RECORDS

The Records Division is comprised of 9 employees, to include a receptionist, a switchboard operator, a mail courier, clerks and a Records Manager. The Records Division is open to the public from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM Monday through Friday, with the exception of Wednesday when it closes at 4:00 PM. The Records Division is also closed on holidays. Services requiring payment stop at 4:15 PM, daily. Fingerprinting hours are from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM those same days.

The Central Records Division is responsible for the dispersal and filing of all incoming reports and paperwork, and overseeing the retention and disposal of records, as well as maintaining case files on law enforcement cases. Records employees also assist the public with local criminal background checks, copies of reports, fingerprinting, data entry of tickets, distribution and posting of agency mail and assisting victims, witnesses and others seeking information contained in central record files in accordance with the public records law.

*NOTE: Records maintained are for the Marion County case files only. If you are seeking records from other agencies, you must contact those agencies directly.

Public Records Requests

Public records requests made pursuant to the Public Records Act (Florida Statutes Chapter 119) will be accommodated. If you would like to read Florida Statutes Chapter 119, click here. 

For purposes of s. 119.12, Fla. Stat., Brittany Colbert, the MCSO Central Records/S.T.A.R. manager, is designated as the agency’s records custodian. Her contact information is as follows:

Phone: (352) 351-6407

Mailing Address:

Marion County Sheriff’s Office

Attention: Records

PO Box 1987, Ocala, Florida, 34478

or 692 NW 30th Avenue, Ocala, Florida, 34475

Any public record request may be made:

• In person by visiting 692 NW 30th Avenue. The Records Department is open to the public:

  • Monday - Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

  • Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

  • Thursday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  

• By phone during the hours listed above

• By postal mail with the required fee and a self-addressed, stamped return envelope included

• You may also submit a records request online

The agency’s designated methods for submitting public records requests are through the Public Records Portal, in person, by phone or by US mail, as provided above.

Email addresses published elsewhere on this website, including individual employee email addresses and division or group email accounts, are not designated for the submission of public records requests and are not monitored by the Public Records Unit for that purpose.

Public records requests sent to other agency email addresses may experience delays in being identified and routed to the Public Records Unit.  To ensure your request is promptly received and processed, please submit your request using one of the designated methods provided on this page.

Requests and Fulfillment 
Public records held by the MCSO are available upon request for inspection or copying pursuant to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, and Article I, s. 24 of the State Constitution. Unless otherwise specified in your request, copies of records will be provided in paper form.

Costs 
Fees for copies of public records are established in law. Depending upon the record, fees for copies may be either specific to the MCSO or may be based on the general fees established in the Public Records Act. Some fees are as follows:

PUBLIC RECORDS FEE SCHEDULE

Fees for copies of public records are established by law.  Depending upon the record, fees may be specific to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office or based upon the general fees established under Florida’s Public Records Act.  Applicable fees and special service charges are outlined below:

1. Case report copies - $ 0.15 per page

2. Certified copies - $1.00 per copy; unless every page is requested to be certified then $1.00 per page

B. Fingerprint Services: Fingerprint card(s) must be provided to conduct the service. We do not offer fingerprint cards or electronic fingerprint submissions. This service is for Marion County residents only and is free of charge; proof of Marion County residency is required. Fingerprint services will not be provided for non-Marion County residents. 

C. Notary services: $5.00 per notary stamp. 

D. Background checks: There will be an initial $5.00 fee for background checks. There will be an additional fee of $1.00 for each additional name, i.e. maiden name, hyphenated names, aka’s etc.). There will also be a $0.15 fee per printed page. 

Note: Background checks are for local Marion County records only. A criminal history check can be conducted online through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

E. Clerical research fees: The first fifteen (15) minutes of qualifying staff time are provided at no charge. Thereafter, qualifying extensive use clerical assistance is assessed at $5.00 per quarter hour ($20.00 per hour).  Requests requiring the use of an employee with specialized training or skills may be assessed based upon the applicable employee labor cost in accordance with agency policy and applicable law.

Notice Regarding Public Records Fees: When a public records request requires extensive use of agency resources, applicable special service charges may be assessed pursuant to section 119.07(4)(d), Florida Statutes.  The first fifteen (15) minutes of qualifying staff time are provided at no charge.  Victims may receive qualifying records at no charge in accordance with agency policy.  All other requesters are responsible for applicable public records fees and special service charges.

When possible, a good-faith cost estimate and deposit request will be provided before significant extensive use costs are incurred.  However, depending on the nature, volume, and specificity of the request, qualifying research and/or retrieval costs may be incurred before a good-faith cost estimate can reasonably be prepared.  Such costs will be assessed in accordance with the agency’s established fee schedule.  Any qualifying extensive use costs actually incurred remain due and payable regardless of whether you subsequently proceed with, narrow, modify, withdraw, or discontinue your request.

Once sufficient information is available to reasonably estimate the remaining cost of fulfilling the request, a good-faith cost estimate will be provided. The agency may require payment of all or part of the estimated allowable costs as a deposit before additional extensive research, review, redaction, processing, or production of responsive records continue.

Any allowable charges incurred in connection with a public records request remain due and payable.  If outstanding charges remain unpaid, the agency may require payment of the outstanding balance before processing subsequent public records requests, as permitted by applicable law and agency policy.

F. Body, Dash Camera & Other Video Records: Review of video footage is assessed at $20.00 per hour based upon the total duration of the requested footage.  When redaction is required, the processing and redaction of the footage is separately assessed at $20.00 per hour.

G. 911 Audiotapes: Please contact Marion County Public Safety.

H. Crash Reports can be obtained here: Buy Florida Crash Reports 

SHERIFF’S TELEPHONE AUTOMATED REPORTING SYSTEM (S.T.A.R.)

The Sheriff’s Telephone Automated Reporting System (S.T.A.R.) provides the function of allowing deputies and detectives to phone in or email a report to an operator directly from the field. The S.T.A.R. Division is comprised of 16 Operators, 1 Supervisor and 1 Manager. An operator’s daily duties consist of data entry, including live dictation, and accurate coding of crime data. All Operators must have an excellent grammar and spelling skillset and the ability to handle confidential information. One major goal of the S.T.A.R. Division is to reduce the amount of time a deputy/detective spends on paperwork.