Dixie County criminal records are public files that show every criminal case handled by the courts in this small Florida county. These records include felony cases, misdemeanor cases, traffic criminal offenses, and case dispositions filed through the local court system.
The Dixie County Clerk of Court keeps these files as the official record keeper. You can search them online, by phone, or by visiting the courthouse in Cross City. Florida law gives you the right to see most of these records at low or no cost.
How to Search Dixie County Criminal Court Records
You have three main ways to search Dixie County criminal court records. You can use the Clerk of Court’s online portal from home. You can call the Clerk’s office during business hours. Or you can visit the courthouse in person. Each method works for different needs. Online search is fastest for basic case status. In-person visits work best for certified copies. Phone calls help you confirm fees and office hours before you travel.
Online Court Records Search
The Dixie County Clerk of Court runs an online search tool that works twenty-four hours a day. You can access it through the Clerk’s website at dixieclerk.com. The tool lets you search by name, case number, or date. You can view case type, filing date, charge description, hearing schedule, and final disposition. Basic case viewing is free. You do not need to create an account. You only pay if you want printed or certified copies.
In-Person Records Requests at the Clerk’s Office
You can visit the Dixie County Courthouse at 214 NE Highway 351, Cross City, Florida 32628. The Clerk’s office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. You can ask the staff to help you search public terminals. They can also pull paper files from storage. Bring a valid photo ID and any case details you already have. The staff can make copies for you on the spot for a small fee per page.
What Records You Can Find
The Clerk’s database covers all criminal cases filed in Dixie County Circuit Court. This includes felony indictments, misdemeanor charges, criminal traffic offenses, violation of probation filings, and capias warrants. You can see arraignment dates, plea agreements, sentence orders, and judgment entries. Bond amounts and conditions also appear in the file. Sealed records, expunged records, and active grand jury materials do not show up in public search results.
Dixie County Clerk of Court Criminal Records
The Clerk of Court serves as the main record holder for all criminal cases in Dixie County. This office is part of Florida’s Third Judicial Circuit. The Clerk files all new criminal charges, indexes every court order, and stores the case file. The office also issues certified copies of court documents. You can contact the Clerk for records that date back many decades. Older paper files are stored in the courthouse vault and can be requested in person.
Clerk’s Office Location and Contact
The Dixie County Clerk of Court is located at 214 NE Highway 351, Cross City, FL 32628. The main phone number is (352) 498-1200. The office fax number is (352) 498-1210. You can reach the Court Records Department by calling the main line and following the prompts. The official website is dixieclerk.com. The office accepts phone inquiries, walk-in requests, and mail requests for records.
Types of Criminal Records Held by the Clerk
The Clerk maintains complete case files for every criminal matter that goes through the court. Each file contains the arrest affidavit, charging documents, motions, plea forms, sentencing orders, and any appeals. The Clerk also keeps a separate index of judgments and sentences. This index shows the final outcome of every case. You can search this index by defendant name or case number to get a quick summary of past cases.
Certified Copies and Document Fees
Standard copies cost one dollar per page. Certified copies cost three dollars per document plus the per-page copy fee. A certification covers the cost of the Clerk’s seal and signature. You can pay by cash, check, money order, or credit card in person. Mail requests must include a check or money order. The office returns documents by regular mail unless you include a prepaid return envelope for faster delivery.
Dixie County Sheriff’s Office and Arrest Records
The Dixie County Sheriff’s Office handles all arrests, jail operations, and law enforcement records in the county. Their office works with the Clerk’s office to file criminal charges after an arrest. The Sheriff’s Office keeps arrest reports, incident reports, booking photos, and inmate rosters. Their records cover cases that may not yet have reached the court stage. You can request these records directly from the Sheriff for a small fee.
Sheriff’s Office Contact Details
The Dixie County Sheriff’s Office is located at 386 SE 349 Highway, Cross City, FL 32628. The main phone number is (352) 498-1234. The office is open twenty-four hours a day for emergencies. Records requests are handled during regular business hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can also email the records unit for non-emergency requests. The Sheriff’s Office website provides additional contact forms.
Current Inmate Search
The Sheriff’s Office maintains a current inmate list at the county jail. You can call the jail to ask if someone is in custody. The jail staff can confirm a person’s booking date, current charges, and bond amount. The Sheriff’s Office does not currently post a public online inmate roster. You must call (352) 498-1234 to get real-time custody status. Booking photos are available upon request for a small fee.
