Duval County Background Check Records

Background check records in Duval County are managed by the Clerk of Court in Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. Duval County is unique in Florida because the city and county governments merged in 1968, so the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office acts as both city police and county sheriff. This means background check searches here pull from a single consolidated law enforcement system covering the entire county. With over one million residents, Duval County has one of the busiest court systems in the state. The Duval County Clerk of Court handles all criminal and civil case records, and their online portal lets you search for free.

Duval County Clerk of Court

The Duval County Clerk of Court is based at 501 W. Adams St. in downtown Jacksonville. This is where all court records are kept. Criminal cases, civil suits, family law, and probate filings all go through this office. The clerk maintains both current and archived records. You can call (904) 255-2000 for help or to ask about a case. Staff are available during business hours to help with record searches and copy requests.

The Duval County Clerk website at duvalclerk.com has a full online case search tool. You can look up any case by name, case number, or date. The system covers all case types. Criminal cases show charges, filing dates, and dispositions. Civil cases show the parties and case status. This is a good first step when you need background check records from Duval County. It is free to search and you can do it from home.

The Duval County Clerk of Court website is a starting point for background check searches in the Jacksonville area.

Visit the site to search Duval County court records online at no cost.

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Records

Because Duval County and Jacksonville are consolidated, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) is the main law enforcement agency for the whole county. JSO handles arrest records, incident reports, and inmate data for all of Duval County. Their website has a public search tool for booking and arrest information. This is one of the most useful tools for a background check in Duval County because it shows recent arrests with charges, booking dates, and mugshots in many cases.

The JSO website is a key source for law enforcement records related to Duval County background checks.

Check the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office site for arrest and booking data in Duval County.

JSO also runs fingerprint-based background checks at some locations. If you need a Level 2 check, call ahead to find out where to go. Duval County has several LiveScan fingerprinting sites that can process these requests. The results go through FDLE and then come back to you, usually within a few business days.

Note: JSO arrest data may not include the final case outcome. Always check the clerk's records for dispositions and court results.

How to Run a Background Check in Duval County

Start with the Duval County Clerk's online case search at duvalclerk.com. Type in the person's name and look through the results. Each case listing shows the type of case, the filing date, and the current status. Criminal cases include charge details and disposition info when the case is resolved. This tells you what happened in court.

For official state records, use FDLE. Go to CCHInet and submit a name-based search for $24. This checks the state criminal history database, which includes records from Duval County and all other Florida counties. Results come by email. Most arrive within 24 hours. This is the fastest way to get a statewide background check that covers Duval County.

For recorded documents such as liens, judgments, and property records, use the MyFloridaCounty portal. These records add depth to a Duval County background check. They show financial obligations and legal claims that court case searches may not include.

• Duval County Clerk online search: free
• FDLE state criminal history: $24
• MyFloridaCounty official records: free to search
• In-person search at Jacksonville courthouse: free to view
• Plain copies: $0.15 per page
• Certified copies: $1.00 per page

Types of Background Checks in Duval County

Florida law sets out two main levels of background checks. Both see heavy use in Duval County because of the large population. A Level 1 check is name-based. It searches the FDLE statewide criminal history database. Results show arrests, charges, and case outcomes from all Florida counties. The cost is $24 and results come back in about a day. This is the most common type for a basic Duval County background check.

A Level 2 check goes deeper. It requires fingerprints and runs through both FDLE and the FBI databases. Chapter 435 of Florida Statutes outlines when this type of check is needed. It pulls records from across the country, not just Florida. You need to visit an approved LiveScan provider to get fingerprinted. Jacksonville has many LiveScan sites because of its size, so finding one in Duval County is not hard. The FDLE website lets you search by zip code.

Note: Florida's public records laws under Chapter 119 still apply. All background check records in Duval County remain accessible to the public unless a court has sealed or expunged them.

Duval County Public Records Access

Florida has some of the strongest public records laws in the country. Under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, anyone can request Duval County public records. You do not need to live in Duval County. You do not need to give a reason. The clerk must provide the records. This covers court filings, arrest records, and most other government documents.

Sealed and expunged records are not available. Juvenile records have limits too. Active criminal investigations may be temporarily exempt. But everything else is open. If you run into trouble getting Duval County background check records, contact the Attorney General's Open Government division. They help resolve disputes over public records access.

Chapter 943 of Florida Statutes governs FDLE's criminal history system. It sets the rules for how background check records are stored, shared, and accessed. Duval County records in the FDLE database follow these rules. The personal review option at FDLE's personal review page lets you check your own record if you want to see what a Duval County background check would show about you.

FDLE Statewide Background Checks

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement runs the statewide criminal history database. This includes Duval County records along with all other Florida counties. FDLE offers two levels of checks. Level 1 is a name-based search that costs $24. You submit it online at CCHInet. Level 2 uses fingerprints and checks both state and FBI databases. It takes longer and costs more.

Duval County has several LiveScan providers in the Jacksonville area for fingerprint-based background checks. These sites capture your prints digitally and send them to FDLE. Results go to the requesting agency or back to you, depending on the type of check. The FDLE website at fdle.state.fl.us has full details on both levels.

Getting Copies of Duval County Records

Visit the Duval County Clerk at 501 W. Adams St. in Jacksonville. Ask for the record by name or case number. Staff can search the system and pull the file. Plain copies cost $0.15 per page. Certified copies are $1.00 per page. You can also request copies by mail. Send your request with the person's name, the case type, and payment for copy fees.

The Florida Clerks directory lists all Duval County clerk locations. For FDLE records, order online at CCHInet for $24. Results come by email. If you want to review your own background check record, use FDLE's personal review option. Duval County residents and all Floridians can use this service.

Cities in Duval County

Duval County and Jacksonville are consolidated, so essentially the entire county is the city of Jacksonville. All background check records for Jacksonville go through the Duval County Clerk of Court.

Smaller communities in Duval County such as Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, and Baldwin are separate municipalities but their court records still go through the Duval County clerk system.

Nearby Counties

Duval County borders several northeast Florida counties. If you need background check records from a neighboring area, these clerk offices can help.