What are Clearwater City Public Records?
The Florida Sunshine Law defines Clearwater City Public records as all information created, received, stored, filed, and re-produced by a public agency. Public records in Clearwater City may exist in physical or digital formats, such as books, charters, symbols, memoranda, audio recording, videotapes, SMS, and electronic mail. Moreover, not all public documents are accessible to the public. Per the Florida Sunshine Law, these documents are exempt from view:
- Government personnel records;
- Personal data, such as medical records, social security number, driver license number;
- Trade secrets and negotiations involving public agencies;
- Attorney-client communication;
- Audit working papers;
- Drafts and preliminary notes of policy-making documents;
- Information on pending litigation;
- Confidential vital records, such as death and birth records;
- Information on an ongoing investigation;
- Personal identifying information, such as social security number and driver's license;
- Data about competition or bidding;
- Security protocol and strategy for government-owned buildings;
- Information about student records;
Public city records may also be accessible from third-party websites. Record seekers may either opt to use these non-governmental platforms to search for a specific record or multiple city records. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search such as:
- The address of the requestor
- A case number or file number (if known)
- The location of the document or person involved
- The name of the subject involved in the record (not juvenile)
- The last known or current address of the registrant
Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Clearwater City Crime Statistics
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is responsible for collating information on arrests carried out in Clearwater City. Although there are no specific crime statistics for the city, requesters may use Pinellas County's comprehensive crime report. Per the FDLE crime report for 2019, Pinellas County reported 26,305 index crimes. The figure covers the following crimes: 40 murders, 460 rapes, 620 robberies, 2,259 aggravated assaults, 2,517 burglaries, 18,785 larcenies, and 1,624 motor vehicle thefts. In contrast, the total reported crime rate in 2018 stood at 28,749. Therefore, the County's crime rate fell by 8.5 percent in 2019. Within a one-year gap, the rate of robberies, burglaries, larcenies, motor vehicle thefts reduced by 15.8, 15.3, 8.3, and 7.1, respectively.
Are Clearwater City Criminal Records Public?
Under the Sunshine Law, non-confidential criminal records are accessible to the public. However, specific confidential criminal files are redacted or exempt from public access. In such cases, the court may release confidential court records to authorized legal representatives and all other stakeholders in the criminal record. The Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller provides access to criminal records in Clearwater City. Record seekers may obtain Clearwater City criminal records by contacting the custodian agency at the address below:
Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
Attn: Public Records Liaison
315 Court Street, Room 400
Clearwater, FL 33756
Phone: (727) 464-3341
Email: clerkinfo@mypinellasclerk.org
Similarly, the Clearwater City's Official Records and Legislative Department is responsible for providing access to criminal records at the city level. Interested persons may use the department's online record search database or make a request in - person at:
The City Clerk's Office
The city of Clearwater Offices,
One Clearwater Tower,
6th Floor,
600 Cleveland Street,
Clearwater, FL 33756
Phone: (727) 562-4093
Fax: (727) 562-4086
How to Obtain Clearwater City Police Reports and Arrest Records
Interested persons may obtain Clearwater City police reports and arrest records from the Clearwater Police Department. As the custodian of arrest records, the Department provides access to police reports via an online website. Interested persons must create an account on the platform before filling out requests for arrest records generated in the city. Likewise, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is an alternative option for accessing Clearwater City police reports and arrest records. Record seekers may opt to submit requests via the County Sheriff's online request platform or make a request in person at:
Sheriff’s Administration Building
10750 Ulmerton Road
Largo,
Pinellas County, FL
In addition to this, the Sheriff's Office maintains an online database for all documented accident reports in Clearwater City. To access Clearwater accident reports, record seekers must provide:
- The driver's last name;
- Report number;
- The date of the crash (starting from 2013);
- The requester's interest in accessing the report;
- The requester's first name;
- Requester's address details and phone number.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Clearwater City
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is responsible for collating and providing access to all sex offenders' data in Clearwater City. It is also responsible for regularly updating the list of all registered offenders on an online database. Thus, public members may obtain Clearwater City sex offenders' information via the following search options:
- Search by Offender's Names
- Search by Neighborhood
Furthermore, the FDLE publishes a list of all absconded offenders. Interested parties can view these offender's information and print out flyers containing the offender's photograph and offense.
How to Find Clearwater City Inmate Records
Clearwater City inmate records are available online. The Pinellas County Jail is responsible for keeping records of all incarcerated inmates from November 28, 2005. To access Clearwater inmate records via the searchable portal, record seekers must provide:
- Offender's first and last name;
- Offender's sex;
- Race;
- Booking date;
- Docket number;
Also, requesters may use the "filter by agency" option to access only Clearwater inmate records. Furthermore, they may use the "search by offense" or "search by arrest type" option for a precise search result.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Clearwater City Jail?
The Pinellas County Jail houses all incarcerated inmates. Attorneys, friends, and relatives of inmates can communicate with inmates via video visitation. Most importantly, there are different visitation rules depending on the type of visitation. For instance, the Pinellas County Jail requires professional visitors like attorneys to create an account or login on to its video visitation platform.
In contrast, friends and families of inmates can schedule a video visitation online or via a phone call to (727) 464-6842 within 10.00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After scheduling a video visitation, visitors may use the County Jail's mobile video visitation bus at multiple locations:
James B. Sanderlin Family Center
2335 22nd Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
Every Monday and Wednesday
North Greenwood Recreation & Aquatic Complex
900 North Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
Every Tuesday
Tarpon Springs Police Department
444 South Huey Avenue
Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
Every Thursday
Greater Ridgecrest YMCA
1801 119th Street
Largo, FL 33778
Every Friday
Visitors must schedule a video visitation at least 24 hours before the scheduled time. The County Jail also reserves appointments up to a week in advance. Furthermore, visitors can check the Pinellas County Jail's schedule for video visitation online.
