Union County Florida recent arrests are public records kept by the Union County Sheriff’s Office in Lake Butler. The sheriff’s office runs the county jail and handles every arrest made inside the county. Residents, family members, attorneys, journalists, and employers can search arrest details, booking dates, charges, and bond amounts through official sheriff’s office channels. Most records land on the public roster within hours of intake at the detention center. This page explains how Union County arrest records work, where to look for them, what they contain, and which legal rules apply in 2026.
What Union County Florida Recent Arrests Contain
Each Union County arrest creates a written file tied to one person. The file starts at the moment a deputy takes a suspect into custody. It ends when the person leaves the county jail through release, transfer, or sentencing. Every step between those points leaves a paper trail. The records tied to that paper trail form the public arrest history for that individual.
How Arrests Are Processed in Union County
Arrests in Union County follow a fixed path. A deputy sheriff, a Lake Butler police officer, or a Florida Highway Patrol trooper makes the arrest in the field. The officer transports the arrestee to the Union County Detention Center on West Main Street. At the jail, staff complete the booking. Booking covers fingerprints, a photograph, a medical screening, a personal property inventory, and a list of the alleged charges. The booking officer enters all of this into the sheriff’s records system. The file then moves into the public arrest database.
What Booking Records Show
A Union County booking record carries a fixed set of facts. The record lists the arrestee’s full legal name, date of birth, race, sex, height, and weight. It shows the booking date, booking time, and arresting agency. It lists each charge by Florida statute number. It shows bond amounts set at first appearance. It shows the assigned housing unit and projected release date when known. Many records also carry a booking photo taken at intake.
Where to Find Union County Arrest Records
Three official channels carry Union County arrest data. The fastest channel is the sheriff’s office website. The second channel is a phone call to the detention center. The third channel is an in-person visit to the sheriff’s office records window during business hours. Each channel returns the same core data, but the format differs.
Union County Sheriff’s Office Online Tools
The Union County Sheriff’s Office maintains an online inmate roster through its official website. The roster refreshes each day as new bookings land in the system. Users enter a last name, first name, or booking date to pull up matching records. The roster shows current inmates only. People released after their booking date no longer appear in the search results. For historical records, the user must file a public records request with the sheriff’s records clerk.
In-Person Records Requests
Walk-in requests are accepted at the Union County Sheriff’s Office located at 55 West Main Street in Lake Butler. The records window opens at 8:00 AM and closes at 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, except state holidays. Visitors must show a photo ID. The clerk pulls the requested file and charges a copying fee per page under Florida Statute 119.07. Most same-day requests for booking photos and bond sheets are filled within minutes.
Phone-Based Inmate Lookups
The detention center answers booking questions over the phone at (386) 496-2500. Callers should ask for the records or booking desk. Staff confirm whether a named person is in custody, list the booking date, and quote bond amounts. Phone staff do not release arrest narratives or incident reports over the phone. Those documents require a written request under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes.
Types of Arrest Data Available
Union County makes four main types of arrest data public. Each type serves a different purpose. Knowing the type needed saves time when filing a records request.
Booking Photos and Mugshots
Booking photos are taken at the intake desk within minutes of arrival at the Union County Detention Center. Photos are part of the booking record. Florida law treats booking photos as public records. The sheriff’s office posts current photos on the inmate roster. Released inmates’ photos drop off the public roster after release. Third-party websites may keep copies of old photos, but the sheriff’s office is the original source.
Charge Details and Bond Data
Each booking record lists the charges filed at the time of arrest. Charges are written by Florida statute number, such as 893.13 for a controlled substance offense or 784.03 for simple battery. Bond amounts are set by the county court judge at first appearance, which usually occurs within 24 hours of arrest. Bond sheets show the total bond, any separate hold for another agency, and conditions such as no-contact orders.
Court Dates and Case Status
After booking, the clerk of court assigns a case number and a first court date. The court date appears on the inmate roster and on the Union County Clerk of Court’s online docket. The docket is separate from the sheriff’s roster. The docket shows arraignment, plea, and trial dates. It also shows the assigned judge, the assigned prosecutor, and the defense attorney of record when one is on file.
How Often Union County Records Get Updated
The sheriff’s office updates the inmate roster once each business day. New bookings appear the morning after intake. Releases appear the same day they occur. Holiday schedules slow the refresh rate. A booking made late on a Friday night may not show on the public roster until the following Monday morning.
Daily Roster Refresh Schedules
The refresh cycle starts at midnight each day. The records clerk runs a query that pulls all bookings entered since the last refresh. The clerk posts the new roster by 6:00 AM. Users checking the roster at 7:00 AM see all bookings from the prior 24 hours. Users checking at 11:00 PM the same day see the same set plus any same-day releases.
Delays Between Arrest and Publication
Several steps slow the publication of a new arrest. Field arrest takes minutes to hours. Transport to the jail takes 15 to 60 minutes depending on the location in the county. Booking takes 60 to 180 minutes. Data entry takes another 30 to 90 minutes. The full pipeline runs 3 to 6 hours for most arrests. Complicated arrests, such as those involving injuries or multiple suspects, take longer.
