Miami Beach City criminal records are public court files that show every criminal case handled inside Miami Beach, Florida. These records are kept by the Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Courts because Miami Beach sits inside Miami-Dade County.
Anyone can look up felony cases, misdemeanor cases, traffic criminal cases, and court dispositions through official online tools or by visiting the clerk’s office. This page explains how to search, what each record contains, what it costs, and how to get certified copies for legal use.
What Are Miami Beach City Criminal Records
Miami Beach City criminal records are the official court files for any criminal charge filed against a person in Miami Beach. They start when police arrest someone and the State Attorney files formal charges. The record follows the case from first court hearing through the final outcome.
Who Maintains These Records
The Miami-Dade Clerk of the Courts keeps all criminal court records for Miami Beach. This office works under Florida law and stores the file for every felony, misdemeanor, and county criminal case. The clerk also keeps dockets, court orders, sentencing papers, and case status updates. The Miami Beach Police Department keeps separate records for arrests and incident reports, but the court records are the official legal history.
What Types of Cases Are Included
Criminal court records in Miami Beach include felony cases, misdemeanor cases, and criminal traffic offenses. Examples of felony charges are aggravated assault, burglary, drug trafficking, and robbery. Examples of misdemeanor charges are simple battery, petit theft, DUI first offense, and disorderly conduct. Each case file holds the charging document, court minutes, plea deals, and final judgment.
Florida Public Records Act and Access Rights
Florida’s Public Records Act (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes) gives every person the right to view most criminal court records. You do not need to say why you want the records. You only need the name of the person or a case number. Some records are sealed by a judge, expunged by court order, or protected because they involve juveniles. Those records will not show up in a public search.
How to Search Miami Beach Criminal Court Records Online
The fastest way to find a Miami Beach criminal case is through the Miami-Dade Clerk’s online portal. The portal is free, works 24 hours a day, and runs on any device with internet access.
Miami-Dade Clerk of Court Online Portal
The official portal is called the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts Online System. The site lets you search criminal cases by name, case number, citation number, or date range. To begin, go to the clerk’s homepage and click on “Court Records Search” or “Criminal Records.” You will see a search form that asks for a last name, first name, and date of birth. Results show every criminal case filed under that name inside Miami-Dade County, which includes Miami Beach cases.
Searching by Name
Name search is the most common way to find a case. Type the person’s full legal last name. If you know the first name, add it. A date of birth helps narrow the list when many people share the same name. The portal will list each case number, the charge, the court division, the judge, and the next hearing date. Click on any case number to see the full docket, court filings, and final outcome.
Searching by Case Number
If you already have a case number, type it into the case number search box. Miami Beach criminal case numbers follow a pattern set by the clerk’s office, such as a year code followed by a sequence. Case numbers appear on arrest affidavits, court summons, and traffic tickets. A case number search returns only the exact file, which is the quickest way to check status.
Searching by Date
Date search works when you know roughly when the arrest or filing happened. Pick a start date and end date on the calendar tool. The portal returns every criminal case filed in Miami Beach during that window. This helps employers, landlords, and attorneys run bulk background checks across a set period.
Miami Beach Felony and Misdemeanor Case Lookup
Miami Beach criminal cases split into two main groups: felonies and misdemeanors. Both groups live in the same clerk database, but the search tools let you filter by case type.
Felony Records Search
Felony records cover serious crimes that can lead to prison time over one year. Common Miami Beach felony charges include grand theft, aggravated battery, sale of controlled substances, and home invasion robbery. The clerk’s portal lists felony cases under the Circuit Criminal division. Each felony case file includes the indictment or information, arraignment minutes, motions, plea paperwork, trial transcripts (if held), and the sentencing order.
Misdemeanor Case Lookup
Misdemeanor records cover smaller crimes punishable by up to one year in county jail. Miami Beach misdemeanor charges include simple assault, petit theft under $750, trespassing, and first-time DUI. These cases go through the County Criminal division of the Miami-Dade court system. The online search shows the same fields as felony cases, including charge level, plea, and sentence.
Difference Between Felony and Misdemeanor Records
The main difference is the severity of the charge and the court division that handles the case. Felonies go to Circuit Court and often have longer case lives. Misdemeanors go to County Court and close faster. Both record types are public unless sealed. The clerk portal lists both in one search but lets you filter by case type using the division dropdown.
