You're trying to dig up a past mistake, or maybe you're just doing your due diligence before hiring a new contractor to fix your roof in Hialeah. Whatever the reason, finding miami dade county criminal records isn't as scary as the movies make it look. Honestly, it’s mostly just clicking through some slightly dated-looking government websites.
Florida is famous for its Sunshine Law. Basically, this means almost everything is public. If someone got arrested for something silly at 2 a.m. in South Beach, there’s a paper trail. But here is the thing: people often get confused between a "police report" and a "court record." They aren't the same. One is what the cop wrote down; the other is what the judge actually decided.
The "COIN" System and Your First Stop
The heavy lifter in this world is the Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court and Comptroller. They recently rolled out something called COIN (Criminal Justice Online Case Search). It's a modernized portal that lets you look up felonies and misdemeanors without having to drive down to the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building and deal with the nightmare that is parking in Northwest 12th Street.
You’ve got a few ways to search. You can use a name, a case number, or even a "jail number" if you have it. If you're just a regular person looking up a neighbor or a potential date, the "Defendant" search is your best friend.
One thing that trips people up? The reCaptcha. If you’re doing a lot of searches, the site will start thinking you're a robot and make you click on endless photos of crosswalks. To avoid that, you can actually register for a free account. It’s worth the two minutes if you’re doing more than one or two lookups.
What You'll Actually See in a Search
When you pull up a record, it’s going to look like a bunch of legal jargon. You’ll see "Arraignment," "Capias," or "Nolle Prosequi."
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- Felony vs. Misdemeanor: The system covers both. Felonies are the big stuff (think grand theft or aggravated assault), while misdemeanors are the "smaller" things like petty theft or simple possession.
- The Disposition: This is the most important part. It tells you if the person was actually convicted ("Guilty"), if the charges were dropped ("Dismissed" or "Nolle Pros"), or if they got "Withhold of Adjudication."
- Withhold of Adjudication: This is a very Florida thing. It means the judge didn't technically "convict" the person, but they still have to do probation or pay a fine. It counts as a record, but not a "conviction" for some job applications.
Why a Clerk Search Isn't a Full Background Check
Don't assume that because you didn't find a name in the Miami-Dade Clerk's system, the person has a clean record. This is a huge mistake. The Clerk only shows cases filed in Miami-Dade County. If that person got into trouble in Broward, Palm Beach, or across the country in California, it won't show up here.
For a more "statewide" view, you need the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
The FDLE maintains the "Computerized Criminal History" (CCH) files. It’s a $24 fee per search. Yeah, it’s not free like the local Clerk search, but it’s more comprehensive because it pulls data from every county in Florida.
Getting a "Police Clearance Letter"
Sometimes, you don't need a whole history; you just need a "Clearance Letter" or a "Good Conduct Letter." Maybe you're moving to a new country or applying for a specific license.
You get these from the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office (formerly MDPD).
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You can’t just walk in anymore—most of this is by appointment now at the Fred Taylor Headquarters in Doral. It’s five bucks. They’ll run your name through their local system and give you a notarized letter saying you haven't been arrested by them.
Quick Stats on Miami Records
- Cost of a Certified Copy: Usually $7.00 plus a $2.00 per-year search fee if you don't have the case number.
- Search History: Records in the online system generally go back to 1980. Anything older might require a trip to the archives.
- Update Frequency: The Clerk's office usually updates the online portal daily, but "dispositions" (the final result) might take a few days to a week to reflect after a court hearing.
Can Records Just "Disappear"?
Actually, yes. Miami-Dade has a pretty robust "Sealing and Expungement" program.
State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle has been a big proponent of this. The idea is that if you made one mistake years ago and the charges were dropped—or you completed a diversion program—you shouldn't be punished forever.
- Sealed: The public can't see it, but law enforcement and some government agencies still can.
- Expunged: The record is physically destroyed. Even the cops need a court order to see it.
It’s not automatic, though. You have to apply for it, pay the fees, and get a judge to sign off. About 9,000 people in the county have done this over the last couple of decades. If you're searching for someone and nothing comes up even though you know they were arrested, they might have successfully sealed their record.
Mistakes to Avoid When Searching
Whatever you do, don't rely on those "Free Background Check" websites that pop up in Google ads. They are almost never free. They’ll lure you in with a "Free Preview" and then ask for a $30 subscription to see the actual details. Plus, their data is often months or years out of date.
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Always go to the source: www2.miamidadeclerk.gov/cjis/. It’s the official word.
Also, be careful with common names. "Jose Rodriguez" is going to return thousands of hits in Miami. You absolutely need a Date of Birth (DOB) to be sure you're looking at the right person. Searching by just a name is a recipe for accusing the wrong person of something they didn't do.
Your To-Do List for Accessing Records
If you need to pull miami dade county criminal records right now, here is the most efficient path:
- Check the Clerk’s COIN portal first. It's free and fast. Use it to find local felonies and misdemeanors.
- Get the DOB. Don't even try a search without it unless the name is incredibly unique.
- Use FDLE for a statewide search. If you’re hiring someone to live in your house or watch your kids, the $24 for a statewide check is worth the peace of mind.
- Visit Doral for Clearance Letters. If you need a formal letter for immigration or a job, make an appointment with the Sheriff's Central Records Bureau.
- Verify the Disposition. Don't just look at the "Arrest" charge. Look at what happened in the end. Many people are arrested only to have the State Attorney drop the charges later.
This process isn't about being nosy; it’s about safety and transparency. In a county as big and fast-moving as Miami-Dade, knowing how to navigate the bureaucracy is a vital skill.
Practical Next Step: Go to the Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts Criminal Justice Online Case Search and try searching for your own name first. This helps you understand how the data is displayed and ensures there aren't any errors on your own public profile that you might need to address.