Union County 72-hour booking records show every person arrested and booked into the county jail in Lake Butler during the past three days. The Union County Sheriff’s Office runs the jail, files each arrest, and posts the list online for free public viewing.
Each entry lists the arrestee’s name, charges, bond amount, and booking date. This page covers what the report is, how to read it, who maintains it, and how Florida law protects public access to it.
What the 72-Hour Booking Report Covers
The 72-hour booking report is a public list of arrests that happened in Union County over the last three days. It comes straight from the jail’s intake system. When a law officer makes an arrest anywhere in the county, the suspect is brought to the Union County Jail in Lake Butler. Staff at the jail record the person’s identity, photograph them, and enter the charges into the county booking database. That same data feeds the public report within hours of the booking.
Definition and Purpose of the Report
The report serves one main job: it lets the public see who was recently arrested in Union County. The list refreshes each business day as new bookings come in. Anyone can read it. The report does not prove guilt. It only shows that an arrest took place and what charge led to it. Court outcomes, dropped charges, or acquittals appear in later court records, not on the booking list. The Union County Sheriff’s Office uses the report to meet its duties under Florida’s open records laws.
Agency That Maintains the Records
The Union County Sheriff’s Office writes and publishes each entry. The office sits at 55 SW 6th Avenue, Lake Butler, FL 32054. Sheriff’s deputies handle the arrests, and jail staff handle the intake. The Sheriff’s Office stores the full record and decides what gets posted on the public site. Older booking records, going back months or years, are also kept by the Sheriff’s Office but are not on the 72-hour page. Records that go back further may require a request to the Clerk of Court.
Florida Public Records Law Protects Access
Florida law makes booking records public. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes gives any person the right to view or copy government records without giving a reason. The Union County booking report follows this rule. Florida Statute 119.07 says people can inspect and copy records. The Sheriff’s Office may charge a small fee for paper copies. Online viewing through the official site is free. Juvenile records fall under Florida Statute 985.04 and are not posted on the public 72-hour list.
How to Search Union County Booking Records
Three main ways exist to search Union County booking records. People can use the official online tools, call the Sheriff’s Office, or visit in person. All three methods reach the same jail database. Each method works for different needs, from a quick name check to a full records request.
Official Sheriff’s Office Website
The fastest way to read the 72-hour booking report is online. Go to the Union County Sheriff’s Office website at unioncountyfl.gov/sheriff. The site hosts the inmate search tool, the 72-hour booking report, and a separate page for older booking records. Users type a full legal name into the search box. The system returns results that match the name in the jail database. Each result shows booking date, charges, and bond. The page is free and works on phones, tablets, and computers.
Phone and Email Requests
If the online search does not return what the user needs, the Sheriff’s Office accepts phone and email requests. Call (386) 496-3120 during business hours. Staff can run a name search and read off basic booking details over the phone. Email requests go to info@unioncountyfl.gov. The user sends a name and date of birth, plus any known details about the arrest. Staff reply with the booking data or tell the requester how to get a full copy of the record.
Walk-In Visits to the Sheriff’s Office
People can also visit the Sheriff’s Office in person. The lobby opens during regular business hours. Visitors ask to view booking records at the front desk. Staff pull the file or print the report. Florida Statute 119.07 gives visitors the right to inspect the record on site. Paper copies may carry a small per-page fee. Walk-in visits work best for users who want certified copies or who need help running the search.
Data Fields in Each Booking Entry
Each row on the Union County 72-hour booking report carries the same core data fields. These fields come straight from the jail intake form. They tell who was booked, when, on what charge, and what bond a judge set. Some fields appear only when they apply, such as bond amount or hold status.
Personal Identifiers
The booking record shows the arrestee’s full legal name. Some entries list aliases or nicknames if the arrestee gave them at intake. The record carries the date of birth and a physical description, which includes height, weight, and eye color. A booking photo, also called a mugshot, is taken at intake and becomes part of the record. The booking number is a unique code that ties every charge from one arrest to a single event.
Charges and Bond Amounts
Each charge tied to the arrest appears on the booking entry. Charges range from misdemeanors like driving under the influence or petty theft to felonies like burglary, aggravated assault, or drug trafficking. The bond amount shows up once a judge sets it. Some entries list “no bond” when the charge is serious or when the suspect faces a hold from another agency. Bond amounts can change after the first court hearing, so the booking list only shows the bond set at intake.
