Criminal records in Brevard County, Florida, are accessible through several channels. BrevardFLCourt.us can help find publicly available criminal case information. Additional access points include the official court system for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, the Brevard County Clerk of Court, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Each source offers different record types and search methods depending on what you need.
How to Search Criminal Records in Brevard
There are several ways to look up criminal records in Brevard County. What you'll need to get started depends on the method, but at minimum have the person's full legal name. A date of birth, case number, or booking number will narrow results significantly.
Online Search Options
- BrevardFLCourt.us — Search for publicly available criminal court case information by name or case number.
- Brevard County Clerk of Court online portal — The Clerk's official case search system provides access to circuit and county criminal case dockets, including charges, hearing dates, and dispositions.
- Brevard County Sheriff's Office – Arrest Inquiry — View recent booking records, including arrest charges, booking photos, and bond amounts.
- Offender & Warrant Search (BCSO) — Search for active warrants and offender information maintained by the Sheriff's Office.
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) — FDLE maintains the state's central criminal history repository. You can request a Florida criminal history record check through FDLE's website.
- FDLE Wanted Persons database — Contains Florida warrant information reported by law enforcement agencies statewide.
In Person
- Visit the Brevard County Clerk of Court at the courthouse in Titusville, Melbourne, or Viera. Public access terminals may be available for searching case records.
- Some local police departments, such as the City of Cocoa Police Department, perform criminal background checks with the subject's consent.
By Mail or Written Request
- Submit a written public records request to the Brevard County Clerk of Court. Include the subject's full name, date of birth, and any known case numbers. Enclose applicable fees.
- For statewide criminal history records, mail a request to FDLE's Criminal History Services. Fingerprint-based checks require submission of a completed fingerprint card.
Search Brevard Criminal Cases by Case Number
Florida uses a uniform case numbering system across all courts. If you have a case number, you can pull up the exact record without sorting through name-based results.
A typical Florida case number follows this format:
- Year — The two-digit year the case was filed (e.g., 24 for 2024)
- Case type code — A two-letter abbreviation indicating the type of case. Common criminal codes include:
- CF — Circuit felony
- MM — County misdemeanor
- CT — Circuit criminal traffic
- MO — County criminal ordinance violation
- Sequence number — A sequential number assigned by the Clerk's office when the case is filed
For example, a case number like 05-2024-CF-012345 would indicate a circuit felony case filed in 2024. The leading digits may represent the circuit number (05 for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit is sometimes used in state-level systems). Enter the full case number exactly as it appears on court documents for accurate results through the Clerk's online portal or BrevardFLCourt.us.
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in Brevard
Criminal case records in Brevard County contain several key data points. Here's what each one means:
Charges
| Element | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Florida Statute code | The specific statute section the defendant is charged under (e.g., § 893.13 for drug possession) |
| Severity level | Felony (circuit court), misdemeanor (county court), or criminal traffic violation |
| Degree | Felonies range from capital/life to third degree; misdemeanors are first or second degree |
| Amended charges | Charges may be reduced, added, or modified by the State Attorney before or during proceedings |
Case Status
- Pending/Active — The case is open and proceedings are ongoing
- Disposed — A final resolution has been entered (conviction, acquittal, dismissal, etc.)
- Closed — All obligations fulfilled; the case is administratively complete
- Reopened — A previously closed case has been reopened, often due to a violation of probation
Hearing Types
- First appearance — Initial court appearance, usually within 24 hours of arrest; bond is set
- Arraignment — Defendant enters a plea (guilty, not guilty, no contest)
- Pre-trial conference — Attorneys discuss case status, plea negotiations, and scheduling
- Motion hearings — Arguments on legal motions (suppress evidence, dismiss charges, etc.)
- Trial — Jury or bench trial where evidence is presented
- Sentencing — Judge imposes sentence after a guilty verdict or plea
- Review/Status hearing — Monitoring compliance with probation or other court orders
Court Results (Dispositions)
- Guilty — Convicted by plea or verdict
- Not guilty — Acquitted at trial
- Nolle prosequi / Dismissed — State declined to prosecute or the case was dismissed by the court
- No contest (nolo contendere) — Defendant does not contest the charges; treated as a conviction for sentencing
- Adjudication withheld — Found guilty but the court withholds a formal conviction, often with probation conditions
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in Brevard
Certified copies carry the Clerk's official seal and are accepted for legal, employment, and licensing purposes. Uncertified copies are available for general informational use.
Brevard County Clerk of Court
The Clerk of Court is the custodian of all court case records in Brevard County, including criminal cases filed in both circuit and county court.
How to request certified records:
- In person — Visit any Brevard County courthouse location (Titusville, Viera, or Melbourne). Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Ask the criminal records clerk for certified copies of the specific case documents you need.
- By mail — Send a written request to the Clerk's office at the address above. Include the defendant's full name, date of birth, case number (if known), a description of the documents requested, and a check or money order for applicable fees.
- Online — Some documents may be available for purchase through the Clerk's online portal. Check the Clerk's website for current availability.
FDLE Criminal History Records
For a statewide criminal history report, submit a request through FDLE. Name-based searches and fingerprint-based searches are both available. Fingerprint submissions are required for most employment and licensing background checks.
What You'll Need
- Valid government-issued photo ID (in-person requests)
- Subject's full legal name and date of birth
- Case number (if requesting specific court documents)
- Completed request form (FDLE provides its own application forms for criminal history checks)
- Payment for fees
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in Brevard
Fees for criminal records in Brevard County are set by Florida statute and the Clerk's fee schedule. The following table reflects standard fees under Florida law (§ 28.24, Florida Statutes).
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Copy of court record (per page) | $1.00 |
| Certification fee (per document) | $2.00 |
| FDLE name-based state criminal history check | $24.00 |
| FDLE fingerprint-based criminal history check | $24.00 (plus any livescan vendor fee) |
| Cocoa Police Department local background check | Contact agency for current fee |
Processing Times
- In-person requests at the Clerk's office — Typically processed the same day or within a few business days for certified copies
- Mail requests to the Clerk — Allow 1–2 weeks, depending on volume and complexity
- FDLE name-based checks — Results are often available within a few business days when submitted electronically
- FDLE fingerprint-based checks — Processing may take several business days to several weeks
Fees are subject to change. Confirm current amounts directly with the Brevard County Clerk of Court or FDLE before submitting payment. Accepted payment methods vary by office — the Clerk's office generally accepts cash, checks, and money orders for in-person requests.