Police Reports and Incident Records
You can request a copy of a police report or incident report from the Sheriff’s Office. Reports cost five dollars for the first ten pages and one dollar for each page after that. The report must be a closed case. Active investigations are not released. You must fill out a public records request form and show valid identification. The office processes requests within ten business days under Florida law.
Statewide Criminal History Searches
You may need a statewide search if the person lived in other Florida counties. State searches pull data from every Florida jurisdiction. They show arrests and convictions across the state. Statewide searches cost more than local searches. They are useful for employment background checks, professional licensing, and adoption applications. You can order them through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement or approved third-party vendors.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) runs the Computerized Criminal History system called CCHInet. You can search this system online at cchinet.fdle.state.fl.us. Each name-based search costs twenty-four dollars plus a one-dollar processing fee. You need the person’s full name, date of birth, and race. Results show all Florida arrests, charges, and dispositions on file with FDLE. You can also request fingerprint-based searches for official purposes.
Florida Department of Corrections Inmate Search
If a person was convicted of a felony and sent to state prison, you can find them in the Florida Department of Corrections database. The free search tool is at fdc.myflorida.com. You can search by name or Department of Corrections number. The results show the inmate’s current location, sentence length, release date, and parole status. This search only covers people in state prison, not county jail inmates or people on probation.
Third Judicial Circuit Court Records
Dixie County is part of the Third Judicial Circuit. This circuit also covers Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, and Taylor counties. Each county has its own Clerk of Court with separate records. The Florida Courts website at flcourts.org provides links to all county clerks. You can use this site to find the right Clerk for any Florida county. Each Clerk’s online portal is independent and covers only that county’s cases.
Dixie County Felony and Misdemeanor Case Records
Florida divides criminal cases into two main categories. Felonies are serious crimes that can result in prison time. Misdemeanors are less serious crimes that result in county jail time or fines. Dixie County courts handle both types. The Clerk of Court files every felony and misdemeanor case. You can see the full case file through the same online portal or in person.
Felony Cases in Dixie County
Felony cases in Dixie County are heard in Circuit Court. These cases include drug trafficking, burglary, aggravated assault, and other serious crimes. Felony case files contain the indictment or information, arraignment minutes, plea documents, and sentencing orders. You can search felony cases by name on the Clerk’s online portal. Each felony case gets a unique case number that starts with the year and a sequence code.
Misdemeanor Cases in Dixie County
Misdemeanor cases in Dixie County are also heard in Circuit Court under Florida’s unified court system. Misdemeanors include petit theft, simple battery, disorderly conduct, and first-time DUI. The Clerk’s online portal includes misdemeanor cases. You can search them the same way you search felony cases. The case number format is similar but uses a different sequence code to show the lower charge level.
Criminal Court Docket Search
You can search the criminal court docket for upcoming hearings. The docket shows the date, time, and judge for each scheduled event. You can search by defendant name or case number. The docket is updated each business day. This search is free and does not require an account. You can use the docket to confirm a court date, find the assigned judge, or see the courtroom location for an upcoming hearing.
Sealing and Expunging Dixie County Records
Florida law lets some people seal or expunge their criminal records. Sealing hides the record from public view. Expungement destroys the record. Only certain cases qualify. You cannot seal or expunge a conviction for a serious crime. You also cannot have any prior sealed or expunged record. The process starts with FDLE and ends with a court order.
Eligibility Requirements
You can apply to seal or expunge a record if you were found not guilty, charges were dropped, or you completed a diversion program. You can also apply after a withhold of adjudication for certain misdemeanors. You cannot seal or expunge a record if you were convicted of murder, sexual battery, child abuse, or other serious offenses listed in Florida Statute 943.0585. You can only seal or expunge one case in your lifetime.
Application Process Through FDLE
You must apply to FDLE for a Certificate of Eligibility before you can ask a court to seal or expunge a record. The application fee is seventy-five dollars. You must include fingerprints, a certified copy of the disposition, and a sworn statement. FDLE processes applications in about twelve weeks. The certificate is good for one year from the date of issue. If you do not file your court petition within that year, you must apply again.
Court Petition After Approval
After FDLE issues your Certificate of Eligibility, you must file a petition in the Dixie County Clerk’s office. You must serve the petition on the State Attorney’s Office and the arresting agency. A judge will review your petition. The judge may grant or deny the request. If the judge grants it, the order goes to every agency that has a copy of the record. The agencies must seal or destroy the record as ordered.
