Crime Numbers
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) provides annual crime statistics for Highlands County. In 2018, Highlands County had a total of 275 violent crimes, including 2 murders, 44 rapes, and 229 aggravated assault cases. There were also 2,433 property crimes including 39 robberies, 568 burglaries, 1,736 larcenies, and 90 motor vehicle thefts. The county’s crime rate fell 9.9% between 2018 and 2017.
Highlands County recorded higher numbers of rapes (120%), aggravated assaults (22.5%), and larcenies (1.2%) in 2018 compared to 2014. On the other hand, incidents of murders (-81%), robberies (-31.6%), burglaries, (-25.3%), and larcenies (-1.2%) all decreased in the same period while motor vehicle theft rate remained unchanged.
Criminal Records
The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office’s (HCSO) Public Records Unit provides access to criminal history checks in the county. Requests are allowed either by mail or in person.
Each record costs 15 cents per page and $5 per record for requests requiring less than 15 minutes of research. Requests that require more than 15 minutes of research cost an additional per hour charge plus 15 cents per page, and $5 per record. Law enforcement agencies, registered non-profit organizations, and media organizations may receive criminal records free of charge.
To request a criminal justice record from the Sheriff’s Office by mail, write a request letter to the Central Records Unit. The letter must provide the subject’s full name, race, sex, and date of birth. Payments must be made with check or money order. Enclose the letter in an envelope with the preferred means of payment, an active phone number, and a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Mail the request to:
Highlands County Sheriff’s Office – Central Records Unit
400 S. Eucalyptus St
Sebring, FL 33870
To order in person, visit the Central Records Unit window at the Sheriff’s Office. The Central Records Unit entertains walk-ins on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Acceptable means of payment include cash, check, and money order. A requester must present a government-issued ID, along with personal information of the person whose record is required. The information must include full name, sex, race, and date of birth. In-person orders are immediately processed and delivered.
Arrest reports are available at the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office. Requests can be made online, by mail or in person. All arrest reports that require less than 15 minutes of research cost 15 cents per page for non-certified copies and $1 per page for certified copies. Requests which require more than 15 minutes of research cost extra. The request must provide the Sheriff’s Office’s Central Records Unit with the following information:
- Date, time, and location of the incident
- Parties involved
- Case number (if available)
To order online, send the request by email to the Central Records Unit. An online request cannot be returned by email or regular mail. Pick up the report on a weekday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at the following address:
Highlands County Sheriff’s Office
434 Fernleaf Avenue
Sebring, FL 33870
To order by mail, write a letter providing the required information. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with a cashier’s check, money order, or cash. Mail the request to:
Highlands County Sheriff’s Office – Central Records Unit
400 S. Eucalyptus St.
Sebring, FL 33870
To request an arrest report in person, visit the Central Records Unit with the required information. Go along with a cashier’s check, cash or money order. The Central Records Unit does not accept credit or debit cards and personal checks.
Reports sometimes take several days before they are filed with the Central Records Unit. Before visiting, call (863) 402-7200 to confirm that the desired report is available on file.
Highlands County has other law enforcement agencies in the City of Avon Park, City of Lake Placid, and City of Sebring as well as the Florida Highway Patrol. Reports taken by law enforcement officials from these agencies are not available at the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office. Contact the specific agency for their reports.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) keeps a database of all sex offenders in the state. Use the Sexual Offenders and Predators Search and select Highlands from the county drop-down menu. Search the database with the offender’s First or Last Name, Zip Code, or City of Residence.
The Highlands County Jail is the only detention facility in the county. The Sheriff’s Office is in charge of the facility and maintains a public database of all current inmates, including inmates’ photos. Juvenile information is not publicly available. Find records through the Current Inmate Search, using either the inmate’s name or the booking date. Below are the facility’s contact details:
Highlands County Jail
338 South Orange Street
Sebring, FL 33870
(863) 402-7201
Friends and family can add funds to an inmate’s commissary account through the approved TouchPay Payment Portal. To do so, they need to provide the Facility Number (233870) as well as the inmate’s name and MNI number. The facility also receives cash to be deposited in the inmate’s account. The envelope must be marked “For Deposit Only” and should contain the inmate’s name, MNI number, and a complete return address.
