Hillsborough County Public Records /Hillsborough County Criminal Records

Hillsborough County Criminal Records

What Is Hillsborough County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Hillsborough County are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are maintained by multiple agencies across the county and state, each responsible for a distinct segment of the criminal justice process.

Arrest records document the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and do not indicate guilt or conviction. Conviction records, by contrast, reflect a formal finding of guilt entered by a court of competent jurisdiction. Under Florida law, both categories may appear in a background check, though they carry different legal weight. Felony records involve offenses punishable by more than one year of incarceration, while misdemeanor records cover lesser offenses typically resulting in county jail sentences of up to one year.

Juvenile records in Hillsborough County are generally confidential and may be sealed or expunged upon the subject's petition, pursuant to § 943.0515, Florida Statutes, which governs the retention and destruction of juvenile criminal history records. Active warrant records reflect outstanding orders for arrest currently in force, whereas historical records document past arrests, charges, and dispositions that have been resolved.

The principal agencies maintaining criminal records in Hillsborough County include:

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking information, and jail rosters
Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court — maintains court case files, dispositions, and sentencing records
Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) — maintains the statewide criminal history repository
Tampa Police Department and other municipal agencies — maintain local arrest and incident records

Criminal records encompass charges filed, arraignment proceedings, pleas entered, trial outcomes, sentencing orders, and any conditions of probation or parole imposed by the court. Members of the public may access many of these records through the Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court.

Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court 800 E. Twiggs St., Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 276-8100 Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court

Are Criminal Records Public In Hillsborough County

Criminal records in Hillsborough County are presumptively public under Florida's Government-in-the-Sunshine Law and the Florida Public Records Act. Pursuant to § 119.01, Florida Statutes, "it is the policy of this state that all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying by any person." This broad mandate applies to the majority of adult criminal history records maintained by county agencies.

Records that are currently available for public inspection include:

Adult conviction records and court dispositions
Arrest records and booking information
Court proceedings, docket entries, and case filings
Sentencing orders and probation conditions
Sex offender registration information

Records that are restricted from public disclosure include:

Ongoing criminal investigations and confidential informant identities
Sealed or expunged records, which are removed from public access by court order
Juvenile delinquency records, which are protected under state statute
Certain victim information, including addresses of domestic violence victims
Mental health and substance abuse evaluation records incorporated into court files

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement administers the statewide criminal history repository and provides access to criminal history information in accordance with § 943.053, Florida Statutes, which authorizes the dissemination of criminal history records to the public upon payment of the applicable fee.

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Hillsborough County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain criminal records in Hillsborough County through several official channels. The following steps outline the process for accessing records through the primary maintaining agencies.

Through the Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court:

Visit the Clerk's public access portal at myHillsClerk to search court case records by name, case number, or citation number
Select the appropriate case type (criminal, traffic, civil) from the search interface
Review available case information, including charges, hearing dates, and dispositions
To obtain certified copies, submit a written request in person at the Clerk's office or by mail, accompanied by the applicable fee

Through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement:

Access the FDLE Criminal History Information portal
Submit a name-based or fingerprint-based search request
Pay the statutory fee of $24.00 per name-based search (current rate subject to change)
Receive results electronically or by mail

Through the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office:

Submit a public records request via the Sheriff's online portal or in person at the Records Division
Provide the subject's full legal name and date of birth
Await processing, which may take several business days depending on request volume

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office — Records Division 2008 E. 8th Ave., Tampa, FL 33605 (813) 247-8000 Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

Florida Department of Law Enforcement 2331 Phillips Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32308 (850) 410-7000 Florida Department of Law Enforcement

How To Find Criminal Records in Hillsborough County Online?

Several official online portals currently provide access to Hillsborough County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.

Hillsborough County Clerk's Court Records Search The Hillsborough County Court Records Search portal allows members of the public to search criminal, civil, traffic, and probate case records. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney name. The portal displays case status, hearing schedules, charges filed, and disposition information. No registration is required for basic searches; however, access to certain document images may require account creation.

Hillsborough County Jail Inmate Search The Hillsborough County Jail Inmate Search maintained by the Sheriff's Office provides real-time information on individuals currently held in county detention facilities. The roster includes booking date, charges, bond amount, and projected release date. This portal reflects current custody status only and does not constitute a comprehensive criminal history.

