Pinellas County busted mugshots are public photos taken at booking after an arrest in Pinellas County, Florida. The county sits on the Gulf Coast and holds more than one million people.
It has one of the busiest jail systems in the state. Anyone can look up recent arrests, booking photos, and current inmates from Pinellas County using official search tools. This page explains how the system works, where to search, what the law says, and how to remove a mugshot when needed.
Pinellas County Jail System Basics
Pinellas County runs a single county jail system. The Sheriff’s Office handles every booking in the area. No matter which city an arrest happens in, the booking goes through the county facility. This setup means all booking photos end up in one place.
Sheriff’s Office Location and Contact
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office sits at 14400 49th Street North in Clearwater, Florida 33762. The main phone number is 727-464-6415. The office runs the jail and serves unincorporated parts of the county. It also runs the central booking system for every police agency in the area.
How Booking Works in the County
Booking starts when police bring someone to the jail. Staff record the person’s name, date of birth, and the charges. They then take a booking photo. This photo is the mugshot. Staff also list bond amounts and enter the data into the county system. The full record becomes public once the booking is done.
Population and Booking Volume
Pinellas County has over 1,010,000 residents. It is the sixth-most populated county in Florida. The county processes thousands of bookings each month. The large number of cities in the small area drives this volume. St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Largo send the most arrests to the jail.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Clearwater |
| Population | About 1,010,000 |
| Judicial Circuit | 6th Circuit (shared with Pasco County) |
| Main Phone | 727-464-6415 |
| Address | 14400 49th Street North, Clearwater, FL 33762 |
Where to Search Pinellas County Mugshots
There are several official sources for booking photos from Pinellas County. Each one gives different types of data. Some show current inmates only. Others show recent releases too.
Official Inmate Search Tool
The Pinellas County Sheriff runs an inmate search tool on its website. Users can search by name or booking number. The search shows people who are in jail right now and many recent bookings. Each result shows the mugshot, charges, bond amount, and booking date. This is the fastest way to look up a recent arrest in the county.
Florida State Jail Directory
The Florida Department of State keeps a list of inmate search links for all 67 counties. Pinellas County sits on this list. The page gives direct links to county jail tools. It is a good starting point when users do not know which county someone was booked into.
The Florida Department of State also acts as a hub for county-level booking tools. Users land on a single page and pick the county they want from a list.
Florida Jail Information System
The Florida Sheriffs Association runs the Florida Jail Information System. This tool pulls booking data from many counties at once. Users can narrow the search to the past 24, 48, or 72 hours. The system helps users spot arrests that crossed county lines.
Florida Department of Corrections Search
Some people from Pinellas County go to state prison after their case ends. The Florida Department of Corrections runs an offender search for state inmates. Users can see where a person is now housed if they moved from the county jail to state prison.
FDLE Statewide Criminal History
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement runs a statewide criminal history check. The check costs $24. It covers every county, including Pinellas. Users can call 850-410-8109 to order the report. It shows arrests and final outcomes.
Florida Public Records Law for Mugshots
Florida law treats arrest records and booking photos as public records. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes says most government records are open to the public. Mugshots fall under this rule.
Chapter 119 Open Records Rules
Section 119.01 of the Florida Statutes says all state, county, and city records are open for personal viewing and copying. Booking photos, charge lists, and bond amounts are part of this group. Users do not have to give a name or a reason to view them.
Exceptions to the Mugshot Rule
A few narrow cases take mugshots out of public view. Section 119.071(4)(d) lets police officers ask that their booking photos stay private. Section 119.071(4)(h) keeps victim names in sex crime cases sealed. Outside these cases, Pinellas County booking photos stay public.
How to Request Pinellas County Records
Anyone can ask the Pinellas County Sheriff for arrest records. Florida law lets users make requests without saying who they are or why they want the data.
Contact Methods for Records Requests
The Sheriff’s Office accepts requests by phone, mail, email, or in person. The office sits at 14400 49th Street North in Clearwater. Users can call 727-464-6415 to start a request. There is no fee just to view records. Copy charges apply when users want paper or digital copies.
Copy Fees and Charges
Pinellas County follows the state fee schedule for copies. A single-sided page costs $0.15. A double-sided page costs $0.20. Certified copies cost up to $1.00 per page. Large requests that need more than 30 minutes of staff time may bring labor charges. The office gives cost estimates before moving forward.
