Sheriff’s Office

The Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office provides law enforcement, public records, court process, fingerprinting, victim assistance, crime reporting, community programs, and other public-safety services throughout the county. This article explains how to identify the correct service, contact the appropriate office, prepare a records request, obtain reports or background information, submit court process, report concerns, and avoid delays caused by incomplete information or use of the wrong system.

Agency Role and Services

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, commonly identified as MDSO, protects and serves Miami-Dade County through patrol operations, criminal investigations, specialized enforcement, court services, records administration, emergency communications, crime prevention, and community outreach. Its stated mission emphasizes honor, integrity, professionalism, fair enforcement, transparency, safety, and public trust.

The official Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office website is the primary starting point for residents seeking agency services. The site provides access to records, open warrant information, court services, crime data, victim assistance, employment opportunities, volunteer programs, missing-person information, and methods for reporting concerns.

Different MDSO bureaus handle different requests. A district station may take a report or provide fingerprinting, while the Central Records Bureau handles copies of reports and clearance letters. The Court Services Bureau handles service of process and enforceable writs. Internal Affairs reviews complaints involving employees. Sending a request to the correct unit helps prevent unnecessary transfers and delays.

Emergency and Non-Emergency Contact

Call 911 when there is an immediate threat to life or property, a crime is in progress, someone needs urgent medical assistance, or emergency law enforcement response is required. Routine questions, delayed incidents, administrative requests, records requests, and general service inquiries should not be directed to 911.

For non-emergency police matters, residents may use the Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line listed in the contact section at the end of this article. A separate police reporting line is available when a person needs to file a report. The MDSO contact directory identifies headquarters offices, operational divisions, district stations, investigative bureaus, support units, and their telephone numbers.

Before calling, be prepared to explain what happened, when and where it occurred, whether anyone is in danger, and whether the incident has already been reported. For an existing case, provide the case number when available. A case number is different from a public records request number, court case number, process number, or booking number. Using the correct reference number allows staff to locate the correct record or service.

Police Reports and Records

The Central Records Bureau provides access to police reports, traffic crash reports, background checks, Sheriff Clearance Letters, body-worn camera recordings, 911 call recordings, and certain customized reports. The MDSO reports and records service explains available record types, request methods, identification requirements, fees, and office locations.

A request for an existing record is not the same as filing a new police report. If an incident has not been reported, the person should first contact MDSO through the police reporting line or the appropriate district station. The Records Bureau generally provides records that already exist; it does not create a new offense or incident report based on a public records request.

Online and In-Person Requests

MDSO identifies its online Sheriff Public Records Center as the fastest method for requesting many police records. Requests may also be submitted through the county’s public records request system, which allows users to submit requests and track their status.

The Central Records Bureau Public Counter operates by appointment. Walk-in service is currently unavailable according to the referenced records information. Anyone planning to visit should make an appointment online rather than arriving without a confirmed appointment.

A clear request should identify the exact record sought and provide enough detail for staff to locate it. Broad requests may require more research, increase labor costs, or take longer to process. Depending on the record, useful details may include:

The MDSO case number, if known.
The date and approximate time of the incident.
The address or specific location.
The names of people involved.
The type of report or recording requested.
The officer’s name or badge number, when relevant.
A limited date range for customized data requests.

Offense and Incident Reports

An Offense/Incident Report, often called an O/I Report, documents incidents such as robberies, burglaries, assaults, and vehicle thefts. These reports may be needed for insurance claims, property-loss documentation, or other administrative purposes.

When requesting an O/I Report, provide the case number when possible. If the number is unknown, include the incident date, location, and names of the people involved. Some reports, or portions of a report, may be exempt from public disclosure or confidential under law. A released copy may therefore omit protected information.

Traffic Crash Reports

A traffic crash report describes the circumstances recorded after a vehicle collision. These reports are frequently requested for insurance purposes. MDSO states that a crash report may take up to 10 days after the accident to become available.

Personal information about the involved parties is confidential during the initial period after filing. Only the parties involved have access during that period. After 60 days, the report becomes open to the public. A person requesting a crash report by mail must complete and notarize the Sworn Statement for Traffic Crash Report Information and include it with the request.

