Polk County Background Check Records

Polk County background check searches start at the Clerk of Courts in Bartow and extend to FDLE for statewide data. This large central Florida county stretches between Tampa and Orlando, and the clerk's office keeps a detailed set of court records. Criminal filings, civil cases, and other public documents are all held at the Polk County courthouse. You can search records in person or online, and FDLE adds statewide criminal history data that rounds out what the local files show.

Polk County Clerk of Courts

Stacy M. Butterfield is the Polk County Clerk of Courts. Her office manages all court records for the county. The main location is at 255 N Broadway Ave in Bartow. You can call (863) 534-4000 for general questions about records, hours, or how to request files. Staff at the front desk can help direct you to the right department.

The Polk County Clerk website at polkcountyclerk.net has an online case search tool. You can look up court records by name or case number. It covers criminal cases, civil suits, family law, and probate filings. The search is free. Results show case type, charges, filing date, and status. This is a useful first step for a Polk County background check because it lets you see local court activity without leaving home.

Here is the Polk County Clerk of Courts website with their records search and case lookup tools.

Use the Polk County clerk portal to search for court records and view case details.

Running a Background Check in Polk County

You have several options for a background check in Polk County. The clerk's online system is the quickest for local data. FDLE covers the whole state. And a visit to the courthouse in Bartow lets you dig through files in person. Each one gives you something different.

At the Polk County courthouse, bring a valid ID and ask to search court records. The staff can look up names in their system and print out case details. You can also search from home using the clerk's website. For broader searches across all 67 Florida counties, the MyFloridaCounty portal is a good resource. It covers recorded documents like liens, deeds, and judgments statewide.

FDLE's CCHInet portal handles statewide criminal history checks. This is a name-based search that costs $24. You submit the name online and FDLE runs it through their database. Results usually come back within a day. The check pulls arrest records, charges, and dispositions from every county. If the person has a record in Polk County or anywhere else in Florida, it shows up.

Note: Under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, public records are open to all and you do not need to state a reason for your search.

Polk County Background Check Fees

Costs vary by the type of check you run. FDLE charges $24 for every name-based criminal history search. That fee is the same across the state. Pay online at the FDLE criminal history records page when you submit your request.

The Polk County clerk does not charge for online case searches. That is free. But when you need copies, there are fees. Plain copies run $0.15 per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies have the clerk's stamp and are valid for court and legal proceedings. If you just want to see what is in a file, the free online search might be all you need.

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

Levels of Background Checks Available

Florida uses a two-tier system. Level 1 is the simpler option. It is a name-based search of the FDLE criminal database. You submit a name and get back arrest and court data from around the state. Quick and affordable. Most people in Polk County who need a basic check start here.

Level 2 goes deeper. It requires fingerprints and searches both the FDLE and FBI databases. That means national records are included, not just Florida. Chapter 435 of Florida Statutes spells out when Level 2 checks are required. You get fingerprinted at an approved LiveScan location. Several are in the Polk County area, including spots in Lakeland and Bartow. Processing takes a few business days.

The VECHS program is a third path. It is run by FDLE under Chapter 943 of Florida Statutes and is built for organizations that serve children, the elderly, or disabled persons. Only approved groups have access. It allows them to run criminal history checks through a structured process.

Note: Level 2 fingerprint results go to the requesting organization, not to the person being checked.

Public Records and Polk County

Florida's Sunshine Law makes government records open to the public. This is a core part of the state constitution. The Attorney General's Open Government page has a full breakdown of how the law works. If you ask for records from a Polk County office, they have to provide them unless a specific exemption applies.

Most court records in Polk County are public. Arrest records are public. Incident reports from law enforcement are usually public too. The exceptions are narrow. Juvenile records are sealed. Expunged records are gone from public view. Some records related to domestic violence or sexual offenses have protections. But the default rule in Polk County is the same as the rest of the state: if it is a government record, it is open.

Getting Record Copies from Polk County

Go to the Polk County Clerk of Courts at 255 N Broadway Ave in Bartow. Bring an ID and let the staff know what you need. They can pull the file and make copies. You pay the copy fee on the spot. Use the Find a Clerk directory to double check the address and phone before your trip.

You can also mail in a request. Write a letter that includes the full name, date of birth if you have it, and the record type. Send payment for the estimated copy fees. The Polk County clerk will process it and send copies back to you. For FDLE statewide checks, everything is done online. Submit at CCHInet and pay by credit card. Results come by email. This saves you a trip if you just need criminal history data.

Cities in Polk County

Polk County is home to many cities and towns. All court records for the county go through the Polk County Clerk of Courts in Bartow. Background check records involving court data are handled by the same office for every city in the county.

Other communities in Polk County include Winter Haven, Bartow, Lake Wales, Haines City, Auburndale, and Davenport. All court records for these areas are managed by the Polk County clerk in Bartow.

Nearby Counties

Polk County borders several other counties in central Florida. Each has its own clerk office and court system for handling records.