Start with the record type, then use the correct official system
Palm Beach County criminal information is split between several government systems. The Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller maintains criminal court cases, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office maintains qualifying arrest, booking and law-enforcement records, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains statewide Florida criminal history, and federal cases are handled separately by the U.S. District Court. This guide shows which system to use, what it contains, what it does not contain, and what to do when the online search does not answer your question.
Which Palm Beach County agency has the record you need?
“Criminal record” can describe several very different documents. Matching the request to the correct custodian usually saves more time than repeatedly searching the same name.
Criminal court cases
Use for filed charges, docket events, court dates, dispositions, sentences, court documents and certified court copies.
Arrest and booking information
Use for Sheriff’s Office bookings, current custody, police reports, local background checks and qualifying law-enforcement records.
Statewide criminal history
Use when you need Florida criminal-history information rather than only a Palm Beach County court file.
Judges and hearing divisions
Use for judicial division information, courtroom procedures and judge-specific instructions.
Appeals
Palm Beach County is within Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal for applicable state appeals.
Federal prosecutions
Federal cases use PACER and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Felony and misdemeanor records go through different Florida trial-court levels
Palm Beach County is part of Florida’s Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. Florida’s court structure places felony criminal prosecutions in Circuit Court, while County Court generally handles misdemeanor criminal matters, traffic offenses and municipal or county ordinance violations assigned to county-court jurisdiction.
Felony cases
Florida Circuit Courts have original jurisdiction over felony prosecutions. The Clerk maintains the Palm Beach County case record.
Misdemeanor cases
Florida County Courts handle misdemeanor criminal matters and other limited-jurisdiction cases.
Separate access rules
Juvenile delinquency is handled at the Circuit Court level but public online access is significantly restricted.
How to search Palm Beach County criminal cases in eCaseView
eCaseView is the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller’s free public court-record system. It covers civil, criminal and traffic court records filed in Palm Beach County.
The system can show information including:
- criminal charges
- case status
- court dates
- sentences
- complaints
- parties
- docket history
- available case-document images
Choose Guest or Registered User
Registration is not required for an ordinary search. Select Guest when you only need the standard public fields.
Use the strongest identifier available
A case number or citation number is usually more precise than a common name. If you only know the defendant’s name, search the full legal name and narrow the result where possible.
Select the criminal court type
Filtering by court or case type helps remove unrelated civil, family and traffic cases from the results.
Open the case and review the docket
Check charges, events, hearings, disposition and sentence. Do not treat the original allegation as the final result.
Open available documents
Public document images are generally available from late 2008 forward, with some earlier documents available case by case.
Guest search vs registered eCaseView account
Most visitors do not need to create an account. Registration becomes useful when you need additional identifying fields to narrow a difficult search.
| Search field / feature | Guest user | Registered user |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Yes | Yes |
| Case number | Yes | Yes |
| Citation number | Yes | Yes |
| Offense date | Yes | Yes |
| Court / case type | Yes | Yes |
| Date of birth | Not a standard guest search field | Yes |
| Incident number | Not a standard guest search field | Yes |
| Arrest date | Not a standard guest search field | Yes |
| Booking number | Not a standard guest search field | Yes |
Registration is free. The Clerk states that most registrations are processed in roughly three to five business days.
eCaseView registration informationHow to read a Palm Beach County criminal case correctly
A useful search should answer two different questions: What was alleged? and what ultimately happened?
| Case item | What it generally means | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Charge | The criminal accusation filed in court. | Check whether it was amended, dismissed or resolved differently. |
| Docket / events | Chronological activity in the case. | Arraignment, motions, pleas, hearings, trial and sentencing activity. |
| Disposition | How a charge or case ended. | Conviction, dismissal, acquittal, diversion, withheld adjudication or another result. |
| Sentence | Court-ordered consequences after a qualifying disposition. | Jail/prison, probation, fines, restitution and other conditions. |
| Court events | Past and upcoming hearings. | Use the latest event when planning a court appearance. |
| Documents | Filings and orders available for remote viewing. | Read the actual judgment/order when available rather than relying only on a summary. |
Find upcoming Palm Beach County criminal court dates
eCaseView includes court dates and case events. The Clerk also provides free text-message reminders for upcoming criminal court dates.
For criminal case information by phone, the Clerk currently lists 561-355-2994, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Why some Palm Beach County criminal records do not appear online
Florida court records are subject to confidentiality, sealing, expungement, privacy rules and the Florida court system’s electronic-access standards. Public access at a courthouse can also differ from what may legally be displayed on the internet.
Records not publicly viewable in ordinary eCaseView searches include:
- sealed cases
- expunged cases
- juvenile cases for ordinary public users
- confidential records
- certain protected victim information
- documents restricted by court order
- certain mental-health matters
- Baker Act and Marchman Act records
What does a lock icon mean?
Some documents are marked View on Request (VOR). These documents may contain potentially protected information and must be reviewed by Clerk staff before eligible material can be released for online viewing.