Mugshot Removal and Expungement in Florida
Florida law gives people a way to remove mugshots and arrest records from public view. Two paths exist. One seals the record. The other destroys it.
Sealing a Record Under Section 943.059
Sealing hides the record from public searches. The record still exists. Only the person named in the record and certain agencies can see it. Most mugshot searches will no longer return the sealed entry.
Expungement Under Section 943.0585
Expungement destroys the arrest record. Law enforcement agencies keep a sealed backup. To the public, the record looks like it never happened. Florida offers this path for people who meet the legal rules.
FDLE Seal and Expunge Process
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement handles the seal and expunge process. Applicants must file a certificate of eligibility first. The application fee is $75 by money order. It takes about 12 weeks for FDLE to review the case. Users can call 850-410-7870 or email SEinfo@fdle.state.fl.us for help.
Court Order Limits on Private Sites
A court order tells government agencies to take the mugshot down. It does not reach private mugshot websites. Private sites copy booking photos from public sources. They are not bound by Florida seal and expunge law. Removing a mugshot from those sites needs a separate request to each site.
Cities Inside Pinellas County
Pinellas County has many cities packed into a small area. Every city sends arrests to the same county jail. The booking photos all land in one system. Users looking for arrests in a specific city can use the county-wide search.
Major Cities in the County
St. Petersburg is the largest city in Pinellas County. Clearwater is the county seat. Largo is the third-largest city. Other cities include Tarpon Springs, Dunedin, Safety Harbor, Pinellas Park, Seminole, and Indian Rocks Beach. Each has its own police force. Each sends arrests to the county jail.
Neighboring County Jail Systems
Pinellas County sits next to Hillsborough County to the east. Pasco County sits to the north. Manatee County sits to the south. Cross-county arrests do happen. Users who cannot find a person in Pinellas County may need to check the neighboring county jail tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
This section covers common questions people ask about Pinellas County booking photos. The answers below come from Florida law and current Sheriff’s Office rules.
Are Pinellas County mugshots public?
Yes. Florida law treats arrest records and booking photos as public under Chapter 119. Anyone can view them. Users do not need to give a name or reason. The Sheriff’s Office lets users search current inmates and recent bookings online.
How long does Pinellas County keep booking photos online?
Booking photos stay on the inmate search tool while the person is in jail. Once released, the entry may leave the tool. The full arrest record stays with the agency. Photos may still appear on private websites that copy public data.
Can someone remove a mugshot from Google search?
A court order can remove a mugshot from government sites. Private sites are not bound by the court order. Google indexes content across the web. Removal from search needs a separate request to Google once the photo is off the source site.
How much does an FDLE background check cost?
An FDLE statewide criminal history check costs $24. It covers arrests and outcomes from every Florida county. Pinellas County arrests show up in the report. Users can order the check by mail or online through the FDLE site.
What is the difference between sealing and expunging a record?
Sealing hides the record from public view. The record still exists. Expungement destroys the record for public purposes. Both need a court order. Both require a certificate of eligibility from FDLE first. The eligibility process takes about 12 weeks.
Can minors get mugshots removed?
Florida has separate rules for juvenile records. Most juvenile arrest records can be sealed or expunged. The Juvenile Court handles these cases. Parents or guardians can start the process through the clerk of court.
Where do I report a wrong mugshot online?
Wrong mugshots on government sites can be reported to the Sheriff’s Office. Call 727-464-6415. Wrong photos on private sites need a direct request to that site. Each site has its own correction process.
Pinellas County Sheriff Contact Details
Use the contact details below to reach the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for inmate searches, records requests, or mugshot questions.
Official Phone: 727-464-6415
Official Address: 14400 49th Street North, Clearwater, FL 33762
Official Website: pcsoweb.com
Inmate Search Tool: pcsoweb.com/inmate-search
Records Request Email: recordsrequest@pcsonet.com
Jail Lobby Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
FDLE Seal and Expunge Line: 850-410-7870
Pinellas County Sheriff Office Map
The map below shows the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at 14400 49th Street North in Clearwater. Users can use the map for directions to the agency.