Pinellas County Arrest Records

Pinellas County arrest records are held by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, which runs the county jail in Clearwater. The sheriff handles bookings and jail operations for the whole county, even when a local city police department made the arrest. You can search these records online through the sheriff's website. The jail sits at 14400 49th Street North in Clearwater, and the main phone number is 727-464-6415. Pinellas County uses Smart Communications for inmate messaging and also offers video visitation for those in custody.

Search Pinellas County Arrest Records Online

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office has an online jail search tool. You can find it at the "Who Is In Jail" page on the sheriff's website. This tool shows who is currently in the Pinellas County Jail. It also shows people who were released within the last 30 days. That window gives you time to look up recent arrest records even after someone gets out.

To use the search, enter a name. Results will show the person's charges, booking date, and custody status. The system covers anyone brought to the Pinellas County Jail, whether they were arrested by the sheriff, St. Petersburg Police, Clearwater Police, Largo Police, or any other local agency. All bookings go through the same jail and the same system.

The Pinellas County Clerk of Circuit Court also keeps arrest-related court records at the Criminal Court Records Department. This office is at 14250 49th Street North on the 4th floor in Clearwater. Copy fees are $1 per page. Certification costs $2 extra per document. These are the official court files tied to Pinellas County arrests once charges go through the court system.

The screenshot above shows the Pinellas County Sheriff's inmate search page. You can reach this tool from any device with internet access. It loads fast and the results are clear.

Pinellas County Arrest Booking Process

When someone is arrested in Pinellas County, they go to the jail at 14400 49th Street North in Clearwater for booking. The process starts with intake, where staff record the person's name, date of birth, and other personal info. Then comes fingerprinting and photographs. The charges from the arresting agency are entered into the booking system. Bond amounts get set based on the charge and the county bond schedule.

After booking, the arrest record becomes part of the Pinellas County Sheriff's database. This is when it shows up in the online search tool. For people still in custody, the record stays visible until release. For those released, it stays for 30 days. That is the public-facing side. The actual record stays on file much longer through the Clerk of Court and through FDLE's statewide system.

Under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, arrest records are public. Anyone can ask for them. The Pinellas County Sheriff's non-emergency line is 727-582-6200 if you need help getting records that are not in the online search tool.

Note: Inmates released more than 30 days ago will not show in the Pinellas County Sheriff's online search, but their court records remain available through the Clerk.

Court Records Tied to Pinellas Arrests

The Pinellas County Clerk of Circuit Court handles all court files that come from arrests. Once the state attorney files charges, the case moves from the sheriff's system into the court system. The Clerk keeps track of filings, hearing dates, plea deals, and final dispositions for Pinellas County cases.

You can get copies of court documents tied to a Pinellas County arrest from this office. The Criminal Court Records Department charges $1 per page for copies and $2 for certified copies. Call them or visit the 4th floor at 14250 49th Street North in Clearwater. Section 943.053 of the Florida Statutes makes these records public unless they have been sealed or expunged through a court order. If a record has been sealed under Section 943.059, the public will not have access, but certain government agencies can still see it.

Sealing Arrest Records in Pinellas County

If you want to seal or expunge a Pinellas County arrest record, the process starts with FDLE. You must first apply for a Certificate of Eligibility. The fee is $75. Processing takes about 12 weeks. FDLE does not speed this up for anyone. Once you have the certificate, you file a petition with the Pinellas County court to get the record sealed or expunged.

Section 943.0585 covers expungement. Expunged records get destroyed by most agencies, though FDLE keeps a confidential copy. Section 943.059 covers sealing. Sealed records stay intact but are hidden from public view. Both options apply to Pinellas County arrest records as long as you meet the criteria set by the state.

The Pinellas County Clerk of Courts can give you the application forms. You can also get them from the FDLE seal and expunge page. The certificate is valid for 12 months, so you have a year to file your petition with the court once it is issued.

Pinellas Arrest Record State Databases

The FDLE Public Access System can pull up criminal history records for anyone in Florida, including those arrested in Pinellas County. A name search costs $25. Results come back right away. This is useful when you need a full statewide picture, not just what Pinellas County has on file.

The CCIS system has court case data from all 67 counties. It covers criminal, civil, and traffic cases. Over 150 million cases are in the database. For Pinellas County arrests that led to court filings, CCIS can show the case progress and final outcome. If the person went to state prison, the FDC Offender Search tracks them there.

Cities in Pinellas County

Pinellas County has several cities with their own police departments. However, all arrests in the county go through the Pinellas County Jail for booking. Three cities in Pinellas County have populations over 75,000.

Other cities in Pinellas County include Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, Safety Harbor, Seminole, and Pinellas Park. Arrest records for all of them are held at the county level.

Nearby Counties

Pinellas County sits on a peninsula and borders just two other counties. If the person you are looking for was arrested outside Pinellas County, check these neighboring agencies.