How to request an older criminal court record that is not online
eCaseView document images are generally available from late 2008 forward. Earlier records may be available on a case-by-case basis, but some older documents require a Records Service Center request.
Search the case first
Even when a document image is missing, the docket or case record may still give you the cause number and filing information needed for the request.
Write down the case number and document
Give the Clerk enough information to locate the record: party name, case number, approximate filing year and specific document if known.
Request by email, mail or in person
The Records Service Center accepts requests for court records that cannot be viewed online.
Email:
Orweb@mypalmbeachclerk.com
Phone:
561-355-2932
Records Service Center
P.O. Box 4526
West Palm Beach, FL 33402-4526
Plain copies, paper-certified copies and electronic certified records
If the document is available in eCaseView, an ordinary uncertified copy can usually be viewed and printed from your own computer for free. Certification costs extra because the Clerk authenticates the document as an official court record.
| Service | Current listed amount | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Uncertified eCaseView print | Free online | Useful for research; not the same as a certified record. |
| Paper/in-person copy up to 8½ × 14 | $1 per page | Standard Clerk reproduction fee. |
| Certification | $2 per instrument | Additional certification fee. |
| Required certified-copy cover page | $1 | Contains the unique authentication information. |
| Electronic certified document | $8 per document | Includes statutory and service fees; payment processing fee may also apply. |
| Record search | $2 per year, per name | Useful when the exact case is not known. |
| Authenticated / exemplified certificate | $7 | Additional copy/certification charges can also apply. |
Electronic certified copies currently cost $8 per document, plus the Clerk’s published payment-processing charge for card or supported digital-wallet payments.
Order electronic certified records Check current copy feesWhere to search criminal court records in person
Public-access computers are available at the Main Courthouse and Clerk branch locations. This can be useful when an online search is difficult, an older record needs research, or you need help identifying the correct file.
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone:
561-355-2996
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Criminal customer service is on the 2nd floor, Room 2.2300.
205 N. Dixie Hwy.
4th Floor, Room 4.2500
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Copies, records research and public-viewing access are available here.
Other Clerk locations
| Location | Address | Criminal-record use |
|---|---|---|
| Main Courthouse | 205 N. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach | Full court services, case inquiries, records research and copies. |
| North County Courthouse | 3188 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens | Misdemeanor/traffic services, record searches and public viewing stations. |
| South County Courthouse | 200 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach | Misdemeanor/traffic services, record searches and public viewing stations. |
| West County Courthouse | 2950 State Road 15, Belle Glade | Multiple Clerk/court services for western Palm Beach County. |
| Royal Palm Beach Branch | 200 Civic Center Way, Suite 400 | Payments, filings and public viewing stations; not every courtroom service is offered. |
Main Palm Beach County courthouse map
For records research and general criminal court customer service, the Main Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach is the most complete Clerk location.
Search Palm Beach County arrests, bookings and current custody
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office provides an official Booking Blotter / Inmate Search. This is different from eCaseView: the booking system answers custody and arrest questions, while eCaseView answers court-case questions.
Open PBSO Booking BlotterThe current search allows users to look for people who are in custody or who were booked during the recent date window shown on the search form. Search fields include:
- first name
- last name
- booking date range
- street name
- city
- statute
- arresting agency
- current/recent booking status
Request a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s police or arrest report
PBSO Central Records is the Sheriff’s Office repository for criminal reports, informational reports, accident records, audio/video reproductions, local background checks and police letters of clearance.
PBSO recommends its online GovQA system for public-record requests because requesters can track the request and download responsive records when processing is complete.
Submit a PBSO public-record requestWest Palm Beach, FL 33406
Phone:
561-688-3140
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Attn: Central Records
3228 Gun Club Rd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
PBSO Central Records is currently cashless; the office lists credit/debit cards and checks as accepted methods.
Palm Beach County warrant information
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Division processes, stores and executes arrest warrants issued through the Palm Beach County court system.
Phone: 561-688-3930
For a warrant tied to a known criminal case, also review the eCaseView case history and contact the court if confirmation is needed.
Search statewide Florida criminal history through FDLE
Palm Beach County’s Clerk database is a county court-record system. If you need qualifying criminal-history information from across Florida, use the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
FDLE’s Division of Criminal Justice Information Services is the central repository for Florida criminal-history information.
Florida criminal-history record checks| Search | Coverage | Current public fee |
|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach County eCaseView | Cases filed in Palm Beach County courts | Free search |
| PBSO Booking Blotter | PBSO jail/current and recent booking information | Free public search |
| FDLE Florida criminal-history search | Florida statewide criminal history maintained by FDLE | $24 public request |
| FBI Identity History Summary | Nationwide fingerprint-based federal identity-history process | Separate FBI fee/process |
Review your own Florida criminal-history record for accuracy
FDLE offers a Personal Review process for someone who wants to examine their own Florida criminal-history record and challenge information they believe is inaccurate or incomplete.
FDLE states that the Personal Review service itself has no FDLE fee. The request requires fingerprints taken by a law-enforcement or criminal-justice agency, although the fingerprinting agency may charge its own rolling fee.
