Crime Numbers
Seminole County recorded a total of 10,862 crimes in 2017. This figure represents an 8.8% reduction in overall year-on-year crime rate compared to the total for 2016. Compared to the 2013 total, crime rate in Seminole County dropped by 13% over the past five years. A closer look at the 2017 crime data for the county reveals that there were 17 murders, 214 rapes, 226 robberies, and 1,044 aggravated assaults. Incidences of property crimes include 1,590 burglaries, 7,266 larcenies and 505 motor vehicle thefts.
The five-year crime trend for Seminole County shows that murder (183.3%) and rape (84.5%) rates went up. On the other hand, there were fewer cases of robbery (21.5%), aggravated assault (6%), burglary (42.9%), larceny (4.4%), and motor vehicle theft (12%) between 2013 and 2017.
Seminole County Criminal Records
Criminal background checks for the residents of Seminole County are available from the Division of Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). This agency provides three options for ordering and obtaining criminal history reports. The quickest option is using the Instant Search option on its Criminal History Information webpage. From this portal, anyone can view and download non-certified criminal history reports simply by searching for them.
Request for a background check via the FDLE SHIELD webpage if you want a more complete criminal history report. With this option, members of the public can request for certified and non-certified copies of criminal records. The CJIS can also notarize these reports before mailing them to requesters' addresses. The third option involves sending a mail request for a criminal background check to the CJIS. Use the Criminal History Information Request Form for the request and send the completed form to:
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Criminal History Services
P.O. Box 1489
Tallahassee, FL 32302
The fee for providing a background check is the same for all three options. The FDLE charges a $24 fee for this service and accepts credit/debit card payments for requests submitted online. Checks and money orders are accepted for mail orders.
The Seminole County Sheriff's Office provides local criminal background checks as well as copies of incident and accident reports. Accident reports are available within 60 days of the auto crashes they describe and no longer qualify as public records. The Sheriff's Office will provide accident reports only to the parties involved, their legal representatives, insurance agents and companies, prosecution teams, licensed news outlets, and state and federal agencies.
Request local background checks, incident reports, and accident reports by visiting:
Seminole County Sheriff's Office
Records Section
100 Eslinger Way
Sanford, FL 32773
The office opens to the public from Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. You can also contact the Record Section of the Sheriff's Office by calling (407) 665-6690 or faxing your request to (407) 665-6655. Requests sent via email should go to recordsrequest@seminolesheriff.org while mail requests should be sent to the address above with a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment enclosed.
The Sheriff's Office charges 15 cents per page for single-sided black-and white copies of criminal justice reports. The rate for color copies is 25 cents per page while double-sided black-and-white and color copies cost 20 cents and 35 cents per page respectively. Certified records cost $1 per copy. Cash is accepted only for in-person requests. Other acceptable forms of payment include cashier's check, money order, and debit/credit cards.
Seminole County Sex Offender Information
The FDLE maintains a centralized database of registered sex offenders living in Florida. You can find registered offenders residing, working, and attending school in Seminole County by searching the Florida Sex Offender Registry. The search tools on the website allows the public to find these individuals by name, city, zip code, and street address.
Seminole County Inmate Records
The John E. Polk Correctional Facility is Seminole County's only jail. Its address is 211 Eslinger Way, Sanford while its phone number is (407) 665-1200. Use the Inmate Search tool provided by the Sheriff's Office to find individuals incarcerated in this facility. A Seminole County Inmate Search will require inquirers to provide information with which to facilitate the search including the inmate’s first/last name as well as their date of birth and DOC number (if known).
Friends and family members can deposit money in inmates accounts at the kiosk located at the Main Lobby entrance of the correctional facility. This kiosk is available between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. and accepts cash as well as Visa and Mastercard debit/credit card deposits. It is also possible to send money to an inmate's account by phone. To do so, call (866) 345-1884. This line is available 24/7 and accepts payments made with Visa and Mastercard credit/debit cards.
Court Records
Seminole County has four courthouses and each of them houses a Circuit Court and a County Court. In addition to these, there is also a separate Juvenile Court. Listed below are the addresses of these judicial centers:
Civil Courthouse
301 N Park Ave.,
Sanford, FL 32771
Criminal Justice Courthouse
101 Eslinger Way,
Sanford, FL 32773
Juvenile Justice Center
190 Eslinger Way,
Sanford, FL 32773
Altamonte Springs Branch
990 North State Rd 434 #1124,
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
Casselberry Branch
376 Wilshire Boulevard,
Casselberry, FL 32707
Other notable locations of the judicial system in Seminole County are:
Records Center
1750 E Lake Mary Blvd.,
Sanford, FL 32773
County Services Building
1101 E. First Street,
Sanford, FL 32771
The Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller maintains all court and public records for Seminole County. Use the search portal provided by the Office of the Clerk to search for civil, criminal, traffic, and juvenile case records. For a broader search of the county's public records, including property and tax records, search from the Official Records Inquiry portal.
Use the Official Records Order Form to order certified copies of Seminole County court and public records by mail. The fee for regular copies of these records is $1 per page. Add an additional $2 per page when requesting for certified copies. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller when submitting your request by mail. Send the request to:
Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
Seminole County
Post Office Box 8099
Sanford, FL 32772-8099
Vital Records
Like other court records, the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller provides judgements of dissolution of marriage in Seminole County. Submit a completed Official Records Order Form to request a regular or certified copy of your divorce record. Send this form to the Clerk's address above and make sure to include the appropriate fees.
The Bureau of Vital Statistics of the Florida Department of Health provides a different kind of divorce record. You can obtain an abstract of your divorce record if the divorce was finalized in Florida. To request and obtain this record, send a completed Application for Dissolution of Marriage to:
Attn: Vital Record Section
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Post Office Box 210
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042
The fee for each certified copy of a divorce record is $5. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $4. Include a check or money order for copy fees with your application. Make this payable to Vital Statistics.
The Bureau of Vital Statistics of the Florida Department of Health also provides certified copies of birth, death, and marriage certificates for Seminole County. The steps and fees required to obtain copies of marriage licenses are the same as above. However, you'll need to submit a completed an Application for Marriage Certificate Form.
The local Vital Statistics Office in Seminole County issues birth and death certificates. Start your request by completing a Birth Certificate Application (also available in Spanish) or a Death Certificate Application. Bring this to Florida Department of Health in Seminole County located at 400 West Airport Boulevard, Sanford, Florida 32773. The office opens from Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. Alternatively, mail your application to:
Attn: Vital Statistics
400 West Airport Boulevard
Sanford, FL 32773
Include a copy of a government-issued photo ID and money order or Visa/Mastercard details for copy fees. The Florida Department of Health charges $15 for the first certified copy of a birth certificate and $8 for each additional certified copy of the same record. Plastic cover for the certificate is optional and costs $3. Faster delivery through FedEx is also optional and costs an additional $20. The fee for the first certified copy of a death certificate is $10 while each additional copy of the same record costs $5.
