Union County recent bookings are public records that show who was arrested and processed at the Union County jail in Lake Butler, Florida. These records include names, charges, dates, and bond amounts.
Florida law makes these records open to anyone who asks. This page explains how to search for Union County recent bookings using phone calls, in-person visits, written requests, and statewide databases. You will also learn about bail, release, and the difference between county jail inmates and state prison inmates. Everything below is based on current Florida statutes and Union County Sheriff’s Office procedures as of 2026.
What Union County Recent Bookings Include
A booking record is created every time a person is arrested and brought to a jail. Union County recent bookings follow the same format used across Florida. The record lists key facts about the arrest and the person taken into custody. Anyone can ask for these records under state law.
Booking Records Basics
A booking record is created when an officer brings an arrested person to the Union County jail. Staff at the jail take the person’s photo, collect fingerprints, and enter personal details into the computer system. The arrest charges are also added to the file. This whole process is called booking. The record is a public document once it is created. You do not need to give a reason to see it. You also do not need to show ID in most cases.
Who Creates These Records
The Union County Sheriff’s Office creates and keeps booking records for the county. The jail staff does the data entry during booking. The sheriff’s office then stores the record in its database. When you ask for a record, the sheriff’s office staff pulls it from the system and shares it with you. Lake Butler Police and the Florida Highway Patrol also make arrests in Union County. Those arrests still go into the same Union County booking system. All records end up in one place.
What Information Appears
A Union County recent booking record contains several key facts. The person’s full legal name appears at the top. The date of birth helps confirm identity. A booking photo, also called a mugshot, is part of the file. The arrest date and time show when the person was taken into custody. The arresting agency lists which police force made the arrest. The charges appear with their Florida statute numbers. The bond amount is listed for each charge when set. Court dates get added later as they are scheduled.
How to Search Union County Recent Bookings
There are four main ways to search for Union County recent bookings. Each method gives you the same basic record. Some methods are faster. Others give you a printed copy. The right choice depends on what you need and how fast you need it.
Phone Search Method
Calling the jail is the fastest way to check recent bookings in Union County. The jail phone number is 386.496.2501. Call during business hours and ask to speak with the records desk. Give the staff member the person’s full name and date of birth if you have it. Staff can tell you if the person is in custody right now. They can also share the charges and bond amount over the phone. This method works well when you just need a quick status check.
In-Person Request Process
You can visit the Union County Sheriff’s Office in person to ask for booking records. The office sits at 50 NW 1st Street in Lake Butler. Walk into the lobby and tell the front desk you want to see booking records. Staff will help you look up the person you need. You can view records on site for free. If you want printed copies, there is a small fee per page. Bring a photo ID, though most record requests do not require one. Plan your visit during normal business hours.
Written Public Records Request
For a formal copy of a booking record, send a written request to the sheriff’s office. Florida’s public records law gives you the right to this. Address your letter to the Union County Sheriff’s Office at 50 NW 1st Street, Lake Butler, FL 32054. Include the person’s full name, date of birth if known, and the approximate booking date. The office must respond in a reasonable time under Chapter 119. You can mail the request or drop it off in person.
Florida Statewide Database Search
If you cannot find a record in Union County, try the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. FDLE runs a statewide criminal history search. The search costs $25 and covers all 67 Florida counties. Use this tool when you do not know where the arrest happened. Visit the FDLE website at fdle.state.fl.us to start the search. Results come back in a few business days. This tool works well for older records or cases that moved between counties.
Union County Jail and Booking Location
The Union County jail is the only booking facility in the county. All local arrests end up at this one location. Knowing where the jail sits and how it operates helps you plan your search.
Jail Address and Contact
The Union County jail sits at 50 NW 1st Street, Lake Butler, FL 32054. The county seat is Lake Butler. The main phone number for the jail and sheriff’s office is 386.496.2501. Staff answer calls during regular business hours. For after-hours questions about inmate custody, call the same number. The office handles all records requests for the jail. You can also visit the Florida Department of State’s county jail directory at dos.fl.gov for statewide jail listings.
Booking Hours and Processing
The booking desk at the Union County jail runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Arrests can happen at any time, so booking never stops. The full booking process takes about one to three hours per person. This includes fingerprinting, photo, and computer entry. During busy times, the wait can be longer. The jail processes people in the order they arrive, unless a medical need or court order changes the order.
