What are Homestead Public Records?
Under the Florida Sunshine Law, Homestead public records are materials in recording or writing that are maintained, received, created, filed, or amended by government agencies or bodies in relation to a public activity. That said, public records in Homestead City may exist as books, charters, symbols, memoranda, minutes, notes, drafts, audio recordings, videotapes, or SMS. Moreover, state law prevents the public disclosure of certain portions or whole documents. In most cases, the Florida Sunshine Law exempts documents that will jeopardize the safety or breach the privacy of concerned parties. Record seekers will find the following Homestead public records exempt from access:
- Data on forensic behavioral health evaluation;
- Information on the identity of confidential sources or informants in an investigation;
- Biometric identification information;
- Drafts or materials used in Intra-agency or inter-agency decision making or deliberations;
- Medical examiner documents, such as photographs, recordings, taken at the scene of the death or during an autopsy;
- Legally-exempt criminal investigatory documents that pertain to a criminal or civil proceeding;
- Crime victim records maintained by an agency primarily responsible for the welfare of crime victims;
- Proprietary financial or commercial information obtained from any source. Furthermore, data processing software obtained by government agencies are exempt from public disclosure;
- Documents covered by an attorney-client privilege;
- Technical information pertaining to software and hardware, the disclosure of which will jeopardize computer security;
- Information on tests or examinations prepared by government entities for the evaluation of:
- qualifications for certificates or licenses issued by public entities;
- Students’ performance;
- Employees’ aptitude for promotion, employment, or retention;
- Information on a patient's medical history.
- Surveillance techniques and security measures, which if disclosed, will create a risk to persons, data, or properties;
- Personal identifying information, such as social security number, drivers' license numbers, unlisted phone numbers, and credit card numbers;
- Architectural and official building plans of government-owned facilities;
- Juvenile records and other sensitive compiled by law enforcement agencies;
- Information on crime witnesses and complainants;
- Data about pending litigation that involves a public agency or entity;
- Information on bids for contracts is exempt until a public agency makes a final decision.
In addition to officiPublic city records may also be accessible from third-party websites. Record seekers may either opt to use these non-governmental platforms to search for a specific record or multiple city records. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search, such as:
- The address of the requestor
- A case number or file number (if known)
- The location of the document or person involved
- The name of the subject involved in the record (not juvenile)
- The last known or current address of the registrant
Government agencies do not sponsor third-party sites. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Homestead Crime Statistics
The Homestead Police Department is the primary record custodian of crime reports for the City. In addition, it creates annual crime statistics for all documented crimes. Per the 2019 index crime report and statistics, the City recorded 2,956 index crimes, consisting of 684 violent crimes and 2,272 property crimes. In addition, the index crime report covered information on the following crimes: four murders, 35 rapes, 303 robberies, 342 aggravated assaults, 184 burglaries, 1,957 larceny thefts, 131 motor vehicle thefts, and eight arson. In contrast, the City documented 3,528 index crimes in 2016. When compared with the 2019 crime rate, index crime rates fell by 16 percent. Violent crimes were reduced by 14 percent, while property crimes decreased by 14 percent.
Are Homestead Criminal Records Public?
Per Florida Statute 119.07, not all Homestead criminal records are obtainable by the public members. The state law exempts criminal records that contain information on juvenile offenders. Furthermore, it redacts information on victims of criminal activities, crime witnesses, and complainants. Expunged or sealed criminal records are also exempt from public access.
Homestead criminal records are under the purview of the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts. The County Clerk of Courts maintains an online repository of all Homestead criminal records. Record seekers can search for criminal records on the platform using one of the following search options:
- Search by case number;
- Search by state case number;
- Search by citation/police number;
- Search by jail number;
- Search by the defendant or record subject’s name.
How to Obtain Homestead Police Reports and Arrest Records
Traffic crash reports and offense/incident reports are under the supervision of the Homestead Police Department. Record seekers can obtain Homestead police reports and arrests records by visiting the police department at:m
City Of Homestead
Police Department
45 Northwest 1st Avenue
Homestead, FL 33030
Phone: (305) 247-1535
In contrast, record seekers can find Homestead police reports and arrest records at the Miami-Dade County Police Department. To access police reports in-person, record seekers must schedule an appointment online and visit the Miami-Dade County Police Department at:
Fred Taylor Miami-Dade Police Headquarters
9105 Northwest 25th Street
Doral, FL 33172
Conversely, record seekers, via a public request portal, can send a request for police reports, background checks, or traffic crash reports.
Also, the Miami-Dade County Police Department offers criminal records checks through fingerprint services. Requesters must present two valid photo I.D, a fingerprint card, and a $15 search fee to the District Stations listed below to use the fingerprint services.
Hammocks District Station
10000 Southwest 142 Avenue
Phone: (305) 383-6800
Northwest District Station
5975 Miami Lakes Drive East
Phone: (305) 698-1500
Intracoastal District Station
15665 Biscayne Boulevard
Phone: (305) 940-9980
South District Station
10800 Southwest 211 Street
Phone: (305) 378-4300
Kendall District Station
7707 Southwest 117 Avenue
Phone: (305) 279-6929
Town of Miami Lakes Policing Unit
6601 Main Street
Phone: (305) 827-4020
Midwest District Station
9101 Northwest 25 Street
Phone: (305) 471-2800
Village of Palmetto Bay Policing Unit
9705 East Hibiscus Street
Phone: (305) 278-4000
Northside District Station
799 Northwest 81 Street
Phone: (305) 836-8601
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Homestead
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement provides access to Homestead sex offenders’ information via an online searchable database. Users can conduct searches by name, street address, or county zip code. As a complimentary service to the FDLE Sex Predator and Offender database, Miami-Dade County features an interactive map search. Record seekers can view sex offenders’ home addresses on the online map.
