What are Boca Raton Public Records?
The Florida public records law or “Sunshine Laws” defines public records as documents, pictures, recordings, and other related material created while performing official government business. These records are created by government agencies as they perform official government business and can be written, typed, video, audio, pictures, and maps. Although most public records are open to public view some may be exempted by law or may have parts removed or redacted. Examples of records exempted by law from public view include
- Information that would constitute an unnecessary invasion of personal privacy
- Personal information of law enforcement officers or government officials
- Examination questions and answers
- Records on ongoing criminal investigations
- Sealed bids and proposals
Boca Raton Crime Statistics
The Boca Raton Police maintains the crime statistics for the city and submits them to the FBI for their Uniform Crime Reporting System (UCR). The FBI UCR maintains statistics for cities nationwide and uses this to check crime trends and calculate crime rates around the country. According to the UCR data from 2019, Boca Raton had 186 cases of violent crime, a 9.2% decrease from 2018 which had 205 cases. The data also showed that murder and rape increased by 50% and 28.5% when compared to 2018. Robbery, assault, property crime, burglary, and car theft cases also reduced by 21.2%, 11.6%, 7.5%, 11.9%, and 10.5% respectively.
Are Boca Raton’s criminal records public?
Under the Florida Sunshine laws, criminal records are considered public information and any member of the public can access them. Records for Boca Raton can be obtained from the Boca Raton Police Services and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO).
Criminal records can be obtained by contacting the Boca Raton police services in person at:
The Boca Raton Police Services Department
Custodian of Public Records Records
Division Manager
100 N.W. Boca Raton Blvd.
Boca Raton, FL 33432
Phone: (561) 338-1234
Local criminal history checks can be performed by providing the name and local address of the subject filling out a public records request form.
Criminal records for Boca Raton can also be obtained online by visiting the public records portal of the PBSO website. Requesters may also call the central office main office on (561) 688-3140 or contact any of the locations listed on the central records webpage.
How to Obtain Police Reports and Arrest Records
Requesters can acquire copies of Boca Raton police reports and arrest records from the custodian of records of the Boca Raton Police Services. Requesters can fill a request form online or contact the records department directly at:
The Boca Raton Police Services Department
Custodian of Public Records Records
Division Manager
100 N.W. Boca Raton Blvd.
Boca Raton, FL 33432
Phone: (561) 338-1234
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Boca Raton
Sex offender information for Boca Raton can be obtained by visiting the Sexual Predator and Offender Tracking Unit Page of the Palm Beach Sherriff’s Website. The website provides a link to the search tool for the county sexual predator database. The search tool allows users to search for sexual offenders by name, address, city, and state.
How to Find Boca Raton Inmate Records
Information on Boca Raton can be obtained online by visiting the arrest and jails section of the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office. The website provides a search tool that users can use to search for inmates currently in custody at the county facilities.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Boca Raton Jail?
Boca Raton City jail is a temporary holding facility, visitors can visit inmates when they are transferred to the county jail facilities. There are two facilities operated by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office:
Visitors can visit inmates at any of these facilities using any of two video visitation centers located at:
Central Video Visitation Center
9620 Weisman Way
West Palm Beach, FL 33411
Phone: (561) 242-5850
West County Video Visitation Center
2890 State Road 15
Belle Glade, FL 33430
(561) 992-1250
Visitors will need to register and schedule visits in advance on the scheduling website using a computer or an Android device. Full rules and registrations for visits can be found on the sheriff’s office website.
Court Records
The South Beach County Circuit Court is responsible for maintaining records of court cases and provides request services at their main courthouse. The Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller for Palm Beach County is in charge of providing the public access to Boca Raton court records. The clerk of court is responsible for the integrity and protection of all forms of court records. Requesters can also view and order these court records online through the circuit clerk website.
Are Boca Raton Court Records Public?
Under the Florida Sunshine laws not every Boca Raton court record is considered open to the public. According to Sunshine Laws, the public has the right to access records in the custody of the clerk of courts including dockets, transcripts, depositions, and evidence. In some cases, however, the court may classify some information as confidential and they may be removed or the public may be denied access. Examples of these records include:
- Juvenile cases
- Adoption cases
- Cases that endanger the safety of life and property
- Some medical and mental health records
Can you look up a Boca Raton court case online?
Boca Raton court records can be accessed online via the eCaseView system on the Clerk of Court Website. The search tools on the eCaseView site allow users to view criminal, civil, and traffic case records online. The site also provides a list of inaccessible cases due to sealed or non-public status. Users do not have to register but registering on the eCaseView website will allow users to access search criteria like arrest dates and booking numbers.
How to Obtain Boca Raton Civil Court Case Records
Boca Raton Civil records can be obtained by visiting any of the clerks of courts for the Palm Beach County circuit Courts. The four locations of circuit courts in Palm Beach County are:
Palm Beach County Circuit Court
Main Courthouse
205 North Dixie Highway,
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561) 355-2996
Palm Beach County Circuit Court
South County Courthouse
200 West Atlantic Avenue,
Delray Beach, FL 33444
Phone: (561) 274-1588 (Civil)
Phone: (561) 355-2996 (Criminal)
Palm Beach County Circuit Court
North County Courthouse
3188 PGA Boulevard,
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Phone: (561) 624-6650 (Civil)
Phone: (561) 355-2996 (Criminal)
Palm Beach County Circuit Court
West County Courthouse
2950 State Road 15,
Room S-100,
Belle Glade, FL 33430
Phone: (561) 996-4843
Requesters can also view and request copies of records from the eCaseView website and the court records shopping cart. Fees for records, certification, and copies can be found on the records and fees section of the clerk's website.