Crash reports may also be obtained through the government-operated Florida Traffic Crash Reports system referenced by MDSO. Users should not confuse that system with the MDSO portal used for offense reports, body-camera recordings, and other agency records.

Background Checks and Clearance Letters

MDSO performs criminal background checks and may issue a Sheriff Clearance Letter upon request. A clearance letter may be requested in person, by mail, or through the Sheriff Public Records Center.

The requester should provide complete identifying information so the search is not performed under an incomplete or incorrect name. Required information includes:

The subject’s full name.
Maiden names and other names used.
Race and sex.
Date of birth.
The requester’s name.
The requester’s address and telephone number.

A Sheriff Clearance Letter is not the same as a general copy of an offense report, an identity-theft letter, or a statewide background check. Applicants should confirm which document the requesting employer, agency, school, licensing authority, or other organization requires before paying a fee.

Fingerprinting and Identity Letters

Fingerprinting Requirements

Fingerprinting is available at specified MDSO district stations. The fee stated in the reference material is $15. Applicants must bring two valid forms of identification, with at least one containing a photograph, and the fingerprint card supplied by the organization requesting the fingerprints.

MDSO does not provide fingerprint cards. Arriving without the required card can prevent the service from being completed. The person should obtain the correct card from the employer, licensing agency, school, government program, or other organization requiring fingerprinting.

Fingerprinting and Sheriff Clearance Letters are available from designated stations, including Hammocks, Northwest, Intracoastal, South, Kendall, Miami Lakes, Midwest, Palmetto Bay, and Northside. Contacting the station before visiting can help confirm local service arrangements.

Criminal Identity Theft

A victim of criminal case identity theft may request an Identity Letter from the MDSO Forensic Laboratory’s Fingerprint Identification Section. The letter is intended to help resolve a situation in which another person’s criminal activity has been associated with the victim’s identity.

An in-person applicant must complete the Identity Theft Information Form and present a government-issued photo identification document, such as a driver’s license, United States passport, or United States military identification card.

A request submitted by United States mail must include all of the following:

A certified fingerprint card containing the victim’s fingerprints.
A certified police stamp on the fingerprint card.
The signature of the person who fingerprinted the victim.
A front-and-back copy of the victim’s government-issued photo identification.
A completed Identity Theft Information Form.

An Identity Letter request should not be submitted as a standard clearance-letter request. The Fingerprint Identification Section has separate documentation requirements because it must verify the victim’s identity through certified fingerprints.

Body-Camera Video Requests

Body-worn cameras may record police interactions at crime scenes, traffic crashes, and other official law enforcement matters. A person may request a copy through the MDSO Public Records Center, by telephone, or through an authorized in-person process.

The request should be narrow and specific. Helpful details include the date, time, location, case number, officer’s name, and badge number. A broad request for many hours of video or multiple officers may require substantial review and increase labor costs.

After MDSO receives the request, the requester receives an email confirmation. Staff review the scope and provide a cost estimate. Payment of the estimate acts as a deposit and authorizes processing. Once the recordings are located, staff review them and remove or block information that is exempt or confidential.

The final cost is communicated through the GovQA portal. If the total exceeds the deposit, the balance must be paid before release. If the final cost is lower, the requester receives a refund. Completed records are made available through an email notification.

A requester’s role in the recorded incident may affect what can be released. Choosing not to identify oneself may limit the agency’s ability to determine whether particular confidential material can be provided. Processing times vary according to the scope of the request, necessary redactions, and current workload.

911 Audio and Data Reports

Audio recordings of 911 calls are available for 60 days after the call was received. Requests must be submitted through the MDSO public records system. The reference information states that processing may take up to 60 days and that completed 911 recordings cannot be picked up in person.

A person seeking a 911 recording should submit the request promptly because the recording has a defined availability period. The request should provide the call date, approximate time, location, and any related case or incident number.

MDSO also accepts requests for customized reports covering calls for service, incident reports, and crash reports in unincorporated areas of Miami-Dade County. A request for all activity at a location must identify the specific address. An area-based request must also specify a mile radius, and every customized request must include a date range.

