Broward Jail Population

Broward County maintains one of the largest inmate populations in Florida through the Broward Sheriff's Office. With facilities in Fort Lauderdale and throughout the county, the sheriff's office manages thousands of inmates at any given time. This includes people arrested in cities like Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Miramar, and many others. The jail system holds both pretrial detainees and sentenced inmates serving terms of less than a year. Records are updated constantly as arrests occur and releases happen around the clock in this busy urban county.

Search Broward Sheriff Arrest Records

The Broward Sheriff's Office website is sheriff.org. They provide arrest and booking information for people in custody. You can search by name to find out if someone has been arrested in Broward County.

The search tool shows current bookings and recent arrests. Enter a last name or full name to see results. The system displays booking photos, charges, and bond information. You can see when someone was arrested and where they are being held.

Broward County processes thousands of arrests each month. The online system updates throughout the day as new bookings occur. If you search for someone who was just arrested, their information may take a few hours to appear in the database.

For questions about an inmate, call the Broward Sheriff's Office at 954-831-5900. Staff can provide current custody status and help with questions about visitation or inmate services. The main office is at 555 SE 1st Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33301.

Broward County Detention Facilities

Broward County operates multiple detention facilities. The Main Jail is in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The North Broward Bureau is in Pompano Beach. There is also the Paul Rein Detention Facility and the Joseph V. Conte Facility. Each location houses different types of inmates based on security level and legal status.

When you search for an inmate, the record shows which facility holds them. Some inmates are in maximum security units. Others are in general population. Women and men are housed separately. The facility location appears in the online search results so you know where to direct mail or arrange visits in Broward County, Florida.

The jail system is large and complex. Inmates may be moved between facilities. If you plan to visit, confirm the location first. Visitation rules vary by facility. Some allow in-person visits while others use video visitation. Check with the sheriff's office for current procedures at each location.

Understanding Arrest Information

Arrest records in Broward County show why someone was taken into custody. The charges listed are accusations, not convictions. Many people in jail have not been found guilty of anything yet. They are waiting for their day in court.

Bond amounts appear in most records. A judge sets bail based on the charges and the person's criminal history. Some people can post bond and go home while awaiting trial. Others must stay in jail. No bond means the person cannot be released before their court date.

Booking photos are part of the public record. These photos, also called mugshots, are taken when someone is arrested. They appear in the online search along with physical description and charge information. These images become part of the permanent record even if charges are later dropped.

Arrest dates and times are recorded in the system. This helps track how long someone has been in custody. For people serving short sentences, the system calculates projected release dates. These dates can change based on court actions or good time credits earned while in jail.

Public Access to Jail Records

Florida law makes arrest records public information. Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, requires government agencies to share most records with anyone who asks. Broward County follows this law by posting arrest information online. You do not need to explain why you want to see someone's record.

The arrest search is free and open 24 hours a day. Anyone can use it. Family members, employers, landlords, or just curious citizens all have the same access. There are no restrictions on who can search as long as the information is already public under Florida law.

Some details remain confidential. Medical records are not public. Social Security numbers and certain identifying information may be redacted. But names, charges, bonds, and booking photos are all open records that anyone can view.

If you need records beyond what appears in the online search, you can make a formal public records request. The Broward Sheriff's Office handles these requests. They may charge fees for copying or researching extensive records. But the basic arrest search is always free to use in Broward County, Florida.

Major Cities Using Broward Jails

Broward County includes numerous cities with populations over 75,000. Fort Lauderdale is the county seat and largest city. Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, and Miramar are other major cities in the county.

Additional large cities include Coral Springs, Pompano Beach, Davie, Sunrise, Plantation, and Deerfield Beach. All of these cities rely on the Broward Sheriff's Office for detention services.

None of these cities operate their own jails. Municipal police departments make arrests, but they bring everyone to county facilities. This means all inmates from throughout Broward County appear in the same sheriff's office database. It does not matter which city someone was arrested in. They all go through the same booking process and appear in the same search system.

County vs State Custody

Broward County jail is for short-term detention. People awaiting trial stay here. People sentenced to less than a year serve their time in county jail. The sheriff runs these facilities.

Florida state prisons hold people with longer sentences. Anyone convicted of a felony with more than a year to serve goes to state prison. The Florida Department of Corrections operates all state facilities. These are separate from county jails.

If someone is not in Broward County jail, check the Florida Department of Corrections inmate search. This database covers everyone in state custody. People transfer from county to state after sentencing. The transfer can take weeks or even months to complete.

New arrests always start in county jail. State prison only receives people after they have been convicted and sentenced. Search the county system for recent arrests. Use the state system for people serving long prison terms in Broward County, Florida.

Surrounding Counties

Broward County sits on Florida's southeast coast. Palm Beach County is to the north. Miami-Dade County is to the south. Collier County is to the west.

Each county runs its own jail with separate records. If you cannot find someone in Broward County, they might have been arrested in a neighboring area. County boundaries are not always clear, especially in urban areas where cities spread across county lines. Check nearby counties if your Broward County search does not produce results.