Lakeland Background Check Records
Background check records for Lakeland are maintained by the Polk County Clerk of Court and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Lakeland is the largest city in Polk County, located in central Florida between Tampa and Orlando, with a population of about 124,990. The 10th Judicial Circuit Court processes all criminal and civil cases for the area. Records from Lakeland courts are public under Florida law, and you can search them online or at the courthouse. Multiple search tools let you check both local court records and statewide criminal history data when running a background check on someone in Lakeland.
Lakeland Quick Facts
Which County Handles Lakeland Records
Lakeland is in Polk County. The county seat is Bartow, about 15 miles south of Lakeland. All criminal cases, civil filings, family court matters, and traffic cases for Lakeland residents go through the Polk County Clerk of Court at the courthouse in Bartow. There is no separate court system for the city of Lakeland itself. The 10th Judicial Circuit covers Polk, Highlands, and Hardee counties, with the main courthouse in Bartow handling the bulk of Polk County cases.
The Polk County Clerk's office keeps all court records and makes them available to the public. You can search their system online from home or drive to Bartow to look up records in person. For the full county resource page, see the Polk County background check page.
| Clerk Office | Polk County Clerk of Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 255 N. Broadway Ave, Bartow, FL 33830 |
| Phone | (863) 534-4000 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | polkcountyclerk.net |
If you live in Lakeland, Bartow is a short drive south on US-98. The courthouse has free parking. Security screens visitors at the front door, so bring your ID and leave large bags in your car. The clerk's counter is on the main floor where staff can pull case files and make copies for you.
How to Search Lakeland Background Check Records
The Polk County Clerk has an online case search tool at polkcountyclerk.net. Enter a first and last name and the system returns all matching cases in the county. Each listing shows the case number, type, filing date, and current status. Criminal cases show the charges. You can click into a case to see more detail. This is the quickest way to start a background check for someone in Lakeland from your computer.
For a check that covers all of Florida, use the FDLE criminal history system. Visit CCHInet and submit a name-based request for $24. The results arrive by email, usually within a day. This pulls from the state database that holds records from all 67 counties. It will find Lakeland records along with anything from other parts of the state. This is useful if the person has lived in more than one Florida city.
Official records like liens, judgments, and deeds are on the MyFloridaCounty portal. Search Polk County records for free. These documents can add useful context to a Lakeland background check by showing financial and property-related filings.
- Polk County Clerk online case search: free
- FDLE name-based criminal history: $24
- MyFloridaCounty recorded documents: free to search
- Certified copies from clerk: $1.00 per page
- Plain copies: $0.15 per page
FDLE Criminal History Checks
FDLE stands for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. They maintain the statewide criminal history database. This includes records from Lakeland and every other city and county in Florida. The agency offers two levels of checks. Level 1 is a name-based search that costs $24. You submit it online. Level 2 is a fingerprint-based check that runs through both state and FBI databases.
Details on both types are at fdle.state.fl.us. For a Level 2 check in Lakeland, you need to get your fingerprints scanned at a LiveScan provider. The Florida Health Source directory lists providers near Lakeland. Your prints get sent to FDLE and the FBI electronically. Results take longer than a name check but cover federal records too.
The state database at FDLE includes arrests, charges, and case outcomes reported by the Lakeland Police Department, the Polk County Sheriff's Office, and the 10th Circuit Court. Records from the state attorney also go into this system. A background check through FDLE often shows more than a local clerk search, because it pulls records from the entire state rather than just Polk County.
Note: If you want to check your own record, FDLE has a personal review option. You can see what is in the system under your name and challenge any errors you find.
Lakeland Public Records Access
Florida's public records laws are among the broadest in the nation. Under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, most government records are open to anyone. You do not need to be a Lakeland resident. You do not need to explain why you want the records. The clerk must provide them unless a specific exemption applies.
Sealed and expunged records are off limits. Juvenile cases are restricted. Active investigations might be temporarily withheld. But beyond those few exceptions, court files, arrest reports, and recorded documents are public in Lakeland. The Lakeland Police Department and Polk County Sheriff both generate arrest records that feed into the public system.
The City of Lakeland has its own website at lakelandgov.net for city government records. For court and criminal records, the Polk County Clerk and FDLE are the primary sources. If you run into problems getting records, contact the Attorney General's Open Government office. Under Chapter 943, FDLE manages how criminal history records are stored and shared across the state.
Lakeland City Government
The City of Lakeland provides public services and information through its official government portal at lakelandgov.net.
The city site has links to the Lakeland Police Department, code enforcement, and other departments that generate public records.
The Lakeland Police Department is a separate agency from the Polk County Sheriff. They handle law enforcement within the city limits. Arrests made by LPD get reported to FDLE and show up in the statewide criminal history database. The sheriff covers the rest of the county, including unincorporated areas around Lakeland. When running a background check, a statewide FDLE search catches records from both agencies. If you just search the county clerk site, you will see court cases regardless of which agency made the arrest.
Background Check Fees in Lakeland
Costs for running a background check in Lakeland vary based on the method you pick. The Polk County Clerk's online search is free for basic case lookups. You can view case information, charges, and status without paying. Getting copies of actual documents costs more.
FDLE charges $24 for a name-based criminal history check. Fingerprint checks are more expensive because you pay the LiveScan provider fee on top of the FDLE processing fee. At the Polk County Clerk's office, plain copies of court documents cost $0.15 per page. Certified copies run $1.00 per page. You pay the same rate whether you ask in person or by mail. Searching recorded documents on MyFloridaCounty is free, but downloading or printing copies has a per-page fee.
Public records requests to the city of Lakeland or the police department may come with copy fees as well. However, the search itself is free under state law. No agency can charge you just to look something up.
Polk County Background Check Records
Lakeland is in Polk County, and all court filings and criminal records go through the Polk County Clerk of Court. The county handles records for Lakeland, Bartow, Winter Haven, and many other towns across one of the largest counties in Florida by land area. For the full county page with more details on search tools, fees, and office information, visit the Polk County page.
Nearby Cities
Lakeland sits between Tampa and Orlando in central Florida. Several other cities with background check resources are within driving distance.