Hillsborough County Inmate Search
A Hillborough County inmate search offers inquirers pertinent details of inmates held in detention facilities within the county. Since inmate information is considered part of Hillsborough County, Florida Public Records, they are disseminated to the public unless otherwise specified by judicial order.
Arrests in Hillsborough County, Florida, occur when a person commits a public offense or violates the law. According to Florida law, only law enforcement officers can make an arrest with or without a warrant in Hillsborough County. Courts issue arrest warrants when probable cause for a person's lawful apprehension exists. A law enforcement officer can still arrest a person without a warrant, but the officer must abide by the law. An arrest without a warrant can occur in the following situations:
- When an individual commits a felony or misdemeanor or violates a county ordinance in the presence of a police officer
- When a police officer reasonably believes an individual committed a felony or misdemeanor or violated a Hillsborough County ordinance
- When a warrant for an arrest has been issued and is held by another peace officer for execution
- When a person violates Chapter 316 of the state statutes in the presence of the officer
After an arrest, the police officer takes the arrestee to Hillsborough County jail for booking and fingerprinting. Orient Road Jail is the primary detention facility for booking, processing, and detention in Hillsborough County. It caters to over 27 local law enforcement agencies.
After the booking process, the arrestee will attend a preliminary hearing (also known as a first appearance) before a judge to determine their entitlement to bond and if other conditions should be included in the pretrial release. If the judge grants bail, the arrestee (now the defendant) will be released and asked to appear in court on the trial day. However, if bail is denied or the arrestee cannot pay the bond amount, the individual will be detained ahead of the trial.
Based on the charges, circumstances surrounding the offense, the previous criminal record of the offender, and other pertinent factors, an individual may be housed in a county detention facility or state correctional facility upon conviction. For example, criminals who committed offenses punishable by a few months or a year maximum may be housed in a Hillsborough County jail. However, persons convicted of offenses that attract more than a year in prison may be transported to one of the 128 correctional facilities under the Florida Department of Corrections.
Inmate records are considered public in the United States and therefore are made available by both traditional governmental agencies as well as third-party websites and organizations. Third-party websites may offer an easier means to search, as these services do not face geographical limitations. However, because third-party sites are not government-sponsored, the information obtained through them may vary from official channels. To find inmate records using third-party aggregate sites, requesting parties must provide:
- The location of the sought-after record, including state, county, and city where the inmate resides.
- The name of the person listed in the record, unless it is a juvenile.
Hillsborough County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
According to the 2020 Florida Uniform Crime Report released by the Federal Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), 32,519 arrests were made by law enforcement officers in Hillsborough County. Of the total, 30,119 were adult arrests, and 2,400 were juvenile arrests.
The offense with the highest number of arrests was simple assault (5,509 arrests), followed by drug violations (3,208 arrests) and DUI offenses (2,808 arrests).
The above data shows a 30.3% reduction in arrests in 2020 compared to the previous year (where 46,660 arrests were recorded) and a 34.3% reduction compared to the 2018 total (49,522 arrests). These statistics reveal a steady decline in Hillsborough County's arrest numbers in the last three years.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) reported 42,856 bookings and an average daily population of 3,134 inmates in its 2020 Fact Book.
Hillsborough County Prison System
The Department of Detention Services, a unit of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's office, oversees the housing and care of all individuals incarcerated in Hillsborough County detention facilities. The unit also provides operational and inmate support services, such as medical services, transportation, criminal registration, and canteen. The detention facilities under the county sheriff's office are the Orient Road Jail and Falkenburg Road Jail.
Orient Road Jail
Orient Road Jail (or Jail Division I) is the primary receiving facility that manages the booking, processing, and detention of newly arrested persons for law enforcement agencies across the county. The facility also houses all juveniles arrested in the county. It has a Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC) that caters to young inmates. Other units in this facility include:
- Intake and Housing Operations
- Central Breath Testing Unit
- The Agency for Community Treatment Services (ACTS): responsible for screening juveniles into the JAC in Hillsborough County
- Inmate Property
- Inmate Records and Classification
- Detention Programs Bureau
Usually, after the booking process, some inmates are transported from the Orient Road Jail to the Falkenburg Road Jail.
Falkenburg Road Jail
Also referred to as Jail Division II, the Falkenburg Jail is a minimum-security facility and Hillsborough County's largest detention facility. The facility has a capacity of 3,300 inmates and houses only adult inmates. Inmates housed in this facility have access to educational and vocational programs that enable them to learn skills or trades in preparation for life after incarceration. These include sewing, welding, carpentry, automotive services, forklift operation, and culinary art.
How to Find an Inmate in Hillsborough County
Interested persons can find out about inmates in Hillsborough County by visiting the local sheriff's office or a detention center. Individuals can also call or via (813) 247-8300 for inmate information. The phone line is accessible 24 hours a day.
Additionally, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has an online jail database where inmate records may be accessed. Interested persons can look up inmate information via this database.
How Does a Hillsborough County Inmate Search Work?