Record Fees and Payments

The referenced MDSO fee schedule lists single-sided report pages at 15 cents each and double-sided pages at 20 cents each. Certified copies cost $1 per page, and Sheriff Clearance Letters cost $5 each. Accepted payment for these records includes cash, check, or money order payable to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.

Requests requiring more than 20 minutes of extensive research or processing may be charged at the hourly rate of the employee performing the work. MDSO provides an estimate before beginning that work and requires a deposit.

Mail requests for O/I Reports, traffic crash reports, and Sheriff Clearance Letters must include the appropriate payment and reference number. Missing payment, an incorrect payee, or failure to identify the requested record can delay processing.

Sealed and Expunged Records

A sealed arrest record has been removed from general public access but still exists. A person may obtain a copy of their own sealed record by presenting proper identification in person at the Central Records Bureau Public Counter.

The Central Records Bureau does not accept or process applications to seal or expunge a criminal record. Those court-related matters are handled through the appropriate court offices. An expunged record is destroyed and is no longer available from MDSO.

Users should distinguish between requesting a copy of an existing sealed record and applying to have a record sealed or expunged. They are separate procedures handled by different offices.

Court Process and Sheriff Services

The MDSO Court Services Bureau provides information about submitting process and checking the status of process already submitted. Bureau personnel cannot provide legal advice. A person who needs legal advice must contact an attorney.

Legal process must first be filed with the Clerk of Courts. After service is completed, or after MDSO determines that the person could not be found and the process was not served, a return of service is mailed to the address provided on the process.

Fees are due when each original request for service is submitted, and all collected fees are nonrefundable. Process papers are not accepted after 4:45 p.m. at the Overtown Transit Village South location.

Enforceable Writs

An enforceable process contains language authorizing or directing action by the Sheriff or, in some cases, another law enforcement officer. Types described by MDSO include:

Attachment: Directs the Sheriff to take property into custody while awaiting further court orders.

Bodily attachment: Directs the Sheriff to bring a person before a specified judge and may contain incarceration instructions.

Distress writ: Prevents property from being removed and may lead to a levy and Sheriff’s sale under a later court order.

Execution: Directs the Sheriff to levy property to satisfy a judgment.

Ne exeat: Prohibits a person from leaving the court’s geographical jurisdiction.

Directed court order: Commands the Sheriff to perform a specified act.

Replevin: Directs the Sheriff to take an item and transfer it to the plaintiff.

Tax warrant: Authorizes a Sheriff’s levy for collection of certain taxes.

The Sheriff Public Portal may be used to obtain status information for a process already submitted. Users should retain their process documentation and reference information because a court case number alone may not identify the Sheriff’s service record.

Court Services Payments

Court Services accepts United States currency, money orders, qualifying checks, and credit or debit cards for in-person payments. MDSO may refuse a particular form of payment in an individual case.

A money order must contain the payer’s name, address, and telephone number. A company or government agency must also identify a contact person on the money order.

Accepted checks include checks issued by qualifying government agencies, cashier’s checks, law-firm company checks, and company or personal checks belonging to account holders physically located in Miami-Dade County. Checks must show the payer’s imprinted name and street address, a contact telephone number, and the full style of the court case. A post office box does not satisfy the street-address requirement.

Employee Complaints and Commendations

MDSO accepts complaints concerning employee conduct and states that its Internal Affairs Office reviews concerns to support professionalism and accountability. The employee complaint instructions provide telephone, email, and in-person submission options.

A useful complaint identifies the employee when known, explains the conduct at issue, and gives the date, time, location, case number, witnesses, and supporting documents. The complaint email address provided by MDSO is pcbinfo@mdso.com, and email submissions are answered by the next business day according to the referenced page.

The agency also allows residents to commend employees for outstanding service. Complaints and commendations are separate from public records requests. A records request seeks existing documents or recordings, while a complaint asks the agency to review employee conduct.

Suspicious Activity Reports

Residents may use the MDSO suspicious activity reporting service when conduct appears unusual, frightening, or outside the normal pattern of a neighborhood or facility. Law enforcement determines whether investigation or further action is appropriate.

A report should contain accurate observations rather than assumptions. Record the exact time and location, physical descriptions, vehicle information, direction of travel, and the specific conduct observed. Do not confront a person, request identification, or attempt to investigate independently.