Booking Date, Time, and Location
The booking date and time mark when the suspect entered the jail. The arrest location shows where the officer took the person into custody, which can be a city street, a home, a business, or a traffic stop. The arresting agency field lists which law enforcement unit made the arrest. Most arrests in Union County are handled by the Sheriff’s Office, but the Florida Highway Patrol and other state agencies can also book suspects into the county jail.
Mugshot Rules and Removal Requests
Booking photos, also called mugshots, are taken at the jail door. They become public records under Florida law. The Union County Sheriff’s Office posts mugshots along with the 72-hour booking report on the official site. Florida law also sets rules about how mugshots can be used and how people can get them removed once a case ends.
Florida Statute 901.43
Florida Statute 901.43 controls mugshot sharing across the state. The law bans websites from charging a fee to take down a booking photo. If someone was arrested and the case ends with dropped charges, a not-guilty verdict, or a full pardon, that person can ask any site that hosts the photo to remove it. The law covers official government sites, such as the Sheriff’s Office page, and third-party mugshot sites alike.
How to Request Removal
To remove a mugshot from the Union County Sheriff’s Office site, the arrestee sends a written request. The request includes the booking or case number and proof that the case ended in their favor. Proof can be a court order, a dismissal paper, or a verdict form. Staff review the request and take down the photo from the official site. The same right applies to third-party sites that copied the image. Users contact each site directly and cite Florida Statute 901.43.
Broader Statewide and County Records
The 72-hour booking report covers only the last three days at the county jail. Records that go back further live in other databases. Statewide tools collect arrest data from all 67 Florida counties, including Union County. These tools help when a person needs older records, statewide searches, or post-conviction data.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)
FDLE runs the state’s central criminal history database through the Computerized Criminal History system, known as CCH. The tool lets users search arrest records from every Florida county, including Union County. Searches cost $24 each. Results show arrests, charges, and case outcomes. Users can also send written public records requests to FDLE’s public records office. The main phone line is (850) 410-7000. FDLE records cover all counties and reach back through a person’s full arrest history in the state.
Clerk of Court Records
The Union County Clerk of Court keeps court case files. Once a booking leads to a court case, the Clerk’s office tracks each filing, motion, hearing, and judgment. Court records show what happened after the arrest. Users looking for case outcomes, sentencing details, or sealed records should contact the Clerk. Court files may be free to view online through the Clerk’s official portal or may require a visit in person.
Florida Department of Corrections
People who go to state prison after a conviction appear in the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) database. The FDC inmate search shows people currently in state prison or on state supervision. Since Union County is small and has no state prison inside its borders, most convicted inmates transfer to other facilities. The FDC portal is free to search and gives current location, release date, and offense history.
Florida Department of State Directory
The Florida Department of State runs a directory of county jail search tools. The directory links to the Union County booking page and to every other county’s jail search. Users who cannot reach the Union County Sheriff’s site directly can use the directory as a backup. The state library system maintains the directory and updates it when counties change their URLs.
The directory stays updated as counties change their websites.
Search Tips and Common Pitfalls
Union County is one of the smallest counties in Florida by population. The booking report carries fewer entries than reports from larger counties. Still, a few steps help users get the best results from any search.
Best Practices for Accurate Results
Use the arrestee’s full legal name as it appears on a government ID. Avoid nicknames when possible. If the name is common, narrow results with the booking date. Check both the inmate search page and the 72-hour booking report. The inmate search covers current inmates, while the booking report covers the last three days of arrests. Some names appear on one list but not the other.
Errors to Avoid
Do not rely on third-party mugshot sites as a sole source. These sites often pull old data and may not update when charges are dropped. Stick to the official Union County Sheriff’s Office site for the most current records. Do not assume a booking entry proves guilt. An arrest is not a conviction. For the final outcome of any case, contact the Union County Clerk of Court.
Contacting the Office for Older Records
Records older than 72 hours do not appear on the public booking report. To get those records, call the Sheriff’s Office at (386) 496-3120. Staff can run a search of older bookings. For records that go back years, the Clerk of Court is the better source. The Clerk’s office keeps full case files and can confirm case dispositions.
Geography of Union County Arrests
Union County covers a small area in north-central Florida. All arrests made inside the county, no matter which city or town, go through the same jail in Lake Butler. This makes the booking report a single source for the whole county.
