Start with the correct Pinellas County criminal-record system
Pinellas County criminal information is spread across several official systems. Court cases and final dispositions are maintained by the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, recent jail bookings are available through the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, statewide Florida criminal-history records come from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and appeals move into Florida’s appellate-court system. The fastest search usually starts by identifying which of those records you actually need.
Which Pinellas criminal record are you trying to find?
“Criminal record” is a broad phrase. Someone looking for yesterday’s jail booking needs a different system from someone looking for a 2018 felony disposition or a statewide Florida background record.
Criminal court case
Use for criminal charges filed in court, case numbers, judicial assignments, docket activity, dispositions and publicly available case documents.
Jail booking
Use the Sheriff’s Arrest Inquiry for people currently incarcerated and qualifying releases from the recent online period.
Arrest or incident report
The actual law-enforcement report is separate from the court docket and may require a public-record request to the agency that created it.
Florida criminal history
FDLE is Florida’s central repository for state criminal-history information and offers public name-based searches for a statutory fee.
Criminal appeal
Appeals from Pinellas trial courts generally move into Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal before any qualifying review by the Florida Supreme Court.
Federal criminal case
Pinellas County is served by the Tampa Division of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Federal cases are searched through PACER.
Search Pinellas County criminal court records
Pinellas County criminal and traffic court records are maintained by the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. The Clerk’s public-access system can be used to locate many felony, misdemeanor and criminal-traffic cases.
Official court-record portal: Pinellas County Criminal and Traffic Case Records .
Step-by-step: how to look up a Pinellas criminal case
Open the Clerk’s public court-record search
Use the county’s criminal and traffic public-access portal rather than a commercial people-search website.
Select the criminal or traffic case search
Criminal records can include felony, misdemeanor and qualifying criminal-traffic matters.
Search with the strongest identifier available
A case number or docket number is usually the cleanest search. If you only have a name, try the full legal name and review middle names, initials and date information carefully.
Open the case detail
Check the case type, filing location, judicial officer, defendant information, charges, events and dispositions.
Review the latest disposition
Do not rely only on the first charge shown. Cases can be amended, dismissed, resolved by plea, tried, transferred or otherwise changed after filing.
Order the document if you need proof
When a docket summary is not enough, obtain the actual judgment, disposition, order or other publicly available document from the Clerk.
How to read a Pinellas criminal court record correctly
| Record item | What it generally means | What you should verify |
|---|---|---|
| Case number | The unique court identifier for the case. | Use it for copy orders, court calls and appeal research. |
| Case type | Whether the matter is felony, misdemeanor, traffic or another category. | Do not assume every traffic entry is a criminal conviction. |
| Charge | The allegation filed against the defendant. | A charge alone is not proof of guilt. |
| Events | Chronological docket activity, hearings, filings and orders. | Look for later amendments and final action. |
| Disposition | The way a charge or case was resolved. | Dismissal, acquittal, plea, conviction, withheld adjudication or other result. |
| Sentence | Court-ordered consequences after a qualifying disposition. | Jail, prison, probation, fines, costs or other conditions. |
| Document | An actual filing, order or judgment associated with the case. | Restricted or confidential material may not be available publicly. |
Pinellas court dockets, hearing dates and criminal calendars
The Clerk’s public-access system can also help users find scheduled court activity. If you are following a pending case, check the court calendar or docket for upcoming hearings.
Useful search details can include:
- case number
- party or defendant name
- attorney name
- hearing date
- judicial officer
- court location
How to get copies of Pinellas criminal court records
If the case summary is not enough, the Clerk can provide eligible court documents. Depending on your purpose, you may need an unofficial copy, a certified copy or another form of authentication.
Plain copy
Useful when you simply need to read or retain a public court document and certification is not required.
Certified copy
Includes Clerk certification and is typically used when another agency or legal process requires an official court copy.
eCertified document
Pinellas Clerk offers an electronic certification workflow for eligible court documents, making it possible to receive certified copies without collecting paper in person.