Under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, state, county, and municipal records are open for inspection and copying. Furthermore, every government agency, commission, or bureau has to provide access to such information. In Hillsborough County and Florida at large, inmate records are considered public and open to public inspection. These records provide details such as:
- An inmate's name, alias, and date of birth
- Physical description (height, weight, hair color, and eye color)
- Age
- Ethnicity/race
- Location
- Arrest date and time
- Booking orders
- Charges
- Arrest status (awaiting trial or sentencing)
- Disposition details
- Mugshot
Where to Find a Hillsborough County Inmate Locator
Hillsborough County has an online inmate locator that is accessible on the county sheriff's website. The inmate locator, or HCSO Arrest Inquiry, divulges information on persons in jail. This information includes offense/charge, bond amount, booking number, and mugshot.
To use the HCSO Arrest Inquiry tool, interested persons must enter details such as an inmate's name, gender, booking number, and booking date. Should the provided information match an entry in the arrest database, public information about the search subject will appear in the results. It is worth noting that the arrest inquiry system provides information on inmates and persons arrested by the county's law enforcement. Typically, when a person is arrested, the county sheriff's office enters their booking information into the Jail Management System and updates the arrest database within 30 minutes.
Besides the county arrest inquiry database, inquirers can look up inmates online using the online inmate locator managed by the Florida Department of Corrections. However, this locator can only offer information on offenders sentenced to the state prison or under state supervision. Inquirers must input a first name, last name, or inmate identification number to look up an inmate using the locator.
Additionally, requesters can look up information about inmates via third-party public records websites. Usually, these sites maintain an online database of inmate records, and inquirers can access the records with an inmate's first name, last name, and state. Some sites may demand payment to provide records.
How to Send Money to a Hillsborough County Inmate
Upon entry into the jail system in Hillsborough County, an inmate gets a trust account to allow them to purchase items and pay their medical bills or other jail expenses. Friends and relatives can send money to inmates using this account. However, each depositor must provide a facility locator number, an inmate's booking number, and an inmate's name to send funds.
In addition to making payments online or by phone through a third-party provider, individuals have two other ways to send money to a Hillsborough County inmate:
In-Person Deposits
Loved ones can deposit money via the kiosks located in front of the detention facilities in Orient and Falkenburg.
Postal Mail
A sender will need to complete a money order with an inmate's details (name and booking number) and their name and address. Below is the mailing address to send funds:
207 Kesley Lane Suite “G”
Tampa, FL 33619
How to Visit a Hillsborough County Inmate
Inmate visitations can be done online or onsite in Hillsborough County.
Onsite Video Visitation
The county has an onsite video visitation center at the Falkenburg Road Jail. The county offers visitations seven days a week. However, visitors must book an appointment at least seven days before their preferred visitation time. Generally, inmates are allowed to have three scheduled visits per week, and inmates can have a maximum of three visitors per visit, one of which must be an adult.
Upon arrival at the visitation center, visitors must present a valid means of identification. Acceptable identification includes a valid driver's license, passport with a photo attached, or any valid photo identification issued by governmental agencies.
The county jail administration monitors and records all visits (excluding professional visits). The administration also has a set of regulations that each visitor must follow. Some of the rules include the following:
- Visitors must dress appropriately when coming to the center. Persons who dress inappropriately may be asked to leave the center.
- Visitors must not demonstrate inappropriate or disruptive conduct. Inappropriate conduct includes exposure of sexual organs, physical impairment caused by drugs or alcohol, and any action that could compromise the orderly operation or security of the facility.
- Weapons, tobacco products, lighters, e-cigarettes, and alcoholic beverages must not be brought into the center.
- Cellular telephones must be secured before entry into the visitation center.
- Visitors must be courteous to other visitors. Loud conversations are not permitted in the center.
Online Video Visitation
Inmates in the Hillsborough County jail system can have three visits per week. Just like the onsite visitors, online visitors must first set up a visitation account and schedule their visits ahead of time. The facility charges $8 for a 20-minute session.
Visitors must check in at most 15 minutes before the scheduled visitation time or risk cancellation. Online visitors must also adhere to the jail visitation guidelines. For example, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's office forbids video conferencing with a third party on a tablet or cellphone and taking photographs or videos of inmates during the online visit.
How to Send Jail Mail in Hillsborough County
Inmates in Hillsborough County can maintain communication with family and loved ones via mail. Mail can be sent via the U.S. Postal Mail or private delivery service.
Interested persons can find detailed guidelines for sending jail mail to a Hillsborough County inmate on the sheriff's website. For instance, mail must be in the form of a postcard. This postcard must be at least 3 ½ x 5 inches and contain the inmate's name and booking number. It must also carry the sender's name and address. A sender cannot include lipstick, perfume, hate speech, or an image promoting nudity or violence. Additional jail mail policies can be retrieved from the county sheriff's website.
Note that the county sheriff's office opens and searches each mail for contraband. Only legal mail is opened in the presence of an inmate addressee.
Hillsborough County Jails and Prisons
Below are the names and locations of the jail facilities in Hillsborough County.
Jail Division I
1201 Orient Road
Tampa, FL 33619
Jail Division II
520 North Falkenburg Road
Tampa, FL 33619
Jail Division III (Inmate Support Services)
520 North Falkenburg Road
Tampa, FL 33619
The jail facilities can be reached at (813) 247-8300