Public Access Laws for Dixie County Records
Florida has one of the strongest public records laws in the country. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes gives you the right to see most government records. You do not have to explain why you want the records. You do not have to show ID. The agency must respond to your request promptly. Some records are exempt from disclosure for privacy or security reasons.
Florida Public Records Act
The Florida Public Records Act covers all government records made or received by a public agency. This includes court records, arrest reports, and incident logs. The law says these records are open for personal inspection by any person. The agency can charge only the actual cost of copying. The agency cannot charge for the time it takes staff to pull the records. The agency must respond to written requests within a reasonable time.
Exemptions and Restricted Records
Some records are exempt from public disclosure. Active criminal investigation files are confidential. Juvenile criminal records are not open to the public. Sealed and expunged records are hidden. Victim information in sex crime cases is redacted. Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and medical records are also redacted. The full list of exemptions is in Florida Statute 119.07. You can ask the agency if a specific record is exempt.
Fees and Request Procedures
You can make a public records request in person, by mail, by phone, or by email. The agency may ask you to put your request in writing. The agency cannot charge for the time to search for records. The agency can charge for actual copies. Copy fees are set by Florida law. You can pay in cash, by check, or by credit card. The agency must give you an itemized bill if you ask for one.
Dixie County Courthouse Contact
The Dixie County Clerk of Court is the main office for criminal case records in the county. Their address is 214 NE Highway 351, Cross City, FL 32628. The main phone number is (352) 498-1200. The office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The official website is dixieclerk.com. The Dixie County Sheriff’s Office is at 386 SE 349 Highway, Cross City, FL 32628. Their phone number is (352) 498-1234.
Frequently Asked Questions
This section answers common questions about searching criminal records in Dixie County. The answers cover online tools, office visits, statewide searches, sealing records, and access rules. Each answer gives you the facts you need without legal advice. You can use this section to plan your search before you start. Always contact the Clerk’s office if you have a question about a specific case.
How much does it cost to search Dixie County criminal records online?
Searching Dixie County criminal records online is free. The Clerk’s online portal lets you view basic case data at no cost. You can search by name, case number, or date. You only pay if you need a printed or certified copy. Standard copies cost one dollar per page. Certified copies cost three dollars per document plus the copy fee. You can use a credit card to pay for copies through the online portal. There is no subscription fee for casual users.
Can I see Dixie County criminal records for free?
Yes. You can see most Dixie County criminal records for free at the courthouse. The Clerk’s office has public terminals you can use during business hours. You can also see case data on the Clerk’s online portal at no charge. Free access covers basic case information, docket entries, and disposition records. You only pay if you want a physical copy of a document. Certified copies for legal use always cost money.
Are Dixie County criminal records available to anyone?
Yes, under Florida law, Dixie County criminal records are open to the public. You do not need to live in Dixie County. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen. You do not need to explain why you want the records. The law lets you inspect the records in person or search them online. Some records are not open, like sealed cases, expunged cases, active investigations, and juvenile records.
What is the difference between a felony and misdemeanor record in Dixie County?
A felony record shows charges for crimes that can lead to state prison time. These include drug trafficking, burglary, robbery, and aggravated assault. A misdemeanor record shows charges for less serious crimes. These include petit theft, simple battery, and minor drug possession. Both types of records are kept by the same Clerk of Court. The case number tells you the type. Felony and misdemeanor cases appear in the same online search portal.
How long does it take to get a certified copy of a Dixie County criminal record?
In-person requests for certified copies are filled the same day. You can walk in, request the document, pay the fee, and leave with the certified copy. Mail requests take about five to seven business days after the office receives your request. Online requests for certified copies take three to five business days for processing. The Clerk’s office mails the certified document to you by regular mail. You can pay extra for faster shipping.
Can I find out if someone is in the Dixie County jail right now?
Yes. You can call the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office at (352) 498-1234 to ask about a current inmate. The jail staff can confirm if someone is in custody. They can give you the booking date, current charges, and bond amount. The Sheriff’s Office does not maintain a public online inmate roster. You must call during business hours for inmate information. The jail lobby is open twenty-four hours a day for walk-in inquiries.
What happens if I find a mistake in my Dixie County criminal record?
If you find a mistake in your Dixie County criminal record, you can ask the Clerk to fix it. You must file a written request and show proof of the correct information. The Clerk will review the request and update the file if the error is confirmed. You can also ask the court to issue an order to correct the record. For errors in arrest reports, contact the Sheriff’s Office that made the arrest. FDLE can fix errors in the statewide criminal history file.