How the eCertified process works
Locate the correct case and event
Verify the case number, event date and document description before ordering.
Add the eligible document to the request
Review the page count and request type carefully before submitting payment.
Provide your email address
The eCertification system uses the email address for the receipt and notification when the certified copy is ready.
Wait for document preparation
The Clerk states that electronic certified documents are usually made available within about two business days, although larger documents or files requiring redaction can take longer.
Pinellas Clerk criminal-record copy fees
| Service | Current listed charge | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Copy of court-record instrument up to 14 × 8.5 inches | $1 per page | Standard court-record copy charge listed in the Clerk fee schedule. |
| Clerk certification | $2 | Added when certification is required. |
| eCertified copy | $1 per page + $2 certification | Current Clerk eCertification instructions also list a credit-card convenience fee. |
| Record search | $2 per year searched | Applicable when Clerk staff must perform the search under the fee schedule. |
| Seal / expunge court file service | $42 | Additional copy, certification, notary or mailing costs may apply. |
Fees can change. Confirm the current schedule with the Pinellas County Clerk before ordering a large record set or mailing payment.
Pinellas County jail and booking search
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Inquiry is the official online search for people booked into the Pinellas County Jail.
The Sheriff’s Office currently states that the online inquiry covers:
- people currently incarcerated
- people released within the last 30 days
- searches by name
- searches by docket number
- searches by booking date
- optional charge and alias searching
Need a Pinellas booking older than 30 days?
The Sheriff’s online arrest inquiry is intentionally limited. For someone released more than 30 days ago, the Sheriff’s Office directs users to its Records Request process.
Pinellas arrest reports and incident records
A court docket is not the same as the arrest or incident report written by law enforcement. If you need the report itself, request it from the law-enforcement agency that created it.
For Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office records, the Sheriff’s Records Section handles public-record requests. The current public-record contact number is: 727-582-5865.
Use the Clerk when you need
Filed charges, case events, hearings, judicial orders, dispositions, sentences and court documents.
Use the Sheriff or police when you need
Arrest reports, incident reports, certain agency records and other records created by the investigating or arresting agency.
How to request Pinellas Sheriff’s public records
Florida has broad public-record laws, but not every piece of law-enforcement information is automatically open. Requested records can require review and redaction when information is confidential or exempt from disclosure.
Identify the record precisely
Include the person’s name, approximate date, location, report number, booking information or another identifier if you have it.
Use the Sheriff’s Records Section
The Records Section is responsible for receiving and processing public-record requests for Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office records.
Ask for the format you actually need
Request inspection, electronic delivery or copies where available rather than asking for an unnecessarily broad record set.
Expect exempt information to be removed
Florida public-record law contains exemptions. The agency may redact protected information or withhold material that is legally exempt.
How to check warrant information in Pinellas County
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office directs warrant searches to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s wanted-person system for statewide warrant information.
The Sheriff notes an important limitation: the statewide tool does not necessarily include every local Pinellas County warrant, such as certain local warrant types.
Pinellas Sheriff Warrant GuidanceFlorida statewide criminal-history search through FDLE
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is Florida’s central repository for criminal-history information.
FDLE currently charges $24 for a public Florida criminal-history request. This is a broader state search than a Pinellas County court-only search.
Florida Criminal History RecordsPinellas Clerk
Best when you need the docket, documents or final disposition of a known Pinellas court case.
FDLE criminal history
Best when you need publicly available Florida criminal-history information beyond one county’s docket.
FDLE Personal Review
Best when you want to inspect your own Florida criminal-history record for accuracy and completeness.
How to review your own Florida criminal-history record
FDLE offers a Personal Review process for people who want to examine their own Florida criminal-history record for accuracy and completeness.
FDLE currently states that there is no FDLE charge for the Personal Review service, although you may have to pay a local agency for fingerprinting.
