The Ancestor Hunt regularly adds and updates new collection links, as well as searches for and fixes broken links.
(This page's most recent update is January 2025)
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Another type of genealogy record that provides tremendous value is criminal records. Some of our ancestors unfortunately got in trouble with the law. Records were kept, from arrests through court cases to prison documents. Now, more and more of these records are being digitized or transcribed and are being made available online.
Types of Records
- Criminal court proceedings
- Police reports
- Prison and jail admission registers
- Arrest records
- Mug books
- Pardon and discharge information
- Hospital record books
- Workhouse records
Types of Information
- Name
- Age
- Birth date
- Height
- Weight
- Complexion
- Eye color
- Hair color
- Nationality
- Occupation
- Education
- Habits (alcohol use)
- Relations (parents living)
- Date incarcerated
- Court where charged
- Recommitments
- How and when discharged
Note: Some links listed take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections’ images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. To take full advantage make sure that you are logged in to FamilySearch. The results may be different if you are signed in, rather than not.
Listed below are links to criminal records that are available for free online for the state; the first list is for multi-state collections:
Florida Criminal Records
United States
- Before the Needles, Executions in America Database
- Death Penalty USA, Executions 1607-1976 (by state)
- Federal Bureau of Prisons, Inmate Search 1982-
- Freedmen’s Bureau Records Relating to Murders and Outrages
Florida
- Alachua County, Florida State Road Camp #28 1930 Census
- DeSoto County, Clerks Conviction Record Book 1
1908 – 1909 - Executions in Florida
- Florida Corrections Offender Network
- Florida State Road Camp #28, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Florida, Execution List: 1976 – Present
- Florida, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Prisoners, Insane, In Hospitals
- Institutions, 1900 Federal Census: Soundex
- Jackson County, Florida Industrial School for Boys Cemetery
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register Index
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: A, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: B, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: C, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: D, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: E, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: F, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: G, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: H, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: I, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: J, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: K, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: L, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: M, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: N, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: O, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: P, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: Q, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: R, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: S, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: T, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: U, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: V, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: W, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: Y, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Prison Register: Z, 1875-1959
- Jackson County, Florida State Reform School, 1910 Census
- Jackson County, Florida State Reform School, Cemetery
- Jefferson County, Superior Court Case Files, 1828-1845
- Leon County, Excerpt of Leon County Jail Register for August 3-8, 1964
- Leon County, Excerpt of Leon County Jail Register for June 12-17, 1961
- Osceola County Convict Camp, 1930 Index of Prisoners
- Osceola County, Convict Camp 1930 Index of Prisoners
- St. Johns County, Miscellaneous Court File
- Union County, Florida State Prison Cemetery AKA Cemetery of Union Correctional Institution
- Union County, Florida State Prison, Registers, 1877-1900
- Union County, Florida State Prison, Registers, 1877-1900
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!