FDLE Offender Search The FDLE Sexual Offender/Predator Search provides statewide registration information for individuals required to register as sex offenders or sexual predators under Florida law.

Florida Courts E-Filing Portal The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal provides access to electronically filed court documents across participating Florida counties, including Hillsborough.

Records involving sealed or expunged cases, active investigations, and juvenile proceedings are not available through any online portal and require a formal written request with appropriate legal authorization.

Can You Search Hillsborough County Criminal Records for Free?

Florida law mandates that public records be made available for inspection at no charge. Pursuant to § 119.07, Florida Statutes, agencies must allow any person to inspect public records during regular business hours free of charge. Fees may only be assessed for duplication of records or for extensive use of agency resources in responding to a request.

The following resources are currently available at no cost:

Hillsborough County Court Records Search — free name-based case searches at hillsclerk.com
Hillsborough County Jail Roster — free real-time inmate lookup at the Sheriff's Office inmate search portal
FDLE Sex Offender Registry — free public search at the FDLE offender search portal
In-person inspection at the Clerk of Circuit Court public counter, available during business hours at no charge

Fees are assessed for the following services:

Certified copies of court documents: $1.00 per page plus $2.00 certification fee (current rate)
FDLE statewide criminal history search: $24.00 per name-based request
Fingerprint-based background checks: fees vary by submitting agency

Members of the public wishing to inspect records in person may do so at the Clerk's main office during public counter hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

What's Included in a Hillsborough County Criminal Record?

A complete Hillsborough County criminal record may contain several categories of information, depending on the maintaining agency and the nature of the subject's criminal history.

Identifying Information

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and place of birth
Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color, distinguishing marks)
Booking photograph (mugshot)
Last known address
State Identification Number (SID) and FBI Number

Arrest Information

Date, time, and location of arrest
Arresting agency and officer identification
Booking number and facility
Charges filed at time of arrest
Bail or bond amount set
Detention facility and custody status

Court Case Information

Case number and court of jurisdiction
Filing date and assigned judge
Charges as filed, including applicable Florida Statutes and offense classification (felony degree or misdemeanor degree)
Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, no contest)
Defense attorney and prosecuting agency information
Hearing dates and continuances

Disposition Information

Verdict (guilty, not guilty, acquitted, nolle prosequi)
Conviction date and sentencing date
Sentence type (incarceration, probation, community service, fines, restitution)
Length of sentence and conditions imposed
Appeals filed and outcomes
Probation or parole supervision status

Additional Record Elements

Outstanding warrants
Protective or restraining orders
Sex offender or sexual predator registration status
DUI/DWI adjudications
Traffic-related criminal violations
Pending charges not yet adjudicated

How Long Does Hillsborough County Keep Criminal Records?

Hillsborough County retains criminal records in accordance with the retention schedules established by the Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services, and applicable state statutes. Under current law, criminal justice agencies are required to adhere to the General Records Schedule GS2 for Law Enforcement, Correctional Facilities, and District Medical Examiners issued by the Florida Department of State.

Retention periods for principal record categories are as follows:

Arrest records and booking reports: Retained permanently for felony arrests; misdemeanor arrest records are retained for a minimum of 25 years
Criminal history files (FDLE): Retained indefinitely until the subject reaches age 100 or upon verified death of the subject
Court case files — felony convictions: Retained permanently by the Clerk of Circuit Court
Court case files — misdemeanor convictions: Retained for a minimum of 10 years following case closure
Acquittals and nolle prosequi dispositions: Retained for a minimum of 5 years
Juvenile records: Subject to destruction pursuant to § 943.0515, Florida Statutes upon the subject reaching age 21 or 26, depending on offense classification
Expunged records: Physically destroyed or rendered inaccessible upon court order, with limited exceptions for criminal justice agency retention

The Florida Department of State's records management program provides oversight of retention compliance across all county agencies. Members of the public seeking records that may have been destroyed under an applicable retention schedule may submit a written inquiry to the maintaining agency to confirm availability.

Florida Department of State — Division of Library and Information Services 500 S. Bronough St., Tallahassee, FL 32399 (850) 245-6600 Florida Department of State