Pinellas County Inmate Search
In Pinellas County, a law enforcement officer can arrest a person that commits a felony or misdemeanor or violates a county ordinance. There are two ways to be arrested in Pinellas County:
- Arrest by probable cause (without a warrant)
- Arrest by warrant
Section 901.15 of the Florida Statutes outlines instances when officers can arrest persons without warrants. After an arrest, the offender will be booked at the local jail, where they will be fingerprinted and photographed. During this time, the offender may be held on bail or released but would still have to appear at the court hearing. Depending on the hearing results, the offender may be sentenced to a jail facility managed by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Department.
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.
Pinellas County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
The arrest statistics provided by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement revealed that 25,595 offenders (23,795 adults arrested and 1,800 juveniles) were arrested in 2020 in Pinellas County. The arrests were divided into Part 1 and Part 2 crime types. The most prevalent Part 1 crime was larceny and aggravated assault, with about 2,159 and 1,028 arrests, respectively. The most pervasive Part 2 crimes were simple assault and drug violations, with about 4,400 and 3,462 arrests, respectively.
Pinellas County Prison System
The Pinellas County Jail System is the correctional system for the Pinellas County area. It consists of one jail facility that holds individuals waiting for trial or sentenced to imprisonment. The facility serves the county's 956,615 residents and is run by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Department.
The Pinellas County Jail is the 28th largest jail in the United States and has an average daily population of 3,000 inmates (including pre-trial and sentenced offenders). Review the Inmate Handbook in English or Spanish for more information on the Pinellas County Prison System.
How to Find an Inmate in Pinellas County
The primary way to find an inmate in Pinellas County is to use the Who's In Jail tool available on the sheriff's website. Individuals can access inmate records from 2005 to the present. Individuals seeking arrest information before 2005 should check the Clerk of the Circuit Court website. Inquirers must provide information like an inmate's full name, race, sex, docket number, and booking date to use the Who's In Jail tool.
How Does a Pinellas County Inmate Search Work?
The Florida Public Records Law permits the Pinellas County Sheriff's Department to disseminate inmate information to the public. Hence, residents of Pinellas County can access or obtain inmate records that are not exempt from disclosure by law. An interested person can retrieve the following information during a Pinellas County inmate search:
- Inmate's details (full name, sex, race, date of birth, and age)
- Booking details (number, date, time, and location)
- Physical description (hair color, eye color, height, and weight)
- Bond
- Housing location
- Arrest information (type, date, time, and agency)
- Release information (e.g., projected release date)
- Case information (court case number, charge number, offense description and statute, bail amount)
Where to Find a Pinellas County Inmate Locator
Most correctional agencies in Florida have inmate locators that allow individuals to retrieve information about inmates housed within a specific region or jail/prison facility. For instance, interested persons can access information about inmates confined in Pinellas County using the Inmate Locator (also called Who's In Jail) provided on the county sheriff's website. However, individuals searching for inmates must possess the inmate's full name, docket number, or booking date.
Moreover, interested persons can use the Offender Information Search tool on the Florida Department of Corrections website to search for Pinellas County arrestees confined in the state prison. Individuals must provide the inmate's full name and DC number to conduct this search.
Although it is advisable to retrieve inmate information from correctional agencies, one can also use search tools provided on independent third-party sites. These non-governmental websites provide the public with a convenient means to retrieve inmate records using an inmate's first or last name and a U.S. state's name. However, one may have to pay a search fee to access the records.
How to Send Money to a Pinellas County Inmate
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Department allows individuals to send money orders to inmates seven days a week. Senders must include the inmate's full name, docket number, and housing assignment. Individuals can make cash deposits at the kiosks available at the Visitation Center and Public Lobby or make online deposits. Alternatively, individuals can send money to inmates by mail at:
Pinellas County Jail
Inmate Accounting
14400 49th Street North
Clearwater, FL 33762
Review the rules about inmate services before sending money to a Pinellas County inmate.
How to Visit a Pinellas County Inmate
There are two ways to visit a Pinellas County inmate:
- At the Video Visitation Center
- On the Mobile Video Visitation Bus
All visitors must schedule their visit before going to the Visitation Center or Bus online or by phone at (727) 464-6842. Visits can be scheduled about one week in advance but not later than midnight of the previous day, and reservations are typically on a first-come, first-served basis.
Each visit lasts 40 minutes. Only two adults with a child are permitted to visit an inmate simultaneously. Minors are not permitted to visit an inmate without an adult. Before entering the Video Visitation Center, adult visitors must have a valid photo identification card (driver's license or U.S. or state-issued ID). All visitors must comply with the following additional guidelines to avoid the cancellation of their visit:
- No visitor must have weapons of any kind.
- Food, drugs, tobacco products, and alcohol are not allowed.
- Visitors must turn off all electronic devices during visits (including cell phones).
- All visitors must dress adequately.
- Disrespectful or disruptive behaviors are not permitted.
- Visitors can only visit the inmate they elected.
- No visitor can litter the visiting booths or visitation area nor damage or deface visiting booths or phones.
More information on Pinellas County's inmate visitation rules is available on the Video Visitation page of the sheriff's website.
How to Send Jail Mail in Pinellas County
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office allows family members, friends, and members of the public to communicate with their loved ones in the jail at any time via U.S. mail or private delivery service. Mail can be sent to the jail Monday through Friday from the U.S. Postal Service. Inmates can receive mail packages that include magazines, newspapers, and books directly sent by the publishers. They can possess only ten 4 x 6 photographs. The inmate officers search every incoming mail (including legal mail) for contraband before giving them to the inmates.
For instance, any mail that includes photos that are more than ten or above 4 x 6 size is considered contraband. Additionally, any mail containing items other than paper products will be returned to the sender. Self-addressed, stamped envelopes or stamps are not accepted in jail. All mail should be addressed as follows:
Full name, identification (docket) number, housing assignment
Pinellas County Jail
14400 49th Street North
Clearwater, FL 33762-2877
Pinellas County Jails and Prisons
Below is the name, contact information, and address of the jail facility in Pinellas County, Florida:
Pinellas County Jail
14400 49th Street North
Clearwater, FL 33762-2877
Administrative Line: (727) 464-6415
