers searching for records, reviewing them, 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 reduce or eliminate copy fees while speeding up the process.

Public Records Law in Florida

All police blotter records in Wakulla County are governed by 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 to requests in good faith and provide access to non-exempt documents.

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 Wakulla County Sheriff's Office must provide the public portions while redacting the exempt parts. 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 is one of the broadest in the nation. It applies to all levels of government, from state agencies to small county offices like the Wakulla County Sheriff. The law makes government transparent and accountable to citizens.

Statewide Florida Resources

Florida maintains several statewide databases for accessing criminal justice information. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement offers criminal background checks at fdle.state.fl.us. These checks show arrests and charges from across Florida, not just Wakulla 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

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