Complete the FDLE Personal Review form
This process is for the person whose criminal history is being reviewed, or that person’s designated attorney.
Obtain fingerprints
FDLE requires a fingerprint card taken by a law-enforcement or criminal-justice agency.
Mail the form and fingerprint card to FDLE
FDLE Criminal History Record Maintenance handles Personal Review requests.
Challenge inaccurate information if necessary
If your record appears incomplete or incorrect, use FDLE’s challenge process rather than assuming the local Clerk can alter state criminal-history data.
Pinellas County criminal appeals
Pinellas County is within Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal. Appellate case information is now available through Florida’s Appellate Case Information System (ACIS).
Second District Court of AppealThe Second DCA says ACIS has been the public appellate docket system since April 15, 2024. Some appellate documents can still be restricted by rule or statute.
Federal criminal records involving Pinellas County
Pinellas County falls within the Tampa Division of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. A federal prosecution therefore will not appear as an ordinary Pinellas state criminal case.
Sam M. Gibbons U.S. Courthouse
801 North Florida AvenueTampa, FL 33602
Clerk: 813-301-5400
PACER
Use PACER for electronic federal court dockets and documents. PACER registration and applicable federal access fees may apply.
Florida appeal → Second DCA / ACIS.
Federal case → Middle District of Florida / PACER.
Sealing and expunging a Pinellas County criminal record
Florida has several types of sealing and expungement. Eligibility depends on the offense, disposition, prior record and the specific form of relief requested.
For ordinary court-ordered sealing or expungement, FDLE requires a Certificate of Eligibility before the person petitions the court.
Apply to FDLE for a Certificate of Eligibility
Complete the FDLE application and provide the required identifying and case information.
Obtain the required certified disposition
FDLE requires a certified disposition for each relevant case or criminal charge listed on the application. This can be obtained from the Clerk where the case originated.
Complete the fingerprint requirement
The application includes a fingerprint requirement performed by an authorized law-enforcement or criminal-justice agency.
Pay the FDLE eligibility fee
FDLE currently lists a $75 nonrefundable processing fee for an ordinary Certificate of Eligibility application.
File the court petition after eligibility is issued
Receiving the certificate does not itself seal or expunge the record. The next step is filing the required petition and affidavit in the court with jurisdiction.
Pinellas County also publishes a local Seal/Expunge Criminal History Checklist describing what to do after the FDLE eligibility stage.
Juvenile criminal-history records in Florida
Juvenile records do not follow exactly the same public-access rules as ordinary adult criminal records. FDLE states that juvenile records that have been sealed or expunged are not subject to public release.
Florida also has statutory procedures for automatic juvenile expungement and early juvenile expungement when applicable conditions are met.
What to do if a Florida criminal-history record is wrong
If the problem is with the statewide Florida criminal-history record, FDLE directs people to its Criminal History Record Maintenance process rather than simply asking the local Clerk to change FDLE data.
FDLE currently lists:
- Criminal History Record Maintenance: 850-410-7898
- Applicant Services: 850-410-8161
- Seal and Expunge: 850-410-7870
- Personal Review / challenge procedures
Pinellas criminal-record offices and courthouse contacts
Pinellas County Justice Center
14250 49th Street NorthClearwater, FL 33762
Clerk Customer Information:
727-464-7000
Justice Center hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., except holidays.
Sixth Judicial Circuit
Pinellas County Justice Center14250 49th Street North, 4-D
Clearwater, FL 33762
Criminal Administration: 727-464-6400
Pinellas County Jail
14400 49th Street NorthClearwater, FL 33762
Inmate Records: 727-464-6415
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
10750 Ulmerton RoadLargo, FL 33778
Records Section:
727-582-5865
Non-emergency:
727-582-6200
Pinellas County Justice Center map
Most in-person Pinellas criminal-court business is centered at the Pinellas County Justice Center. The Sixth Judicial Circuit describes it as the county’s primary criminal and judicial facility.