How to Find Homestead Inmate Information
The Miami-Dade Correctional Department maintains a countywide list of all inmates incarcerated in Homestead City. Interested parties can find Homestead inmate information via the online database using the inmate’s first and last name. On the other hand, requesters may also access Homestead inmate records via an online searchable portal maintained by the FDLE. Through the online portal, record seekers can find inmates’ information, such as a photograph, full name, DC number, sex, age, race, date of birth, the release date, and the correctional facility where the inmate is being held.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Homestead City Jail?
The Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department houses all inmates in Homestead City. Professional (attorneys) and non-professional visitors can visit inmates housed in the correctional center. Note that there are different visitation procedures for professional and non-professional visitors. For instance, attorneys must send a completed attorney application for video visitation to: mdcrintroletter@miamidade.gov.
In contrast, professional visitors must send a completed professional visitor application for remote visitation to: mailto:mdcrintroletter@miamidade.gov. However, non-professional visitors are exempt from filling out an application form. After the required registration, visitors (families, friends, attorneys, and professional visitors) must register an account on GTL to use the video visitation platform.
What are Homestead Vital Records?
Homestead vital records refer to all materials in writing or recording about life events within the city. These life events may include birth, death, marriage, and divorce events. Public agencies at the local and state level are responsible for generating and issuing copies of vital records to interested applicants. More so, public agencies may allow the record subject and authorized agencies to access confidential and certified copies of Homestead vital records. The Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Court is the custodian of divorce and marriage records generated in Homestead City. At the same time, the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade maintains all vital records.
Where and How to Obtain Homestead Divorce Records
The Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Courts provides access to Homestead divorce records via the Civil, Family, and Probate Court online system. Record seekers may search for divorce records on the platform using the simple or advanced search option. Alternatively, the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics maintains divorce certificates from 1927 to the present. Record seekers can access divorce certificates from the Bureau of Vital Statistics via mail or in-person. Irrespective of the request method, record seekers must download and fill out the Application for Dissolution of Marriage(DH260). To get the divorce certificate in person, requesters must visit the Bureau of Vital Statistics at:
1217 North Pearl Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202
For mailed requests, record seekers must send the completed application form alongside the required fee as a money order or check to:
Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 210
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042.
Where and How to Get Homestead Marriage Records
Certified copies of Homestead marriage licenses are accessible from the Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Courts. The Clerk of the Courts makes the records accessible via an online or offline request platform. Record seekers can find online copies of Homestead marriage records via an online searchable portal.
Conversely, record seekers may obtain certified copies of marriage records via in-person or mail requests. To obtain Homestead marriage records via mail requests, record seekers must follow these steps:
- Fill out the request form for marriage record;
- Include a $9 money order or check for the preferred document;
- Send these documents in a self-addressed envelope to:
Marriage License Bureau
Overtown Transit Village South
601 Northwest 1 Court, Suite 1900
Miami, FL 33136
Record seekers can also access marriage records in-person at the address above.
Where and How to Find Homestead Birth Records
Only eligible applicants can request and obtain Homestead birth certificates from the Florida Health Department in Miami-Dade County. Homestead birth records are only accessible to:
- The record subject (must be above 18 years old);
- Parents listed on the birth record;
- Legal guardians;
- Legal representatives of the above mentioned persons;
Eligible applicants can access Homestead birth records via mail or in-person requests. For in-person applications for birth records, requesters may visit any of the following Vital Records locations in Miami-Dade County.
Downtown 1350
Northwest 14th Street
Room 101
Miami, FL 33125
North Dade 18680 Northwest
67th Avenue
Hialeah, FL 33015
West Perrine 18255
Homestead Avenue
Miami, FL 3315
Alternatively, record seekers can obtain Homestead birth documents via mail requests at any of the above-listed locations. The mail request must contain the following data:
- The applicant’s photo ID;
- The applicant’s relationship to the record subject;
- Record subject’s full name at birth and birth date;
- Requester’s contact details;
- The record subject’s signature (if above 18 years old);
- $ 20 Money order for check for the birth certificate. Additional copies cost $16.
Where and How to Find Homestead Death Records
The Florida Health Department in Miami-Dade County only issues copies of Homestead death records to eligible applicants. Only the following individuals can obtain death records from the record custodian:
- The deceased’s parents and immediate family members (spouse, child, grandparent, sibling, and grandchildren);
- Beneficiaries of the deceased’s estate;
- Persons with documentation showing they are acting on behalf of the applicants above.
Record seekers may access Homestead death certificates via mail or in-person requests. To request and get death certificates in-person, requesters may visit any of the following Vital Records locations in Miami-Dade County.
Downtown 1350
Northwest 14th Street
Room 101
Miami, FL 33125
North Dade 18680 Northwest
67th Avenue
Hialeah, FL 33015
West Perrine 18255
Homestead Avenue
Miami, FL 33157
Alternatively, record seekers can obtain Homestead birth documents via mail requests at any of the above-listed locations. The mail request must contain the following data:
- The deceased’s birth name and time of death;
- The applicant’s photo ID;
- The applicant’s relationship to the record subject;
- The applicant’s contact details;
- The record subject’s signature (if above 18 years old);
- $ 20 Money order for check for the birth certificate. Additional copies cost $16.