Inmates at the Highlands County Jail are allowed a weekly maximum of two 1-hour on-site visits and four online visits. These include attorney and clergy visits. Visits are permitted every day, excluding holidays, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. All visitors for on-site visits must arrive at the facility within the first 15 minutes of the visit to avoid cancelation.
Court Records
The Highlands County Clerk of Courts allows public access to court records in the county. Access to limited information is available through the Highlands County Public Online Court Records Search. Search using specific details of the case, including the First/Last Name, Business Name, Court Type, and the Date of Filing. To view more extensive details online, complete a Registration Agreement. Send the completed form to the Clerk of Courts either by email or to the following address:
Highlands County Courthouse
590 South Commerce Avenue
Sebring, FL 33870
Phone: (863) 402-6565
Fax: (863) 402-6768
Property records are available to the public from the Highlands County Property Appraiser. Find records using the Property Search tool by providing the property’s Address, Parcel ID, Owner’s Name, and Sales details.
Vital Records
Divorce records in Highlands County are available from the Office of the Clerk of Courts. To request for a divorce record, contact the Clerk of Courts using the information below:
Highlands County Clerk of Courts
590 South Commerce Avenue
Sebring, FL 33870
Phone: (863) 402-6565
Fax: (863) 402-6768
Marriage records are available from the Florida Department of Health and are accessible online, in person, or via mail. Order Online with a debit or credit card. Each record costs $22 and an extra $2 per year when the year of marriage is unknown.
The Florida Department of Health in Highlands County maintains birth and death records in the county. Records are also accessible from the Highlands County Tax Collector’s offices. Birth certificates are only accessible to the persons named on the records if they are of legal age or their parents, legal representatives, or guardians. However, all birth certificates are available to the general public after 100 years from the date of birth. A requester must present the following:
- Valid government-issued photo ID
- Full name, address, and phone number
- Proof of relationship with the person named on the record
- Full name at birth, mother’s maiden name, father’s name, and the date and place of birth of the person named on the record
All applications to the Florida Department of Health in Highlands County cost $12 for the first copy of a vital record. Additional copies cost $7 each if ordered together with the first copy. Acceptable means of payment include cash, credit or debit card by MasterCard or Visa, and check or money order payable to Florida Department of Health – Highlands County.
All applications to the Highlands County Tax Collector’s offices cost $18.25 for the first copy and $7 for additional copies ordered together with the first copy.
To order in person, visit any of the following locations:
Florida Department of Health – Highlands County
7205 S. George Blvd
Sebring, FL 33875-5847
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday
Highlands County Tax Collector’s Office – Avon Park
116 E. Main Street (Next to City Hall)
Avon Park, FL 33825
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday or 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday
Highlands County Tax Collector’s Office – Lake Placid
11 N. Pine Avenue
Lake Placid, FL 33852
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, or 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday
Highlands County Tax Collector’s Office – Sebring
540 S. Commerce Avenue
Sebring, FL 33870
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, or 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday
To apply by mail, complete a Birth Certificate Application Form, and enclose a government-issued photo ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check or money order payable to Florida Department of Health – Highlands County. Mail the request to:
Florida Department of Health – Highlands County
Vital Statistics Office
7205 S. George Blvd.
Sebring, FL 33875-5847
Death certificates are also available at the Florida Department of Health in Highlands County. A death certificate that includes cause of death is only available to the deceased’s current spouse, parent, legal representative, or offspring of legal age. A requester must present proof of relationship to the deceased to access this certificate.
Any Highlands County adult can request a death certificate without cause of death. Cause of death information is however available to anyone after 50 years from the death date. Each record costs $10 for the first certified copy and $8 for each additional copy ordered together with the first copy.
A requester must present the following required documents:
- Government-issued ID
- Full name, address and phone number(s)
- Proof of relationship to the decedent
- Decedent’s full name, place and date of death
To apply in person, visit the Florida Department of Health in Highlands County with the required documents. Payments are accepted in cash, credit or debit card from Visa or Mastercard, cashier’s check, or money order payable to Florida Department of Health – Highlands County. Below are the contact details:
Florida Department of Health – Highlands County
7205 S. George Blvd.
Sebring, FL 33875-5847
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday
To apply by mail, send a completed Death Certificate Application Form with the required documents, and a self-addressed and stamped envelope to:
Florida Department of Health – Highlands County
Vital Statistics Office
7205 S. George Blvd.
Sebring, FL 33875-5847
To apply by fax, send the completed form and the required document to (863) 382-7283.
