Miami Gardens Background Check

Background check records for Miami Gardens go through the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court and FDLE at the state level. Miami Gardens sits in northern Miami-Dade County and is one of the largest cities in the county with more than 116,000 residents. The city does not run its own court system, so all criminal and civil case records are held by the Miami-Dade County Clerk in downtown Miami. You can search these records online or visit the clerk office in person to pull files for a background check on someone in Miami Gardens.

Miami-Dade County Records for Miami Gardens

Miami Gardens is part of Miami-Dade County. The county clerk handles all court records for the city. Juan Fernandez-Barquin is the Clerk of Court. His main office is in downtown Miami. This is where you go to get court records, case files, and copies of documents for a background check on a Miami Gardens resident.

The clerk's office is about 20 miles south of Miami Gardens. Plan for travel time if you go in person. You can also search records from home using the clerk's online tools. The Miami-Dade Clerk website lets you look up cases by name or case number. This covers criminal, civil, family, and traffic cases filed in the county. Results show filing dates, charges, and case outcomes. It is free to search.

Note: Miami Gardens does not have its own courthouse, so all records are at the county level in Miami.

Miami Gardens City Resources

The City of Miami Gardens has its own government website with links to local services and departments.

While the city does not hold court records, the Miami Gardens city website can point you to local police department contacts and other public safety info. The Miami Gardens Police Department handles arrests in the city. Those arrest records then go to the Miami-Dade County system and into the FDLE statewide database.

How to Run a Background Check in Miami Gardens

There are three main ways to search background check records for someone in Miami Gardens. Each one pulls from a different source. Using all three gives you the most complete picture.

First, try the FDLE statewide check. Go to CCHInet and submit a name-based Level 1 check. It costs $24. FDLE searches its database of arrests and court results from all 67 Florida counties. If the person has any criminal history in Miami Gardens or anywhere else in the state, it shows up in the results. Most reports come back within a day.

Second, search the Miami-Dade County Clerk's case system. This is free. You type in a name and get a list of cases. It covers criminal charges, civil suits, family cases, and traffic matters. The detail is good. You see filing dates, case status, and hearing info. This is the best way to find local court records tied to Miami Gardens.

Third, check the MyFloridaCounty portal for official recorded documents. This covers liens, judgments, and other recorded items in Miami-Dade County. These records fill in gaps that a court case search might miss. Property liens and civil judgments tell you things that criminal records alone do not.

Note: The FDLE Level 1 check only covers the state of Florida. For national records, you need a Level 2 fingerprint check.

Background Check Types in Miami Gardens

Florida has two standard check levels. Both apply to people in Miami Gardens. A Level 1 check is name-based and searches the FDLE state database. It costs $24 and is fast. You order it through CCHInet online. Results come by email. This is the quickest option for a background check in Miami Gardens.

A Level 2 check uses fingerprints. It searches both FDLE and the FBI national database. Chapter 435 of Florida Statutes spells out when Level 2 checks are required. You must go to an approved LiveScan vendor to get fingerprinted. FDLE lists vendors by zip code on the FDLE criminal history records page. Several sites near Miami Gardens offer this service. Results take a few business days.

FDLE also runs the VECHS program under Chapter 943 of the Florida Statutes. VECHS stands for Volunteer and Employee Criminal History System. It gives registered groups access to state and national criminal history data. In Miami Gardens, organizations that work with children or the elderly can register for VECHS through FDLE.

Public Records Access in Miami Gardens

Florida has strong public records laws. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes says government records are open to the public. This applies to Miami Gardens and every city in the state. You do not need to give a reason to ask for records. You do not need to be a resident. Anyone can request public records in Florida.

Court case files, arrest reports, and other government documents are open for inspection in Miami-Dade County. The exceptions are sealed and expunged records, juvenile cases, and a few other items that have specific statutory protections. But the vast majority of background check records for Miami Gardens are public and available.

If a government office refuses to give you access to a public record, the Attorney General's Open Government page explains your rights. The AG's office can help resolve disputes over record access anywhere in Florida, including Miami Gardens.

Background Check Fees for Miami Gardens

Running a background check for someone in Miami Gardens has some costs. The FDLE charges $24 for a state criminal history check. You pay online at CCHInet with a credit card. The Miami-Dade County Clerk charges for copies of documents. Plain copies cost $0.15 per page. Certified copies run $1.00 per page.

Searching the clerk's online case system is free. You can look up names and view basic case info at no charge. Fees only apply when you want copies of actual documents from the file. Level 2 fingerprint checks have higher fees that vary by vendor and agency.

• FDLE Level 1 check: $24.00
• Plain copy from clerk: $0.15 per page
• Certified copy: $1.00 per page
• Online case search: Free

Note: Level 2 fingerprint fees vary by vendor location and the type of check being done.

Getting Record Copies for Miami Gardens

To get copies of court records for a Miami Gardens case, go to the Miami-Dade County Clerk at 73 W Flagler St in Miami. Ask for the file by name or case number. Staff will pull it up and make copies for you. Pay the fee at the counter. You can also mail a written request with a check for the copy fees. Include the person's full name and any case details you know.

For FDLE records, order through CCHInet online. Pay $24 with a credit card. Results arrive by email. If you want to check your own record, FDLE has a personal review option. You submit fingerprints and get back a full copy of your state criminal history. This is useful if you want to see what a background check on you would show in Miami Gardens or anywhere in Florida.

The Florida Clerks website has full contact info for the Miami-Dade County Clerk and branch offices. Use it to find the closest location to Miami Gardens for in-person visits.

Miami-Dade County Background Check Records

Miami Gardens is in Miami-Dade County. All court filings and criminal records for the city go through the county clerk. Miami-Dade is the largest county in Florida by population. For a full guide to the county system, fees, and search tools, visit the Miami-Dade County background check page.

View Miami-Dade County Background Check Records

Nearby Cities

People in Miami Gardens may also have records in nearby cities. If you are running a background check, it can help to check these areas too.