Hillsborough County Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Hillsborough County
Arrest records in Hillsborough County, Florida, are generally considered public records under state law. Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 119.01, the Florida Public Records Law establishes a broad presumption of openness, meaning that all records made or received by a public agency in the course of official business are accessible to members of the public unless a specific exemption applies. Arrest records, including booking data and associated documentation maintained by law enforcement agencies, fall within the scope of this statute.
It is important to distinguish between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not indicate guilt or a criminal conviction. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt entered by a court of law. Under Florida law, individuals who are arrested but not convicted retain certain rights regarding the disposition of those records. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) maintains statewide criminal history information, including both arrest and disposition data, and members of the public may submit requests for criminal history records through that agency.
What's in Hillsborough County Arrest Records
Hillsborough County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and maintained by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and other arresting agencies. The following categories represent the information typically included in an official arrest record.
Arrestee Identifying Information:
- Full legal name and any known aliases
- Date of birth and age at time of arrest
- Gender, race, and physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Residential address at time of arrest
- Social Security Number (may be redacted in public-facing records)
Arrest Details:
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Name and badge number of arresting officer
- Arresting agency (e.g., Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Tampa Police Department)
Charge Information:
- Specific criminal charges filed
- Florida Statute citation for each charge
- Charge classification (felony, misdemeanor, or civil infraction)
Warrant Information (if applicable):
- Warrant number and issuing court
- Date warrant was issued
- Jurisdiction of originating warrant
Booking Information:
- Booking number and date
- Facility where the individual was processed
- Fingerprint and photograph (mugshot) notation
Bond/Bail Information:
- Bond type (cash, surety, recognizance)
- Bond amount set by the court or pretrial services
- Bond status (posted, pending, denied)
Court Information:
- Case number assigned by the Clerk of Court
- Scheduled court appearance dates
- Assigned judicial division or judge
Custody Status:
- Current custody status (in custody, released, transferred)
- Release date and release type if applicable
Additional Information May Include:
- Narrative or incident report references
- Co-defendant information
- Vehicle information if relevant to the arrest
How To Look Up Arrest Records in Hillsborough County in 2026
Members of the public may access Hillsborough County arrest records through several official channels. The following steps outline the primary methods currently available for obtaining these records.
- Visit the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office in person. Requestors may appear at the Records Division during public counter hours to submit a written public records request. Staff will process requests in accordance with Florida Statutes § 119.07, which governs inspection and copying of public records.
- Submit a written request by mail or email. The Sheriff's Office accepts written public records requests submitted via mail or through its official online portal. Requests should include the full name of the subject, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest if known.
- Search the online inmate inquiry system. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office maintains a publicly accessible inmate search tool on its official website, allowing users to look up current and recently released inmates by name or booking number.
- Contact the Clerk of Courts. For records related to court proceedings following an arrest, members of the public may contact the Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court, which maintains case files, charging documents, and disposition records.
- Request records from FDLE. Statewide criminal history records, which consolidate arrest and disposition data from all Florida law enforcement agencies, are available through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's criminal history records request portal.
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office – Records Division 2008 E. 8th Ave., Tampa, FL 33605 (813) 247-8200 Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court 800 E. Twiggs St., Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 276-8100 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court
How To Find Hillsborough County Arrest Records Online
Several official online platforms currently provide access to Hillsborough County arrest records and related criminal justice information.
- Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Inmate Search: The Sheriff's Office operates an online inmate inquiry tool at its official website, where users may search active and recently booked individuals by name, booking number, or date of birth.
- Hillsborough County Clerk of Courts – eCaseView: The Clerk of Circuit Court provides public access to court case information, including criminal case filings and dispositions, through its online case search portal at hillsclerk.com.
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement – Criminal History Search: Members of the public may conduct a name-based criminal history search through the FDLE public records portal. A nominal fee is assessed for each search.
- Florida Courts E-Filing Portal: The Florida Courts system provides access to statewide court records, including criminal case information filed in Hillsborough County circuit and county courts.
- Tampa Police Department Records: For arrests made by the City of Tampa Police Department, records may be requested through the Tampa Police Department online records request system.
Tampa Police Department – Records Unit 411 N. Franklin St., Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 276-3200 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Tampa Police Department
How To Search Hillsborough County Arrest Records for Free?
Members of the public may access certain Hillsborough County arrest records at no cost through the following official resources.
- Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Inmate Search: The online inmate inquiry tool is available free of charge on the Sheriff's Office website and provides current booking information, charges, and custody status for individuals held at county detention facilities.
- Hillsborough County Clerk of Courts – eCaseView: Basic case information, including criminal charges and court dates, is accessible at no cost through the Clerk's online case search system.
- Florida Department of Corrections Offender Search: The Florida Department of Corrections maintains a free public search tool for individuals currently or previously incarcerated in the Florida state prison system.