Florida Public Records Laws That Apply
Three Florida laws shape what Union County can release. Chapter 119 establishes the right to inspect public records. Section 901.43 limits how booking photos can be used by commercial websites. Section 943.059 governs sealing and expungement of arrest records. Each law applies to Union County arrest records in the same way it applies to records in any other Florida county.
Chapter 119 Public Records Law
Florida Statute Chapter 119 says any record made or received by a public agency in the course of official business is open for inspection and copying. Arrest records fall under this rule. The sheriff’s office must respond to records requests in a reasonable time. Reasonable time usually means same-day for simple lookups and up to 10 business days for complex requests. The agency may charge only the actual cost of duplication.
Sealed and Expunged Records
An arrest record that has been sealed or expunged under Florida Statute 943.059 must be removed from public view. The sheriff’s office updates its roster to drop sealed cases. Court records held by the Union County Clerk of Court also drop sealed cases from the public docket. Anyone who sees a sealed arrest on a third-party site should report it to the sheriff’s office so the record can be corrected.
Mugshot Removal Rules Under 901.43
Florida Statute 901.43 targets websites that post booking photos and then charge a fee to remove them. The law lets people sue sites that demand payment for removal. The law does not stop the sheriff’s office from posting photos. The law also does not stop a person from filing a free public records request for their own booking photo. People who want their photo removed for free can contact the sheriff’s records clerk directly.
Limits on What Union County Can Release
Some arrest records stay private even in a public records state. Active investigative files are exempt until the case closes. Juvenile arrests, defined as any person under 18 at the time of arrest, are sealed under Florida law. Medical data gathered at intake is exempt. Home addresses of sworn law enforcement officers are exempt. Records tied to a victim of certain offenses are exempt to protect the victim.
Juvenile Records in Union County
Anyone under 18 at the time of arrest is processed through the juvenile division of the Union County court system. Juvenile booking records are not posted on the public inmate roster. Juvenile case files are sealed under Florida Statute 985.04. Only the juvenile, the juvenile’s attorney, the parents, and the court have access to those records. The sheriff’s office does not post juvenile photos online.
Records Tied to Active Investigations
When a case is under active investigation, the sheriff’s office can withhold certain details. The fact of the arrest stays public. The booking photo stays public. The narrative of what happened before the arrest can be withheld. Once the investigation closes, the full incident report becomes public. Closed investigative files can be requested through the records clerk.
How Bond Works After a Union County Arrest
After booking at the Union County Detention Center, every arrestee goes before a county court judge for first appearance. First appearance happens within 24 hours of arrest under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.040. The judge reviews the arrest affidavit, the charges, and the arrestee’s criminal history. The judge sets a bond amount or orders a hold without bond. The judge also decides conditions of release such as no-contact orders or travel limits.
First Appearance and Bond Hearings
First appearance takes place by video link between the Union County Detention Center and the county courthouse in Lake Butler. The arrestee does not go to the courtroom in person. The judge reads the probable cause affidavit aloud. The prosecutor may argue for a high bond or a no-bond hold. The defense attorney may argue for a lower bond or a release on recognizance. The judge announces the bond on the record. The bond decision is entered into the court docket within minutes.
Types of Bond in Union County
Union County judges set bonds in several standard forms. A cash bond requires the full bond amount in cash. A surety bond uses a licensed bail bond agent who charges a fee set by Florida law. A release on recognizance (ROR) requires no payment but ties the arrestee to court-ordered conditions. A no-bond hold applies to serious offenses such as capital felonies, violations of domestic violence injunctions, or cases where the defendant is already on felony probation.
Bond Payment Methods
The Union County Clerk of Court accepts cash bond payments at the courthouse during business hours. Credit card bond payments are accepted online through the clerk’s payment portal. Bail bond agents post surety bonds at the detention center 24 hours a day. A bail bond agent charges a non-refundable fee, set by Florida Statute 903.035, that goes to the agent and not to the court. Cash bond refunds, after court costs and fines are deducted, go back to the payer after the case ends.
Using Union County Records for Background Checks
Union County arrest data is one of several sources used in Florida background checks. Employers, landlords, and licensing boards all pull public arrest records in different ways. Knowing which source to use for each purpose saves time and avoids mistakes.
Public Records vs. Certified Records
A public records check pulls booking data from the sheriff’s inmate roster and court docket. Public records checks are fast and free. They show arrests, charges, and current custody status. A certified background check comes from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement through an official request. Certified checks show full criminal history with dispositions, sealed records, and out-of-state pickup. Certified checks cost a fee and require the subject’s written consent for most uses.
Employer Use of Arrest Data
Florida law limits how employers can use arrest records in hiring decisions. Under the Florida Civil Rights Act, employers cannot reject an applicant based on an arrest alone. Employers must wait for a conviction or a guilty plea before taking action. Certain industries, such as healthcare, childcare, and education, get an exception and can use arrest data to disqualify candidates for specific roles.
