Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office
FREE OF CHARGE
FINGERPRINTING
It is no longer unusual for the average citizen to be fingerprinted. Today, many jobs require fingerprints of all applicants. Each year, more than 2,500 citizens are fingerprinted free of charge at the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office at the front desk of the Courthouse Annex in Shalimar. Hundreds more are fingerprinted at at the Crestview, Mary Esther, Bluewater Bay and Destin substations. Anyone can come and get fingerprinted Monday-Friday 8AM to 5PM. For your convenience, making an appointment for fingerprinting will ensure that someone will be available to fingerprint you at a specified time.
If you need to be fingerprinted, here are a few words of advice:
Your hands should be clean, dry and oil free. Do not use lotion or hand cream.
You MUST bring a driver's license or other photo ID with you.
Whoever is requiring you to be fingerprinted MUST provide the fingerprint card or cards (sometimes two are required). The Sheriff's Office cannot supply fingerprint cards. Cards are not interchangeable. If you are being fingerprinted for a real estate license, for example, you could not use a card intended for a child-care worker or a defense contractor.
When you fill out your name and other information, use BLACK INK. If you use blue ink, the card will be rejected. Please print plainly or type information on the cards.
Wait to sign your name in the presence of the officer taking the fingerprints.
Never fold a fingerprint card. Transport carefully to protect from tearing, creasing and smearing; for mailing, use a manila envelope with a cardboard insert.
Don't feel like a criminal. Criminals are fingerprinted in a different room on red cards (applicant cards are blue).
Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office
1250 North Eglin Parkway
Shalimar, FL 32579
(850) 651-7410