State Prisons in Union County
Union County is home to several state prisons. Union Correctional Institution and the Reception and Medical Center both sit inside the county. These are state facilities run by the Florida Department of Corrections. People housed in these prisons are not in the Union County jail. Their records live in the state system, not the county system. The Florida Department of Corrections runs an inmate search at fdc.myflorida.com. Use that tool for state prison inmates. Use the county sheriff for local jail inmates.
Florida Laws Behind Union County Records
Three main Florida laws control booking records in Union County. These laws apply to every county in the state. Knowing them helps you understand your rights when asking for records.
Chapter 119 Public Records Law
Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes is the main public records law. The law says all records made by a government agency must be open to the public. Booking records fall under this rule. You do not need to explain why you want the records. You also do not need to give your name. The agency must respond in a reasonable time. They can charge only the copy fee set by law. Single-sided copies cost 15 cents per page. Double-sided copies cost 20 cents per page. Viewing records at the office is free.
Chapter 901 Arrest Procedures
Chapter 901 of Florida Statutes covers arrest rules. An officer can arrest someone with a warrant. An officer can also arrest someone without a warrant when a crime happens in their presence. Probable cause for a felony also allows a warrantless arrest. Domestic violence cases have their own arrest rules. These rules are the same in Union County as in every other Florida county. After an arrest, the person goes to the jail for booking.
Florida’s Chapter 119 public records law is the legal basis for accessing booking records in Union County and every other county in the state.
Chapter 903 Bail and Bond Rules
Chapter 903 of Florida Statutes covers bail and bond. The law lets judges set bond based on the charges and the person’s risk. A standard bond schedule sets amounts for common offenses. Misdemeanors usually have lower bonds than felonies. Serious charges may have no bond at all. A judge reviews bond at the first court appearance. The judge can lower, raise, or deny bond based on flight risk and danger to the community.
Bond and Release After Booking
After booking, the next step is release or a court hearing. Union County follows the same bond rules as the rest of Florida. The jail staff can explain the bond process when you call.
Standard Bond Schedule
The Union County jail uses a bond schedule for common charges. The schedule lists the bond amount for each type of offense. Misdemeanors often have bonds of a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Felonies carry higher bonds, often several thousand dollars or more. For very serious charges like murder or major drug trafficking, bond may be denied by default. The schedule helps speed up releases when the judge is not available.
First Appearance Hearing
Every person booked into the Union County jail must see a judge within 24 hours. This is called a first appearance hearing. The judge reviews the arrest and the charges. The judge also decides on bond. The judge looks at the person’s ties to the community, criminal history, and the facts of the case. The person can ask for a lower bond at this hearing. A lawyer can speak for the person at the hearing if one is present.
Release Methods
There are three main ways a person can leave the Union County jail after booking. The first way is posting a cash bond at the jail. The full bond amount must be paid in cash. The money comes back at the end of the case if the person shows up for all court dates. The second way is hiring a bail bondsman. The bondsman charges 10 percent of the bond as a fee. The fee is non-refundable. The third way is release on own recognizance, also called O.R. The judge decides on O.R. release at first appearance.
Cities and Areas Covered by Union County Jail
Union County covers a small area in north-central Florida. Three main towns sit inside the county. All arrests from these towns end up at the Union County jail.
Lake Butler
Lake Butler is the county seat of Union County. Most arrests in the county happen here. The Union County Sheriff’s Office and the Lake Butler Police Department both operate in the city. Both agencies send arrested people to the Union County jail on NW 1st Street. Lake Butler is the only city in the county with its own police force. All booking records from the city appear in the Union County system.
Raiford
Raiford is a small town in Union County. The town is best known for the state prisons located nearby. Raiford does not have its own police department. Arrests in town are handled by the Union County Sheriff’s Office. People arrested in Raiford go to the Union County jail for booking. Records of these arrests appear in the same system used for Lake Butler arrests.
Worthington Springs
Worthington Springs is the third town in Union County. Like Raiford, the town does not have its own police force. The Union County Sheriff’s Office handles all law enforcement work in town. Any arrest in Worthington Springs ends with a trip to the Union County jail. All records are kept in one county-wide system.
Nearby Counties to Search Instead
Union County shares borders with four other Florida counties. If an arrest took place near the county line, it may have happened in a different county. Always check the location of the arrest before searching. The wrong county will not have the record you need.
