Search Okeechobee County Jail Inmates

Okeechobee County holds inmates at the county jail run by the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office. The facility is in the city of Okeechobee at 504 Northwest 4th Street. Anyone can search for current inmates using online tools provided by the sheriff's office. These searches are free and available around the clock for residents and the general public.

Okeechobee Inmate Search Online

The sheriff's office website at okeesheriff.org provides access to inmate information. You can search by name to find someone currently in custody. The database updates regularly as new people are booked and others are released. Results show basic details like charges, booking date, and bond amount.

All searches are free and do not require an account. You do not need to give a reason for looking up inmate information. The system is open to everyone under Florida's public records law. Search results appear in real time based on current jail population in Okeechobee County.

If a search returns no results, the person may have been released or transferred. Check the spelling of the name and try different variations. Some people are listed under nicknames or middle names. You can also search the Florida Department of Corrections database if the person might be in state prison instead of county jail.

Contact the Okeechobee Sheriff's Office

The Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office is at 504 Northwest 4th Street, Okeechobee, Florida 34972. The main phone number is 863-763-3117. This office handles law enforcement and jail operations for Okeechobee County.

For questions about an inmate, try the online search first. If you need more help, call during business hours. Staff can answer questions about visitation, sending mail to inmates, and making phone deposits. They can also assist if you have trouble using the online search tool or need information not shown in the database.

The sheriff's office provides additional resources for families and friends of inmates. You can find visitation schedules, rules for sending packages, and information about inmate services on their website. The site also explains how to deposit money for commissary purchases or phone calls.

Information in Inmate Records

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

Charge information lists the crimes the person is accused of. These are allegations, not convictions. People in jail are often awaiting trial. They have not been found guilty yet. The charges come from police reports and court documents.

Bond amount appears if a judge has set bail. Some people have no bond. This means they must stay in jail until their court date. Others may have posted bond and been released. The database shows current custody status so you can tell if someone is still in jail or has been let out.

The record may also show which facility or housing unit holds the inmate. Okeechobee County has different areas within the jail for different security levels. For people serving short sentences, the record might include a projected release date. Contact the jail directly if you need information not shown online.

Public Records Access in Florida

Florida's public records law makes most jail records available to anyone. Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, gives citizens the right to view and copy government records. This includes inmate information from county jails. You do not need permission from the inmate to search for them.

The online inmate search shows information that is already public under state law. Family members, employers, journalists, and the general public all have the same access. No one needs to give a reason for looking up inmate records in Okeechobee County.

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

For records beyond the online search, file a public records request with the sheriff's office. This might include booking photos, incident reports, or detailed custody history. The office may charge copying fees for extensive requests. Simple online searches are always free of charge.

Cities and Towns in Okeechobee County

Okeechobee County includes the city of Okeechobee, which is the county seat. This is where the main jail facility is located. Other communities in the county include Taylor Creek and Buckhead Ridge. All arrestees from anywhere in Okeechobee County go to the same county jail.

The Okeechobee Police Department makes arrests within city limits. After arrest, people are transported to the county jail for booking. The county sheriff's office operates the only detention facility in the area. No city in Okeechobee County has its own jail.

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

Differences Between County and State Custody

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

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

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 in the past few days or weeks. Check the state system for people serving longer sentences.

Some inmates move between county and state custody multiple times. They might go to state prison, then return to county jail for a new charge or court hearing. Both databases update regularly, but transfers take time to process. Always check both systems if you cannot find someone in one place.

Florida Department of Corrections Records

The Florida Department of Corrections maintains the state prison system. Their online search tool shows people in state custody. This is separate from county jail records. The state database includes people serving felony sentences of more than one year.

You can search the state system at fdc.myflorida.com. Enter a name to find someone in state prison. The results show current location, charges, and projected release date. This tool also shows people on probation or parole supervision.

If someone was recently sentenced in Okeechobee County court, they may still be in county jail awaiting transfer to state prison. The transfer process can take several weeks. Check both the county and state databases to find someone who was recently sentenced to a long prison term.

Nearby Counties

Okeechobee County borders several other Florida counties. St. Lucie County is to the east. Martin County is to the southeast. Glades County is to the south and west. Highlands County is to the northwest.

Each county operates its own jail with a separate inmate database. If you cannot find someone in Okeechobee County, they may have been arrested in a neighboring county. County boundaries are not always clear to residents. Arrests sometimes happen across county lines from where someone lives.