Suspicious behavior may include unusual surveillance of sensitive locations, inappropriate photography or diagramming, fraudulent government identification, unattended packages, unusual hazardous-material deliveries, or thefts of uniforms, explosives, weapons, ammunition, chemicals, or vehicles designed to carry hazardous materials.

Race, ethnicity, or religion alone is not a basis for reporting suspicious activity. Reports should focus on conduct and observable facts. Call 911 when the activity presents an immediate danger.

Missing Persons and Cold Cases

The Special Victims Bureau investigates officially reported missing-person incidents involving adults and juveniles. The MDSO missing-persons service publishes information about selected cases and provides methods for reporting information.

A missing-person report should be made through the police reporting line. Information about an already reported case may be provided to the Special Victims Bureau or Crime Stoppers. Useful details include the person’s name, physical description, recent photograph, last known location, date and time last seen, clothing, vehicle information, medical concerns, and possible destinations.

The AMBER Alert Plan is a voluntary partnership between law enforcement and local broadcasters used when a child has been abducted and is believed to face serious bodily harm or death. Not every missing-child report meets the criteria for an AMBER Alert, but every urgent disappearance should be reported to law enforcement.

MDSO also maintains information about unsolved homicides and other cold cases. Members of the public who recognize a person, vehicle, location, or circumstance connected with a case should provide that information without attempting their own investigation.

Help for Crime Victims

The MDSO Victim Services Program assists victims by coordinating services and serving as a liaison with the criminal justice system. MDSO investigates criminal allegations 24 hours a day, seven days a week, while victim advocates provide emotional support, crisis intervention, information, and referrals.

Advocates may help victims locate counseling, emergency shelter, legal assistance, victim compensation support, and other social services. They also work with detectives and follow up to determine whether emergency needs have been addressed.

Victims may have rights involving fair treatment, protection from intimidation, privacy, return of property no longer needed as evidence, restitution, notice of proceedings, and proceedings without unreasonable delay. Questions about rights in a specific criminal case should be directed to the State Attorney’s Office or the law enforcement agency handling the case.

Victim Services does not replace emergency response. A person facing immediate danger should call 911. Victims seeking assistance with an existing case should provide the case number and identify the investigating bureau or district when known.

Community Programs and Careers

The Community Affairs Bureau manages educational, youth, crime-prevention, and community-partnership programs. Its programs include the Citizen’s Police Academy, Police Explorer Program, Police Athletic League, school safety presentations, internship activities, youth outreach, crossing guard administration, and other community education efforts.

MDSO also offers citizen volunteer, reserve officer, auxiliary officer, chaplain, explorer, and Citizen Advisory Committee opportunities. Requests for recruiter presentations should be submitted four to six weeks before the event and include the proposed dates, times, location, purpose, audience, contact person, and any additional event details.

Employment applications are accepted only through the county’s online application system linked from the MDSO careers page. Applicants should not send a résumé directly to a district station as a substitute for the required application.

Requirements vary by position. Non-sworn applicants must meet citizenship, education, background, driver’s license, and scheduling requirements. Deputy Sheriff applicants must meet age, education or experience, criminal-history, background-investigation, medical, testing, and training requirements. Applicants previously disqualified from the same classification must wait one year before applying again.

Common Request Mistakes

Many service delays occur because the request is sent to the wrong bureau or lacks enough identifying information. Before submitting anything, confirm whether the task involves reporting a new incident, requesting an existing record, serving court process, filing an employee complaint, or asking for victim assistance.

Do not use a public records request to report a new crime.

Do not send court process directly to MDSO before filing it with the Clerk of Courts.

Do not arrive for Records Counter service without an appointment.

Do not request fingerprints without the card supplied by the requesting organization.

Do not confuse a Sheriff Clearance Letter with an Identity Letter for criminal identity theft.

Do not submit an overly broad body-camera request when the incident can be identified by date, time, location, officer, or case number.

Do not wait beyond the stated availability period to request a 911 recording.

Do not omit payment, reference numbers, identification, notarization, or required forms from a mailed records request.

Do not use race, ethnicity, religion, or other personal characteristics as the sole basis for a suspicious-activity report.