Miami-Dade County Criminal Docket and Court Filings
The docket is the running log of every event in a criminal case. Filings are the written papers that lawyers and judges submit during the case. Both are public and live in the same online system.
Accessing Court Dockets
To view a docket, open the case detail page after running a name or case number search. The docket shows a chronological list of every court event: arraignment, pretrial conferences, motion hearings, plea dates, trial dates, and sentencing. Each entry shows the date, the judge, and a short description of what happened. This lets you see exactly where a Miami Beach criminal case stands today.
Viewing Electronic Filings
Since 2012, most Miami-Dade criminal filings are electronic through the e-Filing portal. The clerk system stores these filings as PDF images. You can click on a filing entry to open the document. Filings include motions to suppress, discovery exhibits, witness lists, sentencing memoranda, and final judgments. Some filings are restricted by the judge and will not open without a court order.
Court Document Types
The clerk system stores many kinds of court documents. The most common are the arrest affidavit, the information or indictment, the bond order, the plea agreement, the probation order, and the final disposition. Some older paper-only files from before 2009 are not fully scanned and may require an in-person visit to view.
In-Person Records Requests at Miami Beach Clerk Office
You can also walk into the clerk’s office and request criminal records in person. The Miami-Dade Clerk has a branch location that serves Miami Beach residents directly.
Location and Hours
The main Miami-Dade Clerk courthouse sits at 73 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130. The North Dade Justice Center at 15555 Biscayne Boulevard also handles criminal record requests. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The clerk closes on weekends and on official Florida court holidays.
What to Bring
Bring a valid photo ID, the full name of the person you are researching, and the date of birth if you have it. A case number speeds up the search. For certified copies, bring a form of payment the clerk accepts, which usually includes cash, money order, or credit card.
Request Process
At the public terminal, run the same search you would run online. The clerk staff can help you find older cases that are not yet digital. To get a certified copy, fill out a request slip and pay the fee at the cashier window. The clerk prints the certified copy on the spot for most criminal records filed after 1990. Older files may take several business days.
Miami Beach Police Department Criminal Records
The Miami Beach Police Department keeps a separate set of records for events that happen inside the city. These records are police records, not court records, but they feed into the court file once charges are filed.
Police Records Division
The Miami Beach Police Department Records Division handles requests for police reports, arrest affidavits, and accident reports. The division sits at 1100 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139. Phone: (305) 673-7900. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Incident and Arrest Reports
Incident reports describe what officers found when they responded to a call. They include the date, location, parties involved, witness names, and the officer’s narrative. Arrest reports describe the arrest itself, including probable cause, charges filed at booking, and property taken into custody. Both report types become public 60 days after the incident unless the case is still under active investigation.
Requesting Police Records
You can request a police record online through the Miami Beach Police public records portal, by mail, or in person. Online requests are the fastest. The fee for a standard police report is set by Florida law and is usually a small charge per page. Allow up to ten business days for a response, though most requests close within five days.
Fees and Processing Times for Criminal Records
Basic record searches through the clerk’s online portal are free. You only pay when you need a physical copy or a certified copy.
Copy Fees
The Miami-Dade Clerk charges a set fee per page for regular printed copies of criminal court records. The fee follows the rate listed in Florida Statute 28.24. Long case files with many pages can add up, so request only the documents you really need.
Certified Copy Costs
A certified copy of a Miami Beach criminal court record carries an extra certification fee on top of the per-page charge. The clerk places an official seal and signature on the certified page. Courts, employers, and government agencies usually ask for certified copies for legal matters. A Certificate of Correction or amended judgment costs a different fee set by clerk policy.
Processing Timeframes
Online searches show case data instantly. In-person requests for digital records usually finish the same day. Certified copies take minutes for current cases. Older paper-only files can take three to ten business days. Mail requests add shipping time both ways. Police report requests through the Miami Beach Police Department take up to ten business days under Florida public records law.
Sealing and Expunging Miami Beach Criminal Records
Florida law lets some people hide old criminal records from public view. The two paths are sealing and expungement.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify, you must meet all rules under Florida Statute 943.059. You cannot have been found guilty of any other criminal offense (other than a few minor traffic tickets). The case you want to seal or expunge must be fully closed, with no pending charges and no open probation. You must not have already sealed or expunged a prior case, except in limited situations. Certain charges like sex offenses, murder, and trafficking never qualify.