How to Obtain Boca Raton Criminal Court Records
Criminal records for Boca Raton can be obtained by visiting the eCaseView page on the Clerk of Court Website. On this website, users can view and then obtain criminal records. Records can be also be obtained using the shopping cart to make purchases. Records can also be obtained by visiting the clerks of court of the 4 circuit court locations in Palm Beach County. The fees for records and copies are $1 per page and $2 for certification of any records. More information on records and their fees can be found on the records and fees page.
What are Boca Raton Vital Records?
Boca Raton vital records can be described as the records of the life events that have occurred within the city limits. These records include the records of births, deaths, marriages, and divorces in Boca Raton. These records can be obtained from their appropriate custodians at the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics and the Clerks of Circuit Courts. The State Bureau of Vital Statistics has marriage and divorce records from June 1927 plus birth and death records from 1909.
Where and How to Obtain Boca Raton Divorce Records
Boca Raton divorce records can be obtained from the Clerk of the Circuit Court where the divorce was held. Requesters may contact the clerks at any of the circuit court locations in Palm Beach County to obtain the divorce decrees. Requesters can also obtain divorce certificates by downloading and completing the application form. The form can be returned in person or mailed to the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. To request in person the requester is required to bring in the completed form to the office at 1217 N Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202. The fee is $5 for a search and one certified copy and $4 for each extra copy. Mailed requests should be sent to the bureau of vital statistics at:
Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics,
P.O. Box 210,
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042
Where and How to Get Marriage Records in Boca Raton
Marriage records for Boca Raton can be obtained from either the circuit court where the marriage was filed or from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. The clerk of the circuit court usually forwards marriage licenses to the bureau for permanent filing 60 days after it was finalized. This means that marriage certificates can only be obtained from the vital statistics bureau after at least 60 days. Marriage records requests can be made to the Bureau of Vital Statistics in person or by mail. This involves returning the completed birth certificate application form to the bureau with a valid ID and the record fee in person or by mail. The fee for the records is $5 for the search and one certified copy and $4 for any additional certified copies.
In-Person requests should be done at:
217 N Pearl Street,
Jacksonville, FL 32202
In-person payments may be made in the form of cash, check, money order, Visa, and Mastercard
Mail-in requests should be sent to:
Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics,
P.O. Box 210,
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042
Payments should be in a check or money order made payable to Vital Statistics and processing takes 3 to 5 days minus mail delivery time.
Where and How to Find Boca Raton Birth Records
Boca Raton birth certificates are not considered public records and will only be issued to authorized persons. After 100 years the record becomes a public record and can be accessed by anyone. The authorized persons that may request this record include the following:
- The registrant, if of legal age (18 and over)
- Parent of the registrant
- A legal guardian or legal representative
- Any person by court order
- Upon receipt of the registrant’s death record, a birth certificate marked “Deceased” may be issued to a spouse, child, grandchild, or sibling, if of legal age
These records can be obtained from the state or county vital statistics offices by mail. To order from the county office of the vital statistics office the request is required to download and fill the application for a Florida birth record. The fee for a certified copy of a birth record is $15. It should be in a check or money order made payable to the Florida Department of health. The completed form, a valid photo identification, and the fee should be mailed to:
Office of Vital Statistics
800 Clematis Street - 1st floor
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics is the state custodian for vital records. Boca Raton birth records can be obtained from there in person or by mail. Requesters may also call the bureau at (904) 359-6900, ext. 9000. The cost of birth records from the State Bureau of Vital Statistics is $9 for one certified copy and $4 for every additional copy.
Where and How to Find Boca Raton Death Records
Death records for Boca Raton can be obtained from either the state or county vital statistics offices. Death records without a stated cause of death can be issued to anyone while “cause of death” information can only be issued to authorized persons. Cause of death information becomes public 50 years after the death and until then is only issued to the following:
- Deceased’s spouse or parents
- Deceased’s children, grandchildren, or siblings, if over 18 years
- Any person who can provide a will, insurance policy, or other documents that demonstrates his or her interest in the estate
- Any person who provides documentation that he or she is acting on behalf of any of the above persons
- By Court Order
To order a death record from the county vital statistics office, the requester will need to complete the death record application. The fee for each certified copy of a death certificate is $15. The fee should be in a check or money order made payable to the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach. The application, the fee, and a photocopy of the requester’s photo ID should be mailed to the vital records office at:
Office of Vital Statistics
800 Clematis Street - 1st floor
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Death records can be obtained from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics either by mail or in person. The fee for a death record is $5 for a certified copy and $4 for every additional copy.
Requesters will be required to come to 1217 N Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202 in person. Requests can also be made by mailing the request to the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics, P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, Fl 32231-0042.