Address: 14250 49th Street North, Clearwater, FL 33762. The Sixth Judicial Circuit currently lists free parking at the courthouse.
Pinellas County criminal-record search tips that save time
Start with a docket number
If the jail record provides a docket number, move that directly into the Clerk search instead of relying on a common-name match.
30-day Sheriff limit
If the person was released more than 30 days ago, use the Sheriff’s Records Request process instead of repeatedly searching the Arrest Inquiry.
Final outcome = Clerk
A Sheriff’s booking entry is not the final court result. Use the Clerk case to confirm the disposition.
Search aliases carefully
The Sheriff’s search includes an alias option. Still compare DOB, docket and booking details before assuming two similar names refer to the same person.
Separate local and statewide searches
The Pinellas Clerk answers local court questions; FDLE answers broader Florida criminal-history questions.
Appealed case? Move to ACIS
Trial-court records and appellate records use different systems. Once an appeal is filed, check Florida’s appellate case system too.
Report needed? Ask the agency
The Clerk cannot substitute for the arresting agency’s incident or arrest report.
Keep documents before expungement
FDLE specifically recommends keeping pertinent records before completing an expungement because an expunged record can later become unavailable even to the subject without a court order.
Federal case? Do not search locally
Federal prosecutions involving Pinellas County belong in the Middle District of Florida, generally the Tampa Division, and are searched through PACER.
Using Pinellas criminal records for employment or tenant screening
Public court and criminal-history records are useful for personal research, case verification and understanding public proceedings, but a public-record lookup is not automatically a legally compliant consumer background report.
Pinellas County criminal records: frequently asked questions
1. Where can I search Pinellas County criminal court records?
Use the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller’s Criminal and Traffic Case Records public-access system for many felony, misdemeanor and criminal-traffic court cases.
2. Is the Pinellas criminal court search free?
Basic online case searching can be performed through the Clerk’s public-access system without paying a commercial records website. Charges can apply when you order copies, certified documents or staff-assisted searches.
3. How do I see if someone is in the Pinellas County Jail?
Use the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Inquiry. It covers people currently incarcerated and people released within the previous 30 days.
4. How do I find a Pinellas jail booking older than 30 days?
The Sheriff’s Office directs users seeking release information older than the online 30-day window to its Records Request Portal.
5. Where can I find the final disposition of an arrest charge?
Use the Pinellas County Clerk’s court record. The Sheriff’s Arrest Inquiry itself advises users to contact the Clerk for the final disposition of criminal charges.
6. How much does a Florida FDLE criminal-history search cost?
FDLE currently charges $24 for a public Florida criminal-history request.
7. Can I review my own Florida criminal history for free?
FDLE states that its Personal Review process does not carry an FDLE service charge, although a local law-enforcement agency may charge a fingerprinting fee.
8. Where do I search Pinellas County criminal appeals?
Pinellas County is served by Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal. Public appellate docket information is available through Florida’s Appellate Case Information System, or ACIS.
9. Can I seal or expunge a Pinellas County criminal record?
Some qualifying Florida records may be eligible. For ordinary court-ordered sealing or expungement, the process generally begins with an FDLE Certificate of Eligibility and then proceeds to a petition in the court.
10. Where are federal criminal cases from Pinellas County searched?
Pinellas County is in the Tampa Division of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Federal dockets and documents are searched through PACER rather than the Pinellas Clerk’s state-court system.
Official sources used for this guide
- Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
- Pinellas Criminal and Traffic Case Records
- Pinellas County Sheriff’s Arrest Inquiry
- Pinellas County Sheriff’s Warrant Guidance
- Pinellas County Sheriff’s Contact and Public Records Information
- Sixth Judicial Circuit — Pinellas County Justice Center
- FDLE Criminal History Records
- FDLE Personal Review
- FDLE Seal and Expunge Process
- Florida Second District Court of Appeal
- U.S. District Court — Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division
- PACER Federal Court Records