Crime Numbers
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) collates crime statistics for all counties in the state. Its most recent crime data for Clay County are for 2018. In that period, Collier County recorded 638 violent crimes and 3,475 property crimes. Compared to 2014, these represent a 19% increase in violent crime rate and a 15.5% dip in property crime rate. A breakdown of crime figures in 2018 shows that the county recorded 3 homicides, 103 rapes, 103 robberies, 429 aggravated assaults, 654 burglaries, 2,578 larcenies, and 243 motor vehicle thefts.
The most recent five-year crime trend for the county indicates that rape (22.6%), aggravated assault (25.1%), and motor vehicle theft (97.6%) rates went up between 2014 and 2018. On the other hand, homicide (50%), Burglary (12.4%), and larceny (20.5%) rates fell in the same period while the robbery rate remained unchanged.
Criminal Records
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Division of Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS), is the central repository for criminal history information for the state of Florida. Clay County background checks can be requested from the agency in person, by regular mail or via email. For In-person requests visit the FDLE office at:
2331 Phillips Road,
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: (850) 410-8161
Send a mail request for criminal history records to:
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Criminal History Services
P.O. Box 1489
Tallahassee, FL 32302
The agency also accepts email requests sent to backgroundChecks@fdle.state.fl.us. A certified background check takes 6 - 7 business days excluding mail delivery time and costs $24.
When requesting a police reportfor Clay County, contact the police department in the city, borough, or town where the event occurred. For example, police reports for the City of Green Cove Springs, the seat of the county, are provided by theGreen Cove Springs Police Department ("GCSPD"). To request a police report for the city contact:
Chief Derek S. Asdot
1001 Idlewild Avenue
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
Phone: (904) 297-7300
Fax: (904) 284-1436
dasdot@gcspd.com
In compliance with Florida state law, FDLE maintains a database of registered sex offenders/predators living in the state. This agency gives the public access to this information via its website. To find an offender/predator in Clay County, visit the Florida Sexual Offenders and Predators Search page and enter an address in the county. The search result lists all offenders/predators living within a 5-mile radius of the provided address.
Clay County’s only correctional center is a 480-bed detention facility situated at:
901 N Orange Avenue,
Green Cove Springs,
FL 32043, USA
Phone: (904) 213-5905
The center allows family and friends to make deposits into an inmate's account in various ways. Deposits can be made by visiting SmartDeposit, or by phone on (866) 394-0490. Cash and card deposits are accepted at the Cobra Cashier kiosksituated in the lobby area. The jail also accepts fund deposits via mailas long as they are money orders and cashier's checkssent to the address above.
Court Records
Clay County courts are part of the 4th Judicial Circuit of Florida. The Clay County Circuit Court is the primary trial court in the county and sits for sessions in multiple locations including:
Clay County Circuit Court
Clay County Courthouse
825 North Orange Avenue, P.O. Box 698
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
Phone: (904) 269-6302
Fax: (904) 269-6390
Clay County Circuit Court - Keystone Heights
7380 State Road 100, Suite 10
Keystone Heights, FL 32656
Phone: (352) 478-8016
Fax: (352) 473-7652
Clay County Circuit Court - Middleburg
1836 Blanding Boulevard, Suite D
Middleburg, FL 32068
Phone: (904) 282-6490
Clay County Circuit Court - Orange Park
1478 Park Avenue
Orange Park, FL 32073
Phone: (904) 278-4769
Fax: (904) 278-3690
The Circuit Court handles all felony cases and civil disputes involving more than $15,000. The County Court is the lower court in the county and has its sessions in the same locations as the Circuit Court. Misdemeanors and civil disputes involving $15,000 or less are handled by the County Court.
Clay County Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains all criminal and civil case records for the courts in the county. Before submitting a request, search these court records online by visiting the Case Inquiry portal on the Clerk's website. The portal offers numerous filters to search the database including case number, case status, citation number, name of the defendant and name of the attorney. To make a request for copies of court records, contact the Recording Department Clerks by calling (904) 269-6362 or visit the office in person at:
Clay County Courthouse,
825 North Orange Avenue,
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
The office is open to the public from Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Alternatively, send a mail request to the office at the following address:
Clay County Clerk of the Circuit Court
Honorable Tara S. Green,
P.O. Box 698,
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
Vital Records
The Bureau of Vital Statistics, Florida Department of Health provides the divorce certificates for Clay County. The Bureau only provides divorce reports from June 6, 1927 to the present to the public and charges $5 for each copy. There is an additional $2 per year search fee for requests submitted without the year of divorce. To request a record in person,walk into the Bureau's office at:
1217 N Pearl Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone: (904) 359-6900
The office is open on Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To submit a mail request, download and complete the Application for Dissolution of Marriage form. Mail the completed form with a photocopy of an ID and a check or money order for the fee to:
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Vital Records Section
Post Office Box 210
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042
Clay County marriage certificates are also provided by the Bureau of Vital Statistics of the Florida Department of Health. Only records of marriages from June 6, 1927 to present can be obtained from the office and a copy costs $5. To make a request, download and complete the Application for Marriage Certificate form. The requirements for requesting a divorce record also apply for requesting a marriage record.
While the Bureau is also the repository for Clay County birth and death records, it has a local office and other affiliate partners in Clay County that provide certified copies of these records. Find them at these locations:
Administration Building
1305 Idlewild Av
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
Phone: (904) 529-2800
Environmental Health
477 Houston St.
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
Phone: (904) 278-3784
Healthy Start
1345 Idlewild Av
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
Phone: (904) 529-2800
WIC (Women, Infants, Children)
301 South West Street
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
Phone: (904) 272-3177
Clay County Tax Collector Office
1518 Park Avenue,
Orange Park, FL 32073
Phone: (904) 269-1400
Note that the tax collector office only provides birth certificates and charges a convenience fee in addition to the cost of providing a record. Birth certificates cost $13 per copy while death certificates are provided at $10 per copy. Download and complete a birth application form (Spanish version) or death application form (Spanish version) to request the relevant document. Only birth certificates from 1917 to the present and death certificates from 2009 to the present are available at these local offices. Death certificates prior to 2009 can be obtained directly from the state office of the Bureau in Jacksonville. When requesting for death records before 2009, complete and mail the Application for Death Record form (also provided in Spanish) to the state office.