- In-Person Inspection: Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 119.07, members of the public have the right to inspect public records in person at no charge. Fees may apply only when copies are requested.
- Court Records at the Clerk's Office: Members of the public may inspect physical court files at the Clerk of Circuit Court's public counter during regular business hours without incurring a fee.
How To Delete Arrest Records in Hillsborough County
Florida law provides two distinct legal remedies for individuals seeking to limit public access to arrest records: expungement and sealing. Expungement refers to the physical destruction or obliteration of a criminal history record, while sealing restricts public access to the record without destroying it. Under a sealed record, certain government agencies and employers may still access the information, whereas an expunged record is treated as though it does not exist for most purposes.
Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 943.0585 (expungement) and § 943.059 (sealing), individuals may be eligible for relief under the following circumstances:
- The arrest did not result in a conviction or a withhold of adjudication
- The individual has not previously had a record sealed or expunged in Florida or any other jurisdiction
- The charge is not among those statutorily ineligible for sealing or expungement (e.g., certain violent felonies, sexual offenses)
The process for expungement or sealing in Hillsborough County involves the following steps:
- Obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement by submitting a completed application, a certified disposition of the case, and the required fee.
- File a Petition with the Hillsborough County Circuit Court, attaching the Certificate of Eligibility and a proposed order.
- Serve the State Attorney's Office with a copy of the petition.
- Attend a hearing if required by the assigned judge.
- Receive the court order directing FDLE and all relevant agencies to expunge or seal the record.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement – Expungement Unit 2331 Phillips Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32308 (850) 410-8109 Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office 419 N. Pierce St., Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 274-1800 Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office
What Happens After Arrest in Hillsborough County?
The criminal justice process in Hillsborough County follows a structured sequence of events from the moment of arrest through final case disposition.
- Arrest and Booking: Following an arrest, the individual is transported to a Hillsborough County detention facility, where booking procedures are completed. This includes fingerprinting, photographing, and recording personal and charge information.
- First Appearance: Within 24 hours of arrest, the individual appears before a judge for a first appearance hearing, at which bond is set or the individual is released on recognizance.
- Arraignment: The defendant is formally advised of the charges and enters a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
- Pretrial Proceedings: Both the prosecution and defense engage in discovery, motions practice, and potential plea negotiations.
- Trial or Plea: If no plea agreement is reached, the case proceeds to a bench or jury trial. If a plea is entered, the court accepts the plea and schedules sentencing.
- Sentencing: Upon conviction, the court imposes a sentence in accordance with Florida sentencing guidelines.
- Appeals: The defendant retains the right to appeal a conviction or sentence to the appropriate Florida District Court of Appeal.
How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Hillsborough County?
Arrest records in Hillsborough County are subject to retention schedules established under Florida law and applicable administrative rules. The Florida Division of Library and Information Services publishes General Records Schedules that govern the retention of law enforcement and court records statewide.
Under current law, the following general retention principles apply:
- Arrest records resulting in conviction are retained permanently or for extended periods, as they form part of an individual's criminal history maintained by FDLE.
- Arrest records not resulting in conviction are retained for a minimum period established by agency policy, typically ranging from five to seven years, unless the record is expunged by court order.
- Booking records and jail logs maintained by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office are subject to the General Records Schedule for Law Enforcement Agencies, which specifies minimum retention periods based on the nature of the record.
- Court records associated with criminal cases are retained in accordance with the Florida Supreme Court's records retention schedule, with felony case files generally retained permanently and misdemeanor files retained for a minimum of ten years.
Different agencies within Hillsborough County maintain their own records and may apply varying retention periods consistent with state-mandated minimums. Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for ongoing legal proceedings and maintaining accountability within the criminal justice system.
How to Find Mugshots in Hillsborough County
What Mugshots Are A mugshot is a standardized photographic image taken by law enforcement at the time of booking. Mugshots are part of the official arrest record and document the physical appearance of an individual at the time of their arrest.
Where Mugshots Are Maintained Mugshots are maintained by the arresting agency — primarily the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office or the Tampa Police Department — as part of the booking record. FDLE also retains mugshot images as part of statewide criminal history files.
Finding Mugshots Members of the public may request mugshot images through a formal public records request submitted to the arresting agency. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office processes such requests through its Records Division.
Can They Be Found Online The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office currently publishes booking photographs for individuals held in county detention facilities through its online inmate search tool. These images are accessible to the public at no charge as part of the booking record.
Obtaining Mugshots Officially To obtain a certified copy of a mugshot, members of the public must submit a written public records request to the appropriate agency, identifying the subject by full name, date of birth, and approximate arrest date. Fees for copies are assessed in accordance with Florida Statutes § 119.07.
Restrictions on Mugshot Access Mugshots associated with records that have been sealed or expunged by court order are no longer accessible to the general public. Additionally, mugshots of juveniles are subject to confidentiality protections under Florida law and are generally not released to the public.