Florida law treats email addresses submitted to public agencies as public records. A person who does not want an email address released in response to a public records request should contact MDSO by telephone or in writing rather than sending electronic mail.

Relevant Offices and Contacts

Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Fred Taylor Headquarters
9105 NW 25th Street, Doral, FL 33172
305-SHERIFF (305-743-7433)

Central Records Bureau
9105 NW 25th Street, Doral, FL 33172
305-471-2085

Fingerprint Identification Section
9105 NW 25th Street, Room 1134, Doral, FL 33172
305-471-2970

Court Services Bureau
Overtown Transit Village South, 601 NW 1st Court, 9th Floor, Miami, FL 33136
305-375-5100

Internal Affairs Office
18805 NW 27 Avenue, Miami Gardens, FL 33056
305-627-7100

Special Victims Bureau
1701 NW 87 Avenue, Suite 120, Doral, FL 33172
305-715-3300

Homicide Bureau
9105 NW 25th Street, Suite 2800, Miami, FL 33172
305-471-2400

Mental Health and Wellness Bureau
9105 NW 25th Street, Miami, FL 33172
305-471-3000

Community Affairs Bureau
9105 NW 25th Street, Doral, FL 33172
305-471-1716

Human Resources Office
9105 NW 25th Street, Doral, FL 33172
305-471-1945

Hammocks District Station
10000 SW 142nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33186-7317
305-383-6800

Intracoastal District Station
15665 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, FL 33160-4604
305-940-9980

Kendall District Station
7707 SW 117th Avenue, Miami, FL 33183-3899
305-279-6929

Midwest District Station
9101 NW 25th Street, Doral, FL 33172
305-471-2800

Northside District Station
799 NW 81st Street, Miami, FL 33150
305-836-8601

Northwest District Station
5975 Miami Lakes Drive East, Miami Lakes, FL 33014-2466
305-698-1500

South District Station
10800 SW 211th Street, Miami, FL 33189-2899
305-378-4300

Town of Miami Lakes Police Station
6601 Main Street, Miami Lakes, FL 33014
305-827-4020

Village of Palmetto Bay Police Station
9705 East Hibiscus Street, Palmetto Bay, FL 33157
305-278-4000

Sheriff’s Office FAQs

How can I request an incident or crash report?

Use the official Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office records service to request offense and incident reports, traffic crash reports, clearance letters, body-camera footage, and other available records. For an offense or incident report, provide the case number when known, the incident date and location, and the names of the people involved. Crash reports may take up to 10 days to become available. During the first 60 days after filing, access is generally limited to the parties involved because personal information is confidential.

What details are needed for body-camera footage?

A body-worn camera request should identify the date, approximate time, location, officer’s name or badge number, and case number whenever possible. A narrow, specific request is usually easier to locate and may reduce labor costs. After review, the requester may receive a cost estimate and deposit requirement. Confidential or legally exempt portions of the recording will be redacted before release, and processing time varies according to the recording’s length, complexity, and current workload.

Can the Sheriff’s Office serve court papers?

The Court Services Bureau handles eligible civil processes, including certain writs, evictions, executions, replevin orders, and directed court orders. Documents must first be filed with the Clerk of Courts before they are submitted for service. The bureau can explain filing procedures and provide the status of a submitted process, but it cannot give legal advice. Service fees are nonrefundable, even when the person cannot be located. Review the official Court Services procedures before submitting documents.

How do I report employee misconduct?

Concerns involving a deputy or other employee may be submitted to the Internal Affairs Office. Complaints are reviewed to determine the relevant facts and whether agency policies were followed. Include a clear description of the incident, its date and location, the employee’s name or identifying information when available, and any supporting records. The official complaint filing instructions explain the available submission methods.

How should suspicious activity be reported?

Report behavior that appears unusual for the location or circumstances, especially activity involving surveillance, restricted areas, fraudulent identification, unattended packages, or suspicious deliveries. Provide objective details such as the exact time, place, physical descriptions, vehicle information, and direction of travel. Avoid confronting anyone or making assumptions based on race, religion, ethnicity, or appearance. Emergencies and immediate threats should always be reported through 911.