Search Clearwater Busted Mugshots
Clearwater busted mugshots and arrest records are managed through the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. Located on the Gulf Coast, Clearwater is the county seat of Pinellas County with a population of about 116,800. The Clearwater Police Department makes arrests within city limits, and all bookings go through the Pinellas County jail system. Mugshots, charges, bond amounts, and booking details from Clearwater arrests are public records under Florida law. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office at 14400 49th Street North in Clearwater handles the county jail and maintains online search tools for arrest records.
Clearwater Quick Facts
Clearwater Mugshot Search Process
Finding Clearwater busted mugshots starts with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff runs the county jail and processes all bookings from Clearwater and the other cities in Pinellas County. When Clearwater police make an arrest, the person gets transported to the Pinellas County jail for processing. That is where the booking photo gets taken and the record is created. You can search for Clearwater arrest records through the sheriff's inmate search system.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is headquartered at 14400 49th Street North in Clearwater. Call 727.464.6415 to reach the office directly. The sheriff's website has an inmate search tool that covers all bookings in the county, including those from Clearwater. Enter a name to pull up matching records with mugshots, charges, and bond details.
Clearwater is the county seat, so the main sheriff's office and jail complex are located right in the city. This makes in-person records requests more convenient for Clearwater residents than for people in other parts of the county.
Note: The Pinellas County inmate search shows current jail population and recent bookings from Clearwater.
Clearwater Arrest Records Statewide
Beyond the local Pinellas County search, statewide tools can help track down Clearwater mugshots and arrest records. The Florida Jail Information System aggregates recent booking data from sheriff's offices across the state. You can check who was booked in the last 24, 48, or 72 hours from anywhere in Florida, including Clearwater. The system also supports person of interest searches and watch alerts.
The Florida Department of State publishes a directory of all 67 county jails with links to their search tools. This is useful if someone was arrested near Clearwater but you are not sure which county handled the booking. The Department of Corrections offender search covers people who moved from the Pinellas County jail to state prison after sentencing.
The Florida Department of State jail directory is shown below. This resource provides links to jail search tools across all Florida counties, including the Pinellas County system that handles Clearwater bookings.
FDLE statewide background checks cost $24 and cover Clearwater plus all other Florida jurisdictions. Call 850.410.8109 to request one.
Clearwater Mugshots Under Florida Law
Florida Statute Chapter 119 makes Clearwater arrest records open to the public. The law says all state, county, and municipal records must be available for personal inspection and copying. You do not have to give your name or provide a reason for your request. Section 119.01 states that providing access is a duty of each agency. Automation of records should not reduce the right of public access.
Exemptions exist for certain categories. Law enforcement officer photographs are exempt under Section 119.071(4)(d) if the officer files a written request for confidentiality. Victim information in sexual offense cases is confidential under Section 119.071(4)(h). But for the vast majority of Clearwater arrests, the booking photo and record details are fully public and available to anyone who asks.
Expunging Clearwater Arrest Records
If you were arrested in Clearwater and want the record removed, Florida law offers two paths. Sealing under Section 943.059 hides the record from public view but keeps it accessible to courts. Expungement under Section 943.0585 physically destroys the record. Both processes go through the FDLE seal and expunge process.
The application costs $75 by money order payable to FDLE. Processing takes roughly 12 weeks. You can contact the seal and expunge section at 850-410-7870 or email SEinfo@fdle.state.fl.us for questions about your Clearwater case. Once the court order goes through, the Pinellas County Sheriff removes the booking record from their search system. Keep in mind that private mugshot websites may still display copies of the Clearwater booking photo even after sealing or expungement. Those sites operate outside the court order.
Not every Clearwater arrest qualifies. You generally need a case that was dropped, dismissed, or ended in acquittal. Talk to a lawyer if you are not sure whether your Clearwater arrest is eligible.
Note: FDLE typically takes 12 weeks to process seal and expunge applications from Clearwater residents.
Clearwater Police Department Arrests
The Clearwater Police Department is the main law enforcement agency inside city limits. Officers handle patrol, investigations, and arrests throughout the city. But the department does not run its own jail. Once an arrest is made, the person is booked through the Pinellas County jail system. The mugshot and all booking data go into the county database.
Other agencies also operate within Clearwater. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office patrols unincorporated areas near the city. Florida Highway Patrol makes stops on major roads. State-level agencies like FDLE may conduct investigations that lead to arrests in Clearwater. All of these bookings end up in the same Pinellas County system, so the sheriff's arrest search covers every arrest made in the Clearwater area regardless of which agency was involved.
| Local Agency | Clearwater Police Department |
|---|---|
| Booking Facility | Pinellas County Jail, 14400 49th St N, Clearwater, FL 33762 |
| Sheriff Phone | 727.464.6415 |
Clearwater Record Request Costs
Copy fees for Clearwater arrest records follow the standard set in Chapter 119. Single-sided pages cost 15 cents each. Double-sided pages run 20 cents. Certified copies can cost up to $1.00 per page. If your request is big and takes a lot of staff time, the Pinellas County Sheriff may charge a special service fee after the first free half hour of labor.
Requests over $100 in estimated costs may need a deposit before work begins. Keep your search specific with a name, date, or case number to help the records team find what you need fast.
Pinellas County Busted Mugshots
Clearwater is the county seat of Pinellas County. All arrest records and booking photos from the city go through the Pinellas County Sheriff's jail system. For full details on the county's booking process and search tools, check the county page.
Nearby Florida Cities
Looking for arrest records in other cities near Clearwater? These nearby cities also have mugshots and booking records available.