The Villages Released Inmates
The Villages released inmates are held at the Sumter County jail. This retirement community has over 82,000 residents and spans parts of Sumter, Lake, and Marion counties. Most of The Villages sits in Sumter County. When law enforcement makes an arrest in the Sumter County portion of The Villages, the person goes to the Sumter County Detention Center in Bushnell. You can search for released inmates online through the Sumter County Sheriff's Office inmate search tool. The online database shows current inmates and provides some release information. All inmate records for people arrested in The Villages go into the county system.
The Villages Quick Facts
Sumter County Detention Center
The Villages arrestees in Sumter County go to Sumter County jail facilities. The Sumter County Sheriff's Office is at 219 East Anderson Avenue in Bushnell, Florida 33513-6149. The main phone number is 352-569-1700. The sheriff's office runs the county jail and provides an online inmate search tool.
The Sumter County Detention Center holds people arrested in The Villages and other parts of the county. The jail houses pre-trial detainees and inmates serving short sentences. For questions about an inmate's status, call the sheriff's office at 352-569-1700 during business hours. Staff can tell you if someone is in custody, when they were booked, and when they are scheduled for release.
Note that The Villages also extends into Lake County and Marion County. If someone is arrested in the Lake County portion of The Villages, they go to Lake County jail. If arrested in the Marion County portion, they go to Marion County jail. Check with the specific county sheriff's office to find out where someone is being held.
How to Search for The Villages Inmates
The Sumter County Sheriff's Office provides an online inmate search tool on their website at sumtersheriff.org. Look for the inmate search link on the homepage. You can search by name or booking number to find current inmates.
When you find a match, the system shows the person's booking information, charges, and custody status. If the person is no longer in jail, the database may show a release date. For detailed information not available online, call the Sumter County Sheriff's Office at 352-569-1700. Staff can provide more details about release dates, bond amounts, and court dates.
For people arrested in the Lake County portion of The Villages, use the Lake County Sheriff's Office inmate search. For those arrested in the Marion County portion, use the Marion County Sheriff's Office inmate search. Each county maintains its own separate jail system and inmate database.
Florida Public Records Law
Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes is the Public Records Act. This law requires government agencies to provide access to most records, including jail records. The Sumter County Sheriff's Office follows this law when releasing inmate information to the public.
Section 945.10 of Florida Statutes lists exemptions for confidential information. Medical records, mental health files, and substance abuse treatment records cannot be released without the inmate's consent. Victim statements and witness protection information also stay confidential. Most booking and release information is public, but some details may be withheld under these exemptions.
To request records not available online, contact the Sumter County Sheriff's Office. The agency may charge fees for extensive searches or large volumes of documents. Section 119.07 allows agencies to charge for supervision services and special technology use when fulfilling public records requests.
Visiting Inmates and Sending Money
The Sumter County Detention Center has visitation rules for friends and family who want to see inmates. Check the Sumter County Sheriff's Office website for current visitation hours and rules. You may need to register before you can visit an inmate. Some jails use video visitation instead of in-person visits.
To send money to an inmate, you need the inmate's name and booking number. The Sumter County jail uses a third-party service for deposits. You can deposit money online, by phone, or in person. Inmates use this money for commissary, phone calls, and other expenses while in custody. Contact the sheriff's office for details about the deposit service and any fees that may apply.
County Jail vs State Prison
Sumter County jail is separate from the Florida Department of Corrections. County jails hold people awaiting trial or serving sentences of less than one year. State prisons hold people convicted of felonies and sentenced to longer terms. If someone from The Villages gets sent to state prison, they leave the county jail system.
Use the FDC offender search at pubapps.fdc.myflorida.com for state prisoners. The state database includes inmate population records, release information, escape data, supervised offenders, and absconder lists. The Inmate Release Information Search updates every night and shows both past releases and future scheduled releases.
The Villages Spans Multiple Counties
The Villages is unique because it spans three counties. Most of the community sits in Sumter County, but portions extend into Lake County and Marion County. Each county has its own law enforcement agency and jail system.
If you are looking for someone arrested in The Villages, you may need to check multiple county jail systems. Start with Sumter County since most of The Villages is in that county. If you do not find the person there, check Lake County and Marion County. Each county sheriff's office has its own online inmate search tool and phone number for inquiries.
- Sumter County Sheriff: 352-569-1700
- Lake County Sheriff: Contact through their website
- Marion County Sheriff: Contact through their website