What are Clearwater City Vital Records?
Clearwater vital records consist of all documentations of life events within the city. Documented vital records contain information on all birth, death, marriage, and divorce events. To obtain Clearwater vital records, interested public members must contact the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County. As the custodian of Clearwater City vital records, the agency is responsible for maintaining and issuing certified and uncertified copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce records. Nevertheless, it might restrict access to certain vital records unless the requester provides proof of eligibility.
Where and How to Obtain Clearwater City Divorce Records?
Interested persons can obtain Clearwater City divorce records from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Pinellas County. Via the Clerk of the Circuit Court, public members can request divorce records online or offline. Note that the Clerk may redact confidential information, such as social security number, credit/debit card number, and bank account number from the records. To obtain Clearwater City divorce records in-person, requesters must contact the Probate Court in Clearwater Courthouse at:
Probate Court Clearwater Courthouse
315 Court Street
Room 106
Clearwater, FL 33756
Requesters may also visit the public terminal at the address below:
Recording Services
Clearwater Courthouse
315 Court Street
Room 150
Clearwater, FL 33756.
On the other hand, the Clerk of the Circuit Court also maintains an online database for all documented divorce events. Furthermore, the Clerk offers three ways of viewing court records on the online platform:
- Public View
- Attorney View
- Registered User View
The public view option requires no registration and mainly consists of non-confidential divorce documents.
This option is reserved for attorneys and other legal representatives. Attorneys using the platform can view confidential and additional information on the requested public document.
Requesters must register on the online platform to view non-confidential and confidential documents.
Likewise, the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics enables access to Clearwater City divorce records via mail-in or in-person request. Record seekers must fill out the Application for Dissolution of Marriage.
To obtain divorce records via mail-in requests, requester's must the completed form alongside a money order for the search fee to this location:
Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 210
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042.
In contrast, interested persons must visit the Bureau of Vital Statistics in person at the:
1217 North Pearl Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202.
Payments for walk-in requests are via cash, credit card, debit card, or money order. It costs $5 to get a certified copy of Clearwater City divorce records, while additional certified copies cost $4. However, requesters may pay fees ranging from $2 to $50 if the divorce date is unknown.
Where and How to Get Public Clearwater City Marriage Records
The Bureau of Vital Statistics is the custodian body for all Clearwater City marriage certificates from June 6, 1927. In contrast, the Pinella County Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains marriage records before 1927.
Interested public members can obtain Clearwater City marriage records from the Bureau of Vital Statistics via online or in-person requests. To access marriage records via mail-in requests, record seekers must fill out the application for a marriage certificate. Requesters must fill out necessary details, such as the record bearers' names, date and place of marriage, and the place where the marriage event occurred. Once the form is completed, requesters must send it to the:
Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 210
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042.
The Bureau of Vital Statistics only accepts money orders and cashier's checks. Furthermore, it takes three to five business days for the public agency to send the requested marriage certificate. However, requesters may get a faster response via the Rush Order, which costs an additional $10.
On the other hand, record seekers may access Clearwater City marriage certificates requests in person at:
1217 North Pearl Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202.
Where and How to Find Clearwater City Birth Records
Interested persons can find records of birth events in Clearwater City at the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics and the Pinellas County Health Department. These agencies provide access to Clearwater City birth records via mail-in and in-person requests.
Who Can Access Birth Records in Clearwater City?
Birth records less than 100 years old are accessible to only the following:
- The record bearer (if above the legal age);
- Parents listed on the birth certificate;
- Legal guardians;
- Legal representatives of the record bearer, guardians, or parents;
- Birth records issued as "deceased" may be issued to the record bearer's siblings, children, and grandchildren.
In addition, requesters must present valid photo identification before accessing birth records.
To obtain Clearwater City birth records, interested and eligible parties must download the application for a birth certificate in English or Spanish. Requesters must fill out the application form alongside the required fee in a check or money order and send it to the address provided below:
Florida Department of Health in Pinellas
Vital Statistics
8751 Ulmerton Road
Suite 1700
Largo, FL 33771
It costs $13 to obtain Clearwater computer-generated birth certificates. Moreover, additional computer certificates cost $8.
Where and How to Find Clearwater City Death Records
The Florida Department of Health Certificates and Registry provides access to Clearwater City death records before 2009. In contrast, requesters may obtain death records after 2009 from the Pinellas County Health Department. Clearwater death records are accessible to all public members. However, custodian agencies may redact cause of death information from death records less than 50 years old. Only requesters with a verifiable relationship with the deceased can obtain death records containing the cause of death information.
The Florida Health Department in Pinellas County provides access to Clearwater City death records via mail-in and in-person requests. Irrespective of the request mode, interested persons must fill out the death record application in English or Spanish. Fill out the necessary details on the application and send it via mail or in-person to the:
Florida Department of Health in Pinellas
Vital Statistics
8751 Ulmerton Road, Suite 1700
Largo, FL 33771
The Department of Health in Pinellas County accepts credit or debit cards, checks, money orders, and cash for in-person requests for Clearwater City death records. Alternatively, the payment method for mail-in requests are checks, money orders, and credit cards. To pay via credit cards, requesters must include the credit card number, the security digits at the back of the card, and the expiration date.
