The Records Section is responsible for compiling, maintaining and disseminating information from Department records concerning criminal and traffic reports.  Additionally, the Records Section is responsible for reporting statistics to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for the Uniformed Crime Report. Training and certification for department members to access the Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC)  is also coordinated through the Records Section.

The Records Section now offers the ability to request Background Checks, Incident Reports/Traffic Crash Reports, and Neighborhood block summaries via the internet.   You may fill out the forms and submit the requests via internet and you will either be able to pick up the report or have it mailed to you.

As a courtesy, Gainesville Police Department Records Section has been providing copies of reports at no cost on a regular basis.  This process is no longer feasible. 

Because of economic concerns and uncertainties, it has become necessary for the Gainesville Police Department Records Section to modify its level of services provided to the community, as well as to other agencies. 

Records Section will charge:
For Crash, Incident and Block Summary reports, the first 10 pages are free. Request for reports of 11 pages or more will result in a cost of five (5) cents a page.

Extensive reports and research will incur the hourly rate of $12.10 plus 5 cents a page.

Other charges include:

    $5.00 Criminal History Background per person
    $5.00 Visa Letter, per person
    $5.00 Record Check per person

How do I get a copy of a police report?

Police Reports may be obtained by telephone, online or in person.   To order by telephone, call (352) 393-7565.  To order online, click on the following links: Background Checks, Incident Reports/Traffic Crash Reports, Neighborhood block summaries  and fill out the forms.  The Records Division will contact you regarding the charge, and mailing instructions.   

To order in person, go to Gainesville Police Department, location, 721 NW 6^th Street, Gainesville, Florida.  Complete records request form at front desk, to be returned to front desk personnel.  Records will complete request within seventy two hours of receiving the request form.  When a request exceeds the 10 page minimum, Records Personnel will contact you by telephone regarding the amount of the charge. 

Payment for reports is made at the Parking office located inside the Gainesville Police Department.  Their hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.  Reports will be left at the front desk for pick-up after the fees are paid.

Note: The information released is based on departmental/public record guidelines.

The Gainesville Police Department releases information relating to incidents which occur within the city limits of Gainesville only.

NOTE:  The City of Gainesville provides the first ten pages of a public record request at no cost.  If the nature or volume of the public record to be copied is extensive in nature or volume, the agency may charge in addition to the actual cost of duplication (.05 cents per page after the first ten copies), a special service fee based on the labor cost of personnel providing the service (F.S.119.07 (1)b.

The Records Section controls the release of information regarding persons who have been arrested by the Gainesville Police Department.  There are 3 ways to receive local arrest information:
1. You may call the Records Section at (352) 393-7565 

2. You may fill out a request form at the front desk at the station.  
3. You may write to the Gainesville Police Department Records Section, at the above address.

To obtain a statewide criminal history you must contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) at (850) 410-8109, or visit their web site.              

Any cases prior to October 1, 1994 involving juvenile defendants are available by court order upon a showing of good cause. Any cases which occurred after October 1, 1994 are available for disclosure if the defendant has committed a felony or has been convicted of three misdemeanor offenses.  All victim information would be excised from the report.

This is a complicated and ever changing area of the law.

Florida State Statute 119.07 provides for several exemptions.  Some of general categories of exemptions include:

1. Investigative information on open criminal investigations.

2. Criminal intelligence.

3. Any information including photographs, name, address, or other facts or information which reveal the identity of the victim of the crimes of sexual battery, lewd, lascivious, or indecent assault upon or in the presence of a child, child abuse, or any sexual offense.

4. Juvenile crime victim information.  

For additional exemptions, you may refer to Florida State Statute Chapter 119.07.

Would my record be available once it has been sealed or expunged?

Once a court order has been received to expunge or seal a criminal history record, our Department is prohibited from disclosing the existence of the record per Florida State Statute 943.059 or 943.0585.  However there are exceptions allowing disclosure of information relating to the existence of a sealed or expunged criminal history to specified entities.