Florida’s Comprehensive Case Information System is a secured statewide portal that lets authorized government users search court case records from all 67 Florida counties through a single sign-in. The site is labeled “FOR GOVERNMENTAL USE ONLY,” and access is limited to the judicial community, state and local law enforcement, state agencies, and the Florida Legislature.1Comprehensive Case Information System. Comprehensive Case Information System Private attorneys, businesses, and individual members of the public cannot register. They can still find most of the same information through free county clerk websites, one county at a time.
Who Can Register for CCIS
If you fall into one of the authorized categories, you typically register through your local clerk of court by providing your name, employer, job title, and a justification for access. You’ll sign an agreement acknowledging the rules on court record use, and violating those terms can trigger immediate revocation of your account.
Applications go through a verification step that may include a background check or authorization from a supervising agency. Law enforcement officers and state attorneys often clear approval faster because of their statutory roles. Other government users may need additional documentation. Some jurisdictions require annual renewal so that only active, authorized personnel keep access.
CCIS is referenced in Section 28.24 of the Florida Statutes, which designates court records, including those generated through CCIS, as property of the State of Florida and names the clerk of court as their custodian. That same section prohibits clerks from charging any state agency, the Legislature, or the State Court System for copies of CCIS records.2Florida Senate. Florida Code 28.24 – Service Charges by Clerk of the Circuit Court
What You Can Find in CCIS
The system aggregates case data from across Florida into one searchable interface. Authorized users can look up docket entries, case numbers, party names, scheduled hearings, and the status of pending matters. Court filings such as pleadings, motions, and orders are generally available, reflecting Florida’s strong presumption of public access to judicial records.
Not everything is open. Rule 2.420 of the Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration declares certain judicial branch records confidential, including all records made confidential under the Florida and U.S. Constitutions and under state and federal law.3Marion County Clerk of Court. Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.420 – Public Access to and Protection of Judicial Branch Records That pulls in protections from dozens of Florida statutes covering adoption proceedings, juvenile cases, mental health evaluations, certain family law matters, and domestic violence injunctions. Sensitive personal identifiers like Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and medical details are automatically redacted before records display.
Sealed records exist but are removed from ordinary view, with a court order controlling who can see them. Expunged records go further: under Section 943.0585, criminal justice agencies holding an expunged record must physically destroy or obliterate it, with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement the one exception, keeping a confidential copy releasable only by court order.4Florida Legislature. Florida Code 943.0585 – Court-Ordered Expunction of Criminal History Records Cases tied to active law enforcement exemptions may be temporarily withheld from CCIS while an investigation is ongoing.
How the Public Can Search Florida Court Records
Because CCIS is closed to anyone outside government, the general public has to use other channels. Most Florida county clerks maintain free online portals where you can search case dockets, view scheduled hearings, and often open scanned documents. Many smaller counties participate in shared portals that consolidate records from multiple clerk offices into one search. Larger counties such as Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach run their own dedicated sites.
The real difference between those public portals and CCIS is scope. CCIS lets an authorized user search all 67 counties at once; public portals typically cover one county at a time. Confidential records are withheld from both, so the privacy protections are the same whichever portal you use.
If you need a certified copy of a court document, Section 28.24 sets the statewide fee schedule: $1.00 per page for standard-sized copies, $5.00 per page for oversized documents, and $2.00 for the clerk’s certification.2Florida Senate. Florida Code 28.24 – Service Charges by Clerk of the Circuit Court
Rules Authorized Users Must Follow
Having a CCIS login doesn’t mean you can do anything with the data. The system exists to support judicial and administrative work, and users have to stay inside those lines. Rule 2.420’s confidentiality provisions apply to every query, meaning certain case details cannot be shared regardless of who pulled them up.3Marion County Clerk of Court. Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.420 – Public Access to and Protection of Judicial Branch Records
Data mining CCIS records for commercial resale is prohibited. Florida Bar rules restrict attorneys from using court records to directly solicit prospective clients, such as contacting recently arrested individuals to offer legal services. Unauthorized sharing of records involving minors or protected witnesses can trigger criminal liability under both state and federal privacy laws. Anyone who knowingly violates Florida’s public records statutes commits a first-degree misdemeanor, and public officers face potential suspension or removal from office.5Florida Senate. Florida Code 119.10 – Violation of Chapter; Penalties
Penalties for Unauthorized Access
Getting into CCIS without authorization falls under Florida Statute 815.06, which makes it a crime to willfully and knowingly access a computer system without authorization or beyond the access you were granted. A baseline violation is a third-degree felony carrying up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.6Justia. Florida Code 815.06 – Offenses Against Users of Computers, Computer Systems, Computer Networks, and Electronic Devices7Florida Senate. Florida Code 775.083 – Fines
The charge escalates to a second-degree felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, when the unauthorized access causes at least $5,000 in damage, is committed as part of a fraud scheme, or interrupts a governmental operation or public service.6Justia. Florida Code 815.06 – Offenses Against Users of Computers, Computer Systems, Computer Networks, and Electronic Devices8Florida Senate. Florida Code 775.082 – Penalties; Applicability of Sentencing Structures; Mandatory Minimum Sentences
Criminal charges are not the only exposure. Anyone who unlawfully obtains or distributes confidential court records can be sued for damages by affected parties. Attorneys who misuse their access may face Florida Bar sanctions up to suspension or disbarment. Public officials can lose their jobs. CCIS tracks user activity through audit trails, so unauthorized queries or bulk data extractions can be traced back to the person who ran them.