Okaloosa County Inmate Roster

Okaloosa County maintains its jail roster through the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office in Crestview, Florida. Anyone looking for inmates currently in custody can access records online or contact the sheriff's office directly. The jail serves all of Okaloosa County, holding both pre-trial detainees and sentenced inmates. Search tools make it easy to find current custody information without any fees.

Find Inmates at Okaloosa County Jail

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office operates the main jail for the county. This facility holds people who have been arrested in Okaloosa County and are awaiting court proceedings. Some inmates are serving short sentences after conviction. The jail is in Crestview at 1200 East James Lee Boulevard.

Inmate records get updated regularly as new people are booked and others are released. You can search by name to find someone currently in custody. The database shows basic information like charges, booking date, and bond amount. All searches are free and open to the public.

The sheriff's office website at sheriff-okaloosa.org provides access to inmate information. You do not need an account or special permission to search. Results display in real time based on current jail population. For the most accurate information, always check the online system rather than relying on older lists or reports.

If you cannot find someone in the county jail database, they may have been released or transferred. People sometimes move to state prison after sentencing. Check the Florida Department of Corrections database for inmates in state custody. Recent arrestees usually show up in county records within a few hours of booking.

Okaloosa Sheriff's Office Contact Details

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office is located at 1200 East James Lee Boulevard, Crestview, Florida 32539. The main phone number is 850-651-7400. This office handles all law enforcement and jail operations for Okaloosa County.

For questions about inmates, start with the online search tool. If you need more help, call during business hours. Staff can answer questions about visitation, inmate mail, and phone calls. They can also assist if you have trouble using the online database or need information not shown in the search results.

The sheriff's office website provides additional resources for families and friends of inmates. You can find visitation schedules, commissary deposit information, and rules for sending mail or packages. The site also explains how the booking process works and what happens after arrest in Okaloosa County.

What Okaloosa Inmate Records Show

Each inmate record includes basic identifying information. You will see the person's full name and booking number. The booking date shows when they were brought to jail. Physical description includes age, race, gender, height, and weight.

Charge information lists what crimes the person is accused of committing. These are allegations, not convictions. People in jail are often awaiting trial and have not been found guilty. The charges shown come from law enforcement reports and court filings.

Bond amount appears if a judge has set bail. Some people cannot bond out because the judge denied bail or set it too high to pay. Others may have already posted bond and been released. The database reflects current custody status, so you can tell if someone is still in jail.

Facility location shows where in the jail complex the person is housed. Okaloosa County may have different housing units for different security levels. The record might also include a projected release date for people serving short sentences. Contact the jail directly if you need information not shown in the online record.

Florida Public Records Law and Inmates

Florida's public records law, Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, makes most jail records available to anyone. You can search for and view inmate information without giving a reason. The law applies to all counties in Florida, including Okaloosa County.

The online inmate search shows information that is already public under state law. You do not need the inmate's permission to look them up. Family members, employers, landlords, journalists, and the general public all have equal access to this data.

Some inmate information stays confidential. Medical records and mental health details are not public. Security procedures and certain personal identifiers may also be restricted. The online database only shows information that Florida law makes available to everyone.

For records beyond the online search, file a formal public records request with the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office. This might include booking photos, incident reports, or detailed custody history. The sheriff's office can charge copying fees for large requests, but simple online searches are always free.

Cities in Okaloosa County

Okaloosa County includes several cities and towns. The county seat is Crestview, where the main jail facility is located. Other cities include Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Destin, Valparaiso, Mary Esther, Shalimar, and Laurel Hill. All arrestees from these cities go to the county jail.

Police departments in Okaloosa County cities make arrests within their jurisdictions. After arrest, people are transported to the county jail for booking and detention. No city in Okaloosa County operates its own jail. The sheriff's office handles all custody operations for the entire county.

If you are looking for someone arrested in any Okaloosa County city, use the county-wide inmate search. Do not contact city police departments for jail information. They do not maintain separate inmate rosters or detention facilities. All inmates from anywhere in Okaloosa County appear in the sheriff's office database.

County Jail vs State Prison

Okaloosa County jail holds people for relatively short periods. This includes those awaiting trial and those serving sentences of less than a year. People convicted of felonies with longer sentences transfer to Florida state prison. The county and state systems are separate.

If someone is not in the county jail roster, they may be in state custody. The Florida Department of Corrections operates the state inmate search. This database covers all state prisons in Florida. People sometimes transfer from county to state custody weeks or months after sentencing.

Recent arrestees are almost always in county jail first. State prisons only receive people after conviction and sentencing in court. Use the county search for anyone arrested recently. Check the state system for people serving longer sentences.

Some people move between county and state custody multiple times. They might go to state prison, then come back to county jail for a new charge or court appearance. Both databases update regularly, but transfers can take time to process and show up in the records.

Nearby Counties

Okaloosa County borders several other Florida counties. Santa Rosa County is to the west. Walton County is to the east. These neighboring counties operate their own jails with separate inmate databases.

If you cannot find someone in Okaloosa County, they may have been arrested in a neighboring county. County boundaries are not always obvious to residents. Arrests sometimes happen across county lines from where someone lives. Each county sheriff maintains a separate jail and inmate roster.