Tenant Screening Limits
Landlords in Florida can request criminal history from applicants, including Union County arrest records. Landlords must follow the federal Fair Housing Act and avoid rules that screen out protected classes. A single arrest without a conviction cannot be the sole reason to deny housing. A pattern of convictions tied to property damage or violent behavior can support a denial when applied evenly to every applicant.
Union County Sheriff’s Office Contact Details
The Union County Sheriff’s Office is the central point of contact for arrest records in Union County, Florida. Office staff handle records requests, inmate phone calls, and bond questions at the listed location during business hours. The detention center operates 24 hours a day for inmate bookings, releases, and emergency inquiries. The mailing address and email below are used for written public records requests under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes.
| Contact Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Agency | Union County Sheriff’s Office |
| Street Address | 55 West Main Street, Lake Butler, FL 32054 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 665, Lake Butler, FL 32054 |
| Phone Number | (386) 496-2500 |
| Office Hours | Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Detention Hours | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week |
| Official Website | unionsheriff.org |
| Records Email | records@unionsheriff.org |
| County Seat | Lake Butler, Florida |
| Judicial Circuit | 3rd Judicial Circuit of Florida |
| Booking Photo Format | Front-facing color photo, JPG format |
| Copy Fee Per Page | $0.15 per single-sided page |
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions below cover the most common concerns from people searching for Union County Florida recent arrests. Each answer uses plain language and points to the right office or rule. The answers come from current Florida public records law, the Union County Sheriff’s Office practice, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement policies in effect for 2026. Each answer aims to give a clear, direct path for the next step a reader should take.
How fast does a new arrest appear online?
A new Union County arrest appears on the public inmate roster the morning after booking. Booking takes 3 to 6 hours from the time of arrest and includes fingerprinting, photographing, medical screening, and data entry. The records clerk refreshes the roster by 6:00 AM each business day. Arrests made late Friday or during weekends appear on Monday morning. Holiday weekends can add another day to the wait, and major holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day push the refresh to the next business day. For the very latest booking, calling the detention center at (386) 496-2500 gives a same-day answer even before the website updates.
Can I search Union County arrests by name only?
Yes. The inmate roster accepts last name, first name, and booking date filters. Searches by name alone work but may pull up multiple people with the same name. Adding a date of birth narrows the result and avoids confusion between relatives or individuals with identical names. Date of birth is not required for the search, but staff at the records window can use it to confirm a match when two results look alike. Searches by partial names, such as a last name only, return a wider list that the user must sort by hand. Aliases and middle names do not show up unless they were entered at booking.
Do I have to pay to see Union County booking photos?
No. Booking photos are free to view on the inmate roster at the Union County Sheriff’s Office website. Free printed copies can also be requested from the sheriff’s records clerk during business hours at the West Main Street office. Florida Statute 901.43 blocks third-party sites from charging a removal fee for booking photos. Anyone who paid a third-party site to remove a Union County booking photo can file for a refund and may have a legal claim under that statute. The statute allows damages of $5,000 per violating post, plus attorney fees, against sites that demand payment for removal.
Are juvenile arrests in Union County public?
No. Juvenile arrests are sealed under Florida Statute 985.04. The sheriff’s office does not post juvenile booking records on the public inmate roster. Juvenile cases are handled by the juvenile division of the Union County court, which sits in the same courthouse as adult cases. Only the juvenile, the parents or legal guardians, the defense attorney, the prosecutor, and the judge can view those records. Adult records for the same incident stay public even when the related juvenile file stays sealed. Photos of juvenile arrestees are never posted online under any circumstance.
What if my arrest record has a mistake?
Contact the Union County Sheriff’s Office records clerk at (386) 496-2500 during business hours. Bring a photo ID and any documents that show the error, such as a court order, a birth certificate, or a name change document. The clerk pulls the booking file and reviews the identifiers against the documents provided. Confirmed errors are corrected in the official record by the records supervisor. The corrected record replaces the old entry on the public roster. Third-party sites that republished the old data must be notified separately, and the sheriff’s office can provide a written correction letter that the person can send to those sites to fix the listing.
Can a Union County arrest be removed from public view?
An arrest can be sealed or expunged only through a court order under Florida Statute 943.059. Eligible offenses include certain misdemeanors, first-time drug possession charges, and cases that ended in a dismissal, nolle prosequi, or acquittal. The process starts with a certificate of eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which costs $75 in 2026. Once FDLE issues the certificate, the person files a petition with the Union County Clerk of Court. The court holds a hearing and signs an order. After the order, the sheriff’s office removes the record from public view and updates the inmate roster database.
What charges show up most often in Union County arrests?
Union County arrest data from recent years shows five main charge categories. Battery and simple assault lead the list and account for the largest share of misdemeanor arrests. Possession of a controlled substance is second, driven by methamphetamine and opioid cases that track with state trends. Driving under the influence ranks third. Violation of probation is fourth, which reflects the high number of people already under court supervision. Failure to appear in court is fifth, and it overlaps with the violation of probation category. Most arrests in these five categories end in a bond release within 24 to 48 hours of booking, with the rest moving to pretrial detention or transfer to a state facility.