Hendry County Criminal Records
What Is Hendry County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Hendry County are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are generated and maintained by multiple agencies operating at the county, state, and federal levels.
Several important distinctions govern how these records are classified and accessed:
- Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. Under Florida law, an arrest alone does not constitute a criminal conviction, and the two categories carry different legal implications.
- Felony vs. misdemeanor: Felonies are serious offenses punishable by imprisonment of more than one year in a state correctional facility. Misdemeanors are lesser offenses typically resulting in county jail sentences of up to one year. The Hendry Clerk of Courts & Comptroller maintains case records for both classifications within the county's Circuit and County Courts.
- Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public. Juvenile records are confidential by default under § 985.04, Florida Statutes, which restricts disclosure to protect the privacy of minors. Juvenile records that have been sealed or expunged carry additional legal protections.
- Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants represent current judicial orders authorizing arrest. Historical records document past charges, proceedings, and dispositions that may no longer carry active legal consequences.
The principal agencies responsible for maintaining criminal records in Hendry County include:
- Hendry County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking information, and jail rosters
- Hendry County Clerk of Courts & Comptroller — maintains court case files, charging documents, pleas, trial records, sentencing orders, and dispositions
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) — maintains the statewide criminal history repository
- LaBelle Police Department — maintains local arrest and incident records for the City of LaBelle
A complete criminal record may include charges filed, arraignment proceedings, entered pleas, trial outcomes, sentencing details, probation or parole conditions, and any subsequent modifications to those orders.
Hendry County Sheriff's Office 890 W. Lincoln Ave., LaBelle, FL 33935 (863) 675-5100 Hendry County Sheriff's Office
Hendry County Clerk of Courts & Comptroller 25 E. Hickpochee Ave., LaBelle, FL 33935 (863) 675-5217 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Hendry County Clerk of Courts & Comptroller
Are Criminal Records Public In Hendry County
Adult criminal records in Hendry County are presumptively public under Florida's Government-in-the-Sunshine Law and the Florida Public Records Act, codified at § 119.01, Florida Statutes, which establishes that all state, county, and municipal records shall be open for personal inspection and copying by any person. The statute further provides that it is the policy of this state that all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying by any person, and that providing access to public records is a duty of each agency.
Records that are generally available to the public include:
- Adult conviction records and court dispositions
- Arrest records and booking information
- Court dockets, case filings, and hearing schedules
- Sentencing orders and probation terms
- Sex offender registration information
Records that are restricted or exempt from public disclosure include:
- Active criminal investigative records, which are exempt under § 119.071(2)(c), Florida Statutes
- Juvenile delinquency records, which are confidential pursuant to § 985.04
- Sealed and expunged records, which are removed from public access by court order
- Victim identifying information in certain categories of cases
- Confidential informant identities and ongoing surveillance records
Members of the public may inspect non-exempt criminal records without providing a reason or demonstrating a specific need, consistent with the open-government principles established under Florida law.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Hendry County in 2026
Members of the public may obtain Hendry County criminal records through several official channels, depending on the type of record sought and the level of detail required.
Step 1 — Identify the appropriate agency. Arrest and booking records are held by the Hendry County Sheriff's Office. Court case records, including charges, pleas, and dispositions, are maintained by the Hendry County Clerk of Courts & Comptroller. Statewide criminal history background checks are processed through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Step 2 — Submit a public records request to the Clerk of Courts. Members of the public may appear in person at the Clerk's office at 25 E. Hickpochee Ave., LaBelle, FL 33935, during public counter hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.) and request access to court case files by providing the subject's full legal name and date of birth. Written requests may also be submitted by mail or through the Clerk's official website.
Step 3 — Request arrest records from the Sheriff's Office. Booking records and jail-related documentation may be requested directly from the Hendry County Sheriff's Office at 890 W. Lincoln Ave., LaBelle, FL 33935. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or by telephone at (863) 675-5100.
Step 4 — Obtain a statewide background check through FDLE. For a comprehensive Florida criminal history report, members of the public may submit a name-based or fingerprint-based request through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Criminal Justice Information Services division. Fingerprint-based searches provide the most accurate results and are required for certain employment and licensing purposes.
Step 5 — Pay applicable fees. Fees for copies of public records are established by statute. The Clerk of Courts charges fees consistent with § 28.24, Florida Statutes, which governs clerk service charges. FDLE charges a separate fee for statewide background check processing.
How To Find Criminal Records in Hendry County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to Hendry County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.
Hendry County Sheriff's Office Inmate Search The Sheriff's Office maintains a publicly accessible jail inmate search portal on its official website. This tool allows members of the public to search for individuals currently held at the Hendry County Detention Center by name or inmate identification number. Each record displays the inmate's booking number, charges, bond amount, and physical description. This portal reflects current custody status and does not provide historical booking records for individuals who have been released.
