Tallahassee Background Check Records

Background check records in Tallahassee are managed by the Leon County Clerk of Court and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. As the state capital, Tallahassee has close access to FDLE headquarters, which handles statewide criminal history data. The Leon County Clerk keeps all court case files for Tallahassee and the rest of Leon County, including criminal, civil, and traffic records. With about 205,000 residents, Tallahassee is home to two major universities and a large state workforce, which means the clerk's office processes a high volume of record requests throughout the year. The city also has a ban-the-box ordinance that affects how background check results can be used in certain situations within city government.

Which County Handles Tallahassee Records

Tallahassee sits in Leon County. The Leon County Clerk of Court is where all court records for Tallahassee are filed and kept. This includes criminal case files, civil suits, family law matters, and traffic violations. The clerk's office is in the Leon County Courthouse in downtown Tallahassee, just steps from the state capitol building. Whether the case started with an arrest by the Tallahassee Police Department or the Leon County Sheriff, all charges move through the same court system and end up in the clerk's records.

The clerk's website has a free case search tool. You can look up records by name or case number without paying a fee. For more on the full county system and how records are stored, see the Leon County background check page.

How to Search Background Check Records in Tallahassee

Start with the Leon County Clerk website at leonclerk.com. The online case search lets you look up any court case by name or case number. Results show the case type, filing date, charges, and the current status. Click into a case to see more detail, including hearing dates and any documents filed. This is free to use and covers all court cases in Tallahassee.

For a broader search, use the FDLE criminal history system at CCHInet. This runs a name-based check against the statewide database. The fee is $24. Results come by email within a few business days. Since FDLE is based right in Tallahassee, their database pulls records from all 67 Florida counties. This is useful when you want to check for records beyond just Leon County.

You can also search official records like liens, judgments, and recorded documents through the MyFloridaCounty portal. This covers Leon County and many other counties in the state. The search is free, though getting copies costs extra.

• Leon County Clerk online case search: free
• FDLE name-based check: $24
• MyFloridaCounty official records: free to search
• Certified copies from clerk: $1.00 per page
• Plain copies: $0.15 per page

Note: The clerk's online search covers cases from the 2nd Judicial Circuit, which includes Leon, Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Liberty, and Wakulla counties.

FDLE Criminal History in Tallahassee

FDLE headquarters is in Tallahassee. This is the state agency that runs the criminal history database for all of Florida. Because the main office is right here, Tallahassee residents have direct access to FDLE services. The agency handles two levels of checks. Level 1 is a name-based search that costs $24 and can be done online. Level 2 is a fingerprint-based check that searches both state and FBI records.

For Level 2 checks, you need to visit a LiveScan provider to have your prints taken. There are several locations in the Tallahassee area. Find a full list at the Florida Health Source directory. Level 2 results are more complete since they include the FBI national database on top of the state records. FDLE criminal history records include arrests, charges, and case outcomes reported by law enforcement agencies and courts across the state.

You can also do a personal review of your own record. This lets you see what shows up under your name in the FDLE system. Visit the personal review page to learn how. This is a good step if you want to check your own background before someone else does. You can also dispute any errors you find in your record through this process.

City of Tallahassee Government Resources

The City of Tallahassee website is a helpful starting point for finding local government contacts and services. You can access it at talgov.com.

The city site has contact details for various departments and links to public services across Tallahassee.

Tallahassee has a ban-the-box ordinance. This law limits when certain public agencies can ask about a person's criminal history during specific city processes. The policy was adopted to give people with past records a fair chance. However, the law does not change how court records or FDLE checks work. Those records remain public under Florida's open records laws. The ordinance only affects the timing of when criminal history questions come up in certain city government contexts.

Public Records Laws in Tallahassee

Florida has some of the strongest public records laws in the country. Under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, most government records are open. You do not need to live in Tallahassee or even in Florida to request records. You do not have to explain why you want them. The clerk must provide the records unless a specific exemption applies.

Sealed and expunged records are not public. Juvenile records have restrictions. Active investigations may be withheld temporarily. But beyond those narrow exceptions, court files, arrest reports, and recorded documents in Tallahassee are all open to anyone who asks. This applies to the Leon County Clerk, the Tallahassee Police Department, the Leon County Sheriff, and other local agencies.

If you have trouble getting records, the Attorney General's Open Government office can help. They handle complaints about public records access. Under Chapter 943, FDLE governs how criminal history records are stored, shared, and reported statewide.

Note: Tallahassee Police Department records can be requested directly from TPD. Arrest reports, incident reports, and accident reports are all public records.

Getting Copies of Records in Tallahassee

Visit the Leon County Clerk's office at 301 S. Monroe St. to get copies of court records in person. Give the staff a name or case number and they will pull the file. Plain copies cost 15 cents per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page. You pay at the counter. The office is open weekdays from 8 AM to 5 PM.

You can also request copies by mail. Send a written request with the person's name, case type, and approximate date range to the clerk's address. Include a check or money order for the fees. Call (850) 606-4000 first to confirm the current costs. For FDLE records, submit a request online at CCHInet for $24. Results come by email. You can also use the Florida Clerks directory to find clerk contact details for any county in the state if you need records from outside Leon County.

Tallahassee Legal Resources

Legal Services of North Florida serves Tallahassee and the surrounding area. They offer free legal help to people who qualify based on income. Their office in Tallahassee handles a range of case types. Call (850) 385-9007 to ask about help with your situation. The Florida State University College of Law also runs clinics that provide free legal assistance to residents in the Tallahassee area on certain case types.

The Tallahassee Bar Association can refer you to a local attorney. The Florida Bar's lawyer referral service at 1-800-342-8011 also covers the Tallahassee area. If you need court forms, the Leon County Clerk website at leonclerk.com has forms and instructions available for download. The 2nd Judicial Circuit's self-help center can also point you in the right direction if you are handling a case on your own in Tallahassee.

Leon County Background Check Records

Tallahassee is the county seat of Leon County, and all court filings and criminal records go through the Leon County Clerk of Court. The county handles records for Tallahassee and the rest of the communities in Leon County. For the full county overview with more search options and resources, visit the Leon County page.

View Leon County Background Check Records

Nearby Cities

Other Florida cities near Tallahassee where you can search background check records:

• Gainesville
• Jacksonville