Cities and Towns Served
The county seat is Lake Butler. Other towns include Raiford and Worthington Springs. State correctional facilities sit near Raiford, which means some arrests in that area involve state inmates being held on new charges. Every arrest in any part of Union County ends up at the same jail. The 72-hour report covers the entire county, including its rural land and small towns.
Nearby Counties and Their Booking Reports
Union County borders four other Florida counties. Each runs its own jail and posts its own 72-hour booking report. If users are not sure where an arrest took place, they can check the location and match it to the right county. The four border counties are Alachua, Baker, Bradford, and Columbia. Each county’s Sheriff’s Office website carries the same type of public booking report.
| County | County Seat | Border Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Alachua County | Gainesville | South |
| Baker County | Macclenny | North |
| Bradford County | Starke | East |
| Columbia County | Lake City | West |
These neighboring counties use the same public records system and post their own 72-hour reports on their official sites.
Quick Reference for Union County Booking Records
The table below gathers the core contact points and key facts about Union County booking records. Users can save this section for fast reference when they need to run a search or file a records request.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Office | Union County Sheriff’s Office |
| Address | 55 SW 6th Avenue, Lake Butler, FL 32054 |
| Phone | (386) 496-3120 |
| info@unioncountyfl.gov | |
| Website | unioncountyfl.gov/sheriff |
| Report Window | Last 72 hours (3 days) |
| Cost to View | Free |
| Public Under | Florida Statute Chapter 119 |
| Mugshot Removal | Florida Statute 901.43 |
Bookmark the official site or save the phone number for fast lookup when an arrest needs to be confirmed.
Statewide Records Access Through FDLE
For searches that go beyond Union County, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement offers statewide records. FDLE collects arrest data from every Florida county. Users who need a full arrest history can run a statewide check through FDLE’s tools.
FDLE Public Records Office
FDLE’s public records office accepts written requests for criminal history data. The office processes requests for official state-level background checks. Users can mail a request form or submit one online. The main phone line for the public records office is (850) 410-7000. Each search returns arrests, charges, and case outcomes from across Florida, including Union County.
FDLE acts as the central clearinghouse for criminal justice data across every Florida county, Union County included.
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions below cover the most common points users ask about Union County booking records. Each answer gives clear facts about how the report works, what it shows, and what rights people have under Florida law.
How often does the 72-hour booking report update?
The Union County 72-hour booking report refreshes each business day. New bookings appear within hours of intake. Bookings made overnight or on weekends may post on the next business day. The system pulls from the same jail database that officers use at intake, so the data is current as of the last refresh. Users who need real-time data should call the Sheriff’s Office at (386) 496-3120.
Are juvenile arrests on the public booking report?
No. Juvenile arrest records are handled under Florida Statute 985.04. That law restricts who can view records for minors. The Union County 72-hour booking report only shows adult bookings. Juvenile arrests still get processed at the jail, but the names and details are not posted on the public site. Only people with a legal right to view juvenile records can request them.
Can someone remove a mugshot after charges are dropped?
Yes. Florida Statute 901.43 lets people ask for mugshot removal once a case ends in their favor. The arrestee sends a written request to the Sheriff’s Office with the booking number and proof that the case ended with dropped charges, a not-guilty verdict, or a pardon. Staff remove the photo from the official site. The same right applies to third-party sites that copied the image.
What does “no bond” mean on a booking entry?
“No bond” means a judge has not set a bond amount for release. This happens when the charge is serious, such as a violent felony, or when the suspect faces a hold from another agency. It can also happen when the suspect has open charges in another county. A bond can be set later at the first court hearing. The booking report only shows the bond status at intake.
How far back do online booking records go?
The online 72-hour booking report covers the last three days. Older booking records are kept by the Sheriff’s Office but are not on the public page. To view older records, users call the Sheriff’s Office or visit in person. For records that go back months or years, the Union County Clerk of Court holds the full case files and can provide certified copies.
Is there a fee to view booking records online?
No. The Union County Sheriff’s Office website is free to use for booking searches. Users can search names, view booking entries, and read mugshots without paying. Florida law requires that public records be open for viewing at no cost. The Sheriff’s Office may charge a small fee only for paper or certified copies requested in person or by mail.
What is the difference between the inmate search and the 72-hour report?
The inmate search shows people currently held in the Union County jail. The 72-hour booking report shows every arrest from the last three days, even if the person has already bonded out. A name can appear on the 72-hour report but not on the inmate search if the person was released after booking. Users who need a full picture of a recent arrest should check both lists.