Hendry County Clerk of Courts Online Case Search The Clerk of Courts & Comptroller provides online access to court case records through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal and the Clerk's own case management system. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney name to retrieve docket entries, filed documents, and case dispositions. No registration is required for basic case searches. Certain sealed or confidential case records are not accessible through the online portal.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement — Statewide Criminal History The Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Criminal Justice Information Services division maintains the central statewide repository of criminal history records. Members of the public may submit name-based background check requests through the FDLE website. Fingerprint-based searches require submission through an authorized LiveScan service provider.
Florida Courts E-Filing Portal The statewide portal at myeclerk.myfloridacounty.com provides access to Hendry County court records, including criminal case filings, hearing dates, and final orders. Users may search without creating an account for general case information.
Records that are available only through in-person inspection include certain older case files that have not been digitized, physical evidence logs, and sealed court documents accessible only to authorized parties.
Can You Search Hendry County Criminal Records for Free?
Florida law mandates that members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. Under § 119.01, Florida Statutes, agencies are required to permit inspection of non-exempt public records during regular business hours without imposing a fee for the act of inspection itself. Fees may be assessed only for the actual cost of duplication when copies are requested.
The following resources currently provide free access to Hendry County criminal records:
- Hendry County Sheriff's Office Inmate Search — Free online search of current jail population, available at the Sheriff's Office website without registration
- Hendry County Clerk of Courts Case Search — Free online access to court dockets, case numbers, and disposition information through the Clerk's case management portal
- In-person inspection at the Clerk's Office — Members of the public may inspect court case files at no cost during public counter hours at 25 E. Hickpochee Ave., LaBelle, FL 33935
- Florida Courts E-Filing Portal — Free name-based case searches for Hendry County court records
Fees apply when requesting certified copies of court documents, printed copies of records, or statewide background checks processed through FDLE. The Clerk of Courts charges per-page copy fees as authorized by § 28.24, Florida Statutes. FDLE name-based background checks are subject to a processing fee established by the agency.
What's Included in a Hendry County Criminal Record?
A complete Hendry County criminal record may contain information across several categories, depending on the nature of the case and the agency maintaining the record.
Identifying Information
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth and place of birth
- Physical description, including height, weight, eye color, and hair color
- Mugshot photograph taken at the time of booking
- Last known address
- State Identification Number (SID) assigned by FDLE
- FBI Number assigned for federal tracking purposes
Arrest Information
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency (Sheriff's Office, LaBelle Police Department, or other law enforcement)
- Booking number and date of booking
- Charges filed at the time of arrest
- Bail or bond amount set and bond conditions
- Name of the detention facility
Court Case Information
- Case number and assigned court division
- Court of jurisdiction (County Court for misdemeanors; Circuit Court for felonies)
- Filing date and initial appearance date
- Charges and applicable Florida Statutes, including felony or misdemeanor classification
- Entered plea (guilty, not guilty, or no contest)
- Attorney of record and prosecuting agency
Disposition Information
- Verdict (guilty, not guilty, acquitted, nolle prosequi, or dismissed)
- Conviction date, if applicable
- Sentencing details, including type of sentence, length of incarceration, fines, restitution, and special conditions
- Probation or parole terms and supervising agency
- Appeal filings and appellate court decisions
Additional Record Elements
- Active or recalled arrest warrants
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender or sexual predator registration status
- DUI or DWI adjudications
- Traffic-related criminal violations
- Pending charges awaiting disposition
How Long Does Hendry County Keep Criminal Records?
Hendry County retains criminal records in accordance with the retention schedules established by the Florida Department of State's Division of Library and Information Services, which issues mandatory records retention schedules applicable to all Florida counties and courts.
Key retention periods currently in effect include:
- Felony court case files: Retained permanently by the Clerk of Courts, consistent with the General Records Schedule GS1-SL for State and Local Government Agencies
- Misdemeanor court case files: Retained for a minimum of 10 years following the final disposition of the case
- Arrest and booking records: Retained by the Sheriff's Office for a minimum of 5 years for misdemeanor arrests and permanently for felony arrests
- Judgment and sentencing orders: Retained permanently as part of the official court record
- Probation records: Retained for a minimum of 5 years following the expiration of the probation term
- Juvenile records: Retained in accordance with § 985.04, Florida Statutes, with destruction authorized upon the subject reaching a specified age, provided no subsequent adult criminal record exists
The Florida Department of State's records retention schedules are binding on all county agencies and courts. Agencies are prohibited from destroying public records outside the parameters established by the applicable retention schedule without authorization from the Division of Library and Information Services.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) 2331 Phillips Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32308 (850) 410-7000 Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Florida Department of State — Division of Library and Information Services 500 S. Bronough St., Tallahassee, FL 32399 (850) 245-6600 Florida Division of Library and Information Services