FDLE Personal ReviewIf a Palm Beach County court disposition is correct in eCaseView but is missing or wrong in a statewide history, keep a certified copy of the final court disposition when contacting the criminal-history repository about the discrepancy.
Sealing or expunging a Palm Beach County criminal record
Florida provides several types of criminal-history sealing and expungement. For the ordinary court-ordered process, FDLE says the first step is obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility.
FDLE currently advises that Certificate of Eligibility processing typically takes about 12 weeks after a completed application packet is received. FDLE says it does not expedite applications.
Search Palm Beach County criminal appeals
Palm Beach County is in Florida’s Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. The Fourth District Court of Appeal handles appeals and extraordinary-writ matters from the Fifteenth Circuit, along with several other South Florida circuits.
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone:
561-242-2000
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Florida’s Appellate Case Information System can be used to search dockets and documents from Florida appellate courts. Do not expect a county trial-court docket and an appellate docket to be identical.
Florida appellate case searchFederal criminal cases in Palm Beach County use a separate court system
Palm Beach County is within the Southern District of Florida. Federal criminal prosecutions do not appear as ordinary Palm Beach County Circuit Court cases.
701 Clematis Street, Room 202
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone:
561-803-3400
Clerk’s Office: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
If you know the federal case was filed in the Southern District of Florida, search that court directly. If you do not know the federal court, use the nationwide PACER Case Locator.
When a Palm Beach County search is not working
No name match
Try the complete legal name, maiden/former name and a narrower court type or filing period.
Too many matches
A free registered eCaseView account gives you additional fields such as date of birth, arrest date and booking number.
No document image
The document may predate online imaging, be View on Request, be confidential, or require an offline Records Service Center request.
Recently arrested
Check PBSO booking information first. Court data may follow after the booking and filing process.
Search works locally but not overseas
The Clerk’s FAQ states that eCaseView access from outside the United States may require a VPN connection appearing to originate in the United States.
Portal unavailable overnight
eCaseView currently lists routine maintenance from approximately 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m.
eCaseView → PBSO if it began as a recent arrest → Clerk Records Service Center for older or restricted court access → FDLE if statewide criminal history is needed.
Using Palm Beach County records for employment, housing or other screening
A public court search or jail lookup is not automatically a legally compliant consumer background report. Employment, tenant, credit, insurance and other eligibility decisions can involve federal Fair Credit Reporting Act requirements and other laws.
Frequently asked questions about Palm Beach County criminal records
1. Is Palm Beach County eCaseView free?
Yes. The Clerk provides eCaseView as a free public search for civil, criminal and traffic cases. Eligible uncertified case documents may also be viewed and printed from your own computer without charge.
2. Do I need an account to search Palm Beach County criminal cases?
No. Guest users can search by name, case number, citation number, offense date, court type and case type. Registered users receive additional search fields including date of birth, incident number, arrest date and booking number.
3. How far back are Palm Beach County criminal documents available online?
The Clerk states that document images are generally viewable from late 2008 forward, with some earlier records available case by case. Older records can be requested from the Records Service Center.
4. Can I search sealed or expunged Palm Beach County cases?
Sealed, expunged and non-public cases are not available through ordinary public eCaseView access. Other confidential record categories are also restricted.
5. Where can I find a current Palm Beach County jail inmate?
Use the official Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Booking Blotter/Inmate Search. PBSO also provides inmate information by phone through its corrections operations.
6. Is a PBSO booking record the same as a court conviction?
No. A booking shows that a person was processed into custody. The criminal court record should be checked for filed charges and final disposition.
7. How much does an electronic certified Palm Beach County court document cost?
The Clerk currently lists electronic certified court documents at $8 per document, with an additional payment-processing fee for supported electronic payment methods.
8. Where do I search criminal history outside Palm Beach County?
Use the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for a statewide Florida criminal-history record check. FDLE currently lists a $24 fee for public Florida criminal-history requests.
9. How do I seal or expunge a Palm Beach County criminal record?
For the ordinary court-ordered Florida process, first apply to FDLE for a Certificate of Eligibility. If eligible, file the required petition, certificate and affidavit with the court. The certificate itself does not seal or expunge the record.
10. Where do I search a federal criminal case from Palm Beach County?
Palm Beach County is in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Public federal case records are searched through PACER rather than eCaseView.
Official resources used to verify this guide
Court systems, office hours, search restrictions and fees can change. Use these government sources when making a time-sensitive request or ordering a certified record.
- Palm Beach County Clerk — eCaseView
- Palm Beach County Clerk — Court Records
- Palm Beach County Clerk — Criminal Court
- eCaseView FAQ
- Court Records & Copy Requests
- Palm Beach County Clerk Copy & Research Fees
- Palm Beach County Clerk Locations
- Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office — Arrest & Jail
- PBSO Booking Blotter
- PBSO Public Records Request
- PBSO Central Records
- FDLE Florida Criminal History Record Checks
- FDLE Personal Review
- FDLE Seal & Expunge Process
- Fifteenth Judicial Circuit
- Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal
- PACER Federal Court Records