Sarasota County Background Check Records

Sarasota County background check records are available through the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Sarasota and through FDLE's statewide system. The county sits along the Gulf Coast south of Tampa and has a population of roughly 450,000. Criminal cases, civil filings, and other court documents are housed at the Sarasota County courthouse. You can search records online through the clerk's website, visit the courthouse in person, or run a statewide criminal history check through FDLE to get data from all 67 counties at once.

Sarasota County Clerk of the Circuit Court

Karen E. Rushing serves as the Sarasota County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller. Her office is the central point for all court records in the county. The main location is at the Sarasota County Historic Courthouse, 2000 Main St, in Sarasota. You can reach the clerk at (941) 861-7400. The staff handles everything from criminal case lookups to civil filing copies.

The clerk's website at sarasotaclerk.com has an online records search. You can look up court cases by party name or case number. Results show the case type, filing dates, charges, and current status. The search covers criminal, civil, family, probate, and traffic cases in Sarasota County. It is free to search. This makes it a practical first step when you need a background check. For full document copies, the clerk's office can help with that in person or by mail.

The FDLE portal is another way to search for criminal records tied to Sarasota County residents.

FDLE's system covers statewide criminal history, including records originating from Sarasota County.

Note: The Sarasota County Clerk also operates a branch office in Venice for residents in the southern part of the county.

How to Run a Background Check in Sarasota County

You have a few paths. The clerk's online tool handles local court records. FDLE covers the whole state. And the courthouse in downtown Sarasota offers in-person access to files. Each option gives you different data. Most people use at least two of these to put together a complete picture.

Start with the clerk's case search. Enter a name and browse the results. You get case numbers, charge details, hearing dates, and outcomes for cases filed in Sarasota County. For records from other counties too, the MyFloridaCounty portal searches official recorded documents across all 67 counties. This is a free state tool that covers liens, judgments, deeds, and similar filings.

For a statewide criminal history search, use CCHInet from FDLE. Pay $24 and submit a name. FDLE checks the state criminal database. Arrest records, charges, and case dispositions from Sarasota County and every other county come back in the results. Turnaround is usually within 24 hours.

Under Florida Chapter 119, public records are open to everyone. You do not need to be a Sarasota County resident, and no reason is needed for your request.

Sarasota County Background Check Fees

FDLE charges a flat $24 for a name-based criminal history check. This is the same regardless of which county you are in. Pay online through the FDLE criminal history records page.

The Sarasota County clerk lets you search court cases online at no cost. When you need actual copies of documents, fees apply. Plain copies are $0.15 per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified versions carry the clerk's official seal and are what you need for any legal filing or court proceeding. Some specialized record requests may have extra fees on top of the copy cost.

• FDLE name-based check: $24.00
• Plain copies: $0.15 per page
• Certified copies: $1.00 per page
• Court case search online: Free

Note: Fees for fingerprint-based Level 2 checks vary depending on the LiveScan provider and the agency involved.

Background Check Levels in Sarasota County

Level 1 is name-based. Submit a name to FDLE and they search the statewide criminal database. Results come fast. This is the most common way people in Sarasota County start a background check. It covers arrests, charges, and outcomes from every county in the state.

Level 2 uses fingerprints. This is a deeper check that goes through FDLE and the FBI. National records are searched. Chapter 435 of Florida Statutes sets the rules on when a Level 2 check is required. To get printed, visit an approved LiveScan provider. There are several in the Sarasota area. After fingerprinting, results usually take a few days.

FDLE also runs VECHS. Under Chapter 943, the Volunteer and Employee Criminal History System lets approved organizations check records for people who will be working with vulnerable groups. This is not open to the general public. Organizations in Sarasota County must register with FDLE before they can use the system.

Public Records in Sarasota County

Florida's open records laws are broad. The Sunshine Law gives anyone the right to ask for and receive government records. Court records, arrest data, and most files held by Sarasota County agencies fall under this law. The Attorney General's Open Government page outlines how the law works and what to do if access is denied.

Exemptions exist but they are narrow. Juvenile cases are sealed. Expunged records are removed from public view. Some victims' personal information may be redacted in certain filings. Outside of these specific situations, Sarasota County records are open to the public. You can search them, view them, and get copies.

Getting Copies of Sarasota County Records

Go to the clerk's office at 2000 Main St in Sarasota. Bring a valid ID. Tell the staff which record you want. They pull the file and print copies for you at the counter. The Find a Clerk directory is a good way to confirm the location and phone number before your visit.

You can also send a written request by mail. Include the person's full name, date of birth if you have it, and what type of record you need. Attach a check or money order for the copy fees. The Sarasota County clerk processes the request and mails copies back to you. This works well if you do not live nearby. For FDLE statewide criminal checks, the whole process is online. Submit at CCHInet, pay by card, and get results by email. Simple and quick.

Cities in Sarasota County

Sarasota County has a mix of cities and unincorporated areas. All court records for communities in the county go through the Sarasota County Clerk of the Circuit Court at the main office in Sarasota.

Other communities in Sarasota County include Sarasota, Venice, Englewood, Osprey, and Nokomis. Court records for all of these areas go through the Sarasota County clerk.

Nearby Counties

These counties are next to Sarasota County. Each one has a separate clerk office and court records system.