Alachua County
Alachua County sits south of Union County. Gainesville is the county seat. If an arrest took place in Gainesville or anywhere in Alachua County, search Alachua County records instead. The Alachua County jail runs an online inmate search tool. The sheriff’s office also takes phone and in-person records requests.
Baker County
Baker County sits east of Union County. Macclenny is the county seat. The Baker County Sheriff’s Office handles all local arrests. The Baker County jail keeps the booking records. Contact the sheriff’s office there for any arrest that happened in Baker County. Do not confuse Baker County records with Union County records.
Bradford County
Bradford County sits southeast of Union County. Starke is the county seat. The Bradford County Sheriff’s Office runs the local jail. Booking records from Bradford County live in the Bradford system. Call the Bradford County jail to ask about arrests that happened there.
Columbia County
Columbia County sits west of Union County. Lake City is the county seat. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office handles arrests in the county. The Columbia County jail keeps the records. Use Columbia County tools for any arrest that took place in Lake City or nearby areas.
Union County Recent Bookings Contact Details
Use the details below to reach the Union County Sheriff’s Office and jail for booking record requests.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Jail Address | 50 NW 1st Street, Lake Butler, FL 32054 |
| Phone Number | 386.496.2501 |
| County Seat | Lake Butler |
| Office Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Booking Hours | 24 hours, 7 days a week |
| Records Access | Phone, In-Person, Written Request |
| Copy Fee | 15 cents per single-sided page, 20 cents per double-sided page |
| Statewide Search | FDLE Record Check – fdle.state.fl.us |
| State Prison Search | Florida Department of Corrections – fdc.myflorida.com |
Questions About Recent Bookings in Union County
People often ask the same questions about Union County recent bookings. The answers below cover the most common points. If you have a question not listed here, call the Union County Sheriff’s Office at 386.496.2501 during business hours. Staff can help with questions about specific cases, records, and procedures. Florida law also gives you the right to a written response from any government agency for a records request.
Are Union County recent bookings free to view?
Yes. Viewing booking records at the Union County Sheriff’s Office is free. You can walk into the office and look at records at no cost. You only pay if you want printed copies. Florida law sets the copy fee at 15 cents per page for single-sided copies and 20 cents per page for double-sided copies. There is no fee for asking by phone. There is also no fee for the right to ask. You only pay when you want a physical copy. This rule comes from Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes.
How soon do recent bookings appear in the Union County system?
Booking records appear in the system as soon as the jail staff finish the booking process. The process usually takes one to three hours. So a person arrested at noon may show up in the records by mid-afternoon. The exact time depends on how busy the jail is. Some arrests take longer to process than others. If you cannot find a record right after an arrest, wait a few hours and try again.
Can I search Union County recent bookings online?
Union County does not have its own online inmate search tool. The county is small and uses phone, in-person, and written requests instead. For online searches, use the FDLE statewide database at fdle.state.fl.us. The FDLE search costs $25 and covers all Florida counties. For state prison inmates, use the Florida Department of Corrections search at fdc.myflorida.com. That tool is free and covers state facilities only.
What is the difference between Union County jail and state prison?
The Union County jail holds people who are awaiting trial or serving short county sentences. These people have not been convicted of a felony yet, or they were convicted of a misdemeanor. State prisons hold people convicted of felonies with longer sentences. Union County has both types of facilities. Union Correctional Institution and the Reception and Medical Center are state prisons. The Union County jail on NW 1st Street is the county facility. Always know which one you need before searching.
How long are Union County booking records kept?
Florida law sets rules on how long agencies must keep records. For booking records, the retention period depends on the case outcome. Most adult booking records are kept for several years. Some records are kept forever. The Union County Sheriff’s Office follows the retention schedule set by the state. If you need an old record, the sheriff’s office can still help. They pull old records from their archives when asked.
Can I remove my booking record from public view in Union County?
Florida law allows some people to seal or expunge their arrest records. You must qualify under Florida Statutes. The process goes through the courts, not the sheriff’s office. Most people who were not convicted can apply for sealing or expungement. People convicted of certain crimes cannot. A lawyer can help you decide if you qualify. The clerk of court in Union County can also give you forms to start the process.
Why are Union County recent bookings public at all?
Florida has one of the broadest public records laws in the country. The law is based on the idea that government work should be open to the people. Booking records show how police and jails operate. Open records help the public hold agencies accountable. The law also serves a practical purpose. Victims, witnesses, and families often need to know who was arrested. Bail bond companies and lawyers use the records for their work too.