Application Process
Step one is to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). You fill out Form 1-9021 for sealing or Form 1-9030 for expungement, and you pay the application fee. After FDLE issues the certificate, step two is to file a petition in the Miami-Dade court that handled the original case. A judge reviews the petition and signs a final order. The clerk then notifies every agency that holds the record, including the Miami Beach Police Department, so they can seal or destroy their copy.
How Long It Takes
FDLE takes about 4 to 6 months to process a Certificate of Eligibility application. The court petition adds another 2 to 4 months. The total process from start to finish usually runs 6 to 12 months. After the order is signed, each agency has 30 days to seal or destroy its record.
Official Contact Details and Resources
Use the contacts below for Miami Beach criminal record questions. Always call ahead to confirm hours and fees before visiting in person.
Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts (Main Office): 73 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130. Phone: (305) 275-1155. Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Website: https://www.miami-dadeclerk.com/clerk/
Miami Beach Police Department Records Division: 1100 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139. Phone: (305) 673-7900. Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE): 2331 Phillips Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. Phone: (850) 410-7641. Statewide criminal history search: https://cchinet.fdle.state.fl.us/
Florida Department of Corrections Offender Search: https://www.fdc.myflorida.com/OffenderSearch/InmateInfoMenu.aspx
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions below cover the most common search requests related to Miami Beach criminal records. Each answer uses the same official sources the clerk and police department rely on. Reading these short answers helps you avoid common mistakes and get the right record on the first try.
Are Miami Beach criminal records free to view online?
Yes. The Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts online portal lets you search and view basic case data for free at any time. You can see the case number, charges, court dates, judge, and final outcome without paying. You only pay when you need a printed copy, a certified copy, or a full paper file pulled from storage. This setup follows Florida’s open government rule, which says electronic access to public court data must be free or low-cost.
How long does a Miami Beach criminal case stay on the public record?
A Miami Beach criminal case stays on the public record forever unless a judge signs a sealing or expungement order. Even old cases from 20 or 30 years ago still appear in the clerk’s online portal if they were never sealed. Arrests that did not lead to charges also stay on arrest records, though they show as “no action” in the court file. The only way to remove a record from public view is the legal sealing or expungement process through FDLE and the Miami-Dade court.
Can I run a Miami Beach criminal background check on someone else?
Yes, as long as the record is not sealed or expunged. Florida law treats criminal court files as public records, so anyone can search them. You do not need written consent from the person you are researching. Many employers, landlords, and volunteer groups run these checks during screening. If you need a fingerprint-based FBI check for federal purposes, that requires the person’s written consent under federal law.
What is the difference between a Miami Beach warrant search and a case search?
A case search looks at criminal cases that have already been filed in court. A warrant search looks at active arrest warrants that police can serve right now. The Miami-Dade Clerk’s online portal lists case data but does not always list outstanding warrants. For a live warrant check, you need to call the Miami Beach Police Department’s warrant unit or use the FDLE statewide criminal history search. A warrant is not a public court record in the same way a case file is, so it shows up in different systems.
What does a disposition mean on a Miami Beach criminal record?
The disposition is the final outcome of a criminal case. It tells you what the judge decided at the end. Common dispositions include “guilty,” “not guilty,” “dismissed,” “nolle prosequi” (dropped by the state), “adjudication withheld,” and “no contest.” A conviction shows up as “guilty” with a sentence. A “dismissed” or “nolle prosequi” means the case ended without a conviction, even if the arrest happened. The disposition appears at the top of the case detail page on the clerk’s portal.
How do I find old Miami Beach criminal records from before 1990?
For very old Miami Beach criminal cases, you may need to visit the Miami-Dade Clerk’s archive room in person. Many files from the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s exist only on paper and have not been scanned. Bring the full name, date of birth, and the year the case was filed. The archive staff can pull the physical file. There is usually a small retrieval fee and a per-page copy fee. Allow extra time because the file may need to be pulled from offsite storage.
Do dismissed Miami Beach criminal cases still show up in a search?
Yes. A dismissed Miami Beach criminal case still appears in the clerk’s online portal because the arrest and filing did happen. The disposition will show as “dismissed” or “nolle prosequi,” but the case number, the original charge, and the date remain visible. Employers and landlords who run background checks will still see the case. If you want a dismissed case hidden from public view, you must apply for sealing or expungement through FDLE and the Miami-Dade court.