Palm Bay Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Palm Bay, Florida?
Arrest records are public in Palm Bay, Florida, pursuant to Florida's Public Records Law (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes). This legislation establishes that records generated or received by any public agency during official business operations must be accessible to the public, with certain statutory exemptions. The Florida Constitution, Article I, Section 24, further reinforces this right of access to public records. Arrest records maintained by the Palm Bay Police Department and the Brevard County Sheriff's Office are considered public documents under these provisions.
Members of the public may inspect or obtain copies of arrest records for purposes including background checks, personal information verification, legal proceedings, or general public interest. However, certain information within arrest records may be redacted in accordance with § 119.071, Florida Statutes, which protects confidential information such as social security numbers, information regarding victims of certain crimes, and records pertaining to juvenile offenders.
The maintenance of public access to arrest records serves multiple governmental and societal functions, including ensuring transparency in law enforcement operations, facilitating informed public discourse regarding criminal justice matters, and providing necessary information for public safety considerations.
How to Look Up Palm Bay Arrest Records in 2025
Multiple methodologies exist for accessing Palm Bay arrest records. Interested parties may utilize the following officially sanctioned channels to obtain such documentation:
In-Person Requests:
Palm Bay Police Department Records Division 120 Malabar Road SE Palm Bay, FL 32907 Phone: (321) 952-3456 Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Brevard County Clerk of Courts Moore Justice Center 2825 Judge Fran Jamieson Way Viera, FL 32940 Phone: (321) 637-5413 Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Online Resources:
- The Brevard County Sheriff's Office maintains an active inmate database that includes recent arrest information.
- The Brevard County Clerk of Courts provides an online case search system where court records related to arrests can be accessed.
- The Florida Department of Law Enforcement offers a fee-based criminal history search service.
Written Requests: Written requests for arrest records may be submitted to the Palm Bay Police Department Records Division. Such requests must include:
- Full name of the subject
- Date of birth (if known)
- Approximate date of arrest (if known)
- Requestor's contact information
- Notarized authorization (if requesting records of another individual)
Pursuant to § 119.07(4), Florida Statutes, agencies may charge reasonable fees for duplication of records. Current fee schedules include $0.15 per one-sided copy for pages not exceeding 8.5 x 14 inches and $1.00 per certified copy.
Contents of a Palm Bay Arrest Record
Palm Bay arrest records contain standardized information as prescribed by Florida law and departmental policies. These official documents typically include the following data elements:
Demographic Information:
- Subject's full legal name and any documented aliases
- Date of birth and age at time of arrest
- Gender and race identifiers
- Physical descriptors including height, weight, eye and hair color
- Distinguishing features such as scars, marks, or tattoos
- Residential address at time of processing
Arrest Specifics:
- Case/incident number assigned by the arresting agency
- Date, time, and location of the arrest
- Statutory violations cited (Florida Statute numbers and descriptions)
- Classification of offenses (felony, misdemeanor, or ordinance violation)
- Arresting officer's name and badge number
- Agency responsible for the arrest
Processing Information:
- Booking photograph ("mugshot")
- Fingerprint classification data
- Property inventory at time of booking
- Detention facility information
- Bond amount and type, if applicable
- Court appearance dates
Disposition Data:
- Preliminary hearing outcomes
- Case status indicators
- Court of jurisdiction
- Sentence information, if convicted
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains standardized arrest record formats in accordance with § 943.05, Florida Statutes, ensuring consistency across jurisdictions within the state. Information contained within arrest records is subject to verification procedures to maintain data integrity throughout the criminal justice system.
Expungement of Arrest Records in Palm Bay
The expungement of arrest records in Palm Bay is governed by Florida Statutes § 943.0585 and § 943.059, which establish the legal framework for the removal or sealing of criminal history information. Eligible individuals may petition for expungement or sealing under specific statutory conditions.
Eligibility Criteria for Expungement:
- The arrest must not have resulted in a conviction
- The case must have been dismissed, nolle prossed, or resulted in an acquittal
- The petitioner must not have been adjudicated guilty of any criminal offense
- The petitioner must not have previously received an expungement or sealing
- Certain offenses are statutorily ineligible for expungement
Application Process:
Obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement FDLE User Services Bureau P.O. Box 1489 Tallahassee, FL 32302 Phone: (850) 410-8161
Submit a petition to the court of original jurisdiction Brevard County Courthouse 506 S. Palm Avenue Titusville, FL 32796 Phone: (321) 637-5413
Attend a judicial hearing if required by the court
The application must include a $75.00 processing fee payable to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and a complete set of fingerprints taken by an authorized law enforcement agency. Additional court filing fees may apply.
Upon court approval, agencies maintaining the subject's criminal history information will be directed to expunge or seal such records in accordance with the court order. Pursuant to § 943.0585(4), Florida Statutes, the subject of an expunged record may lawfully deny the existence of the arrest except when applying for certain positions or licenses as enumerated in the statute.
Expungement does not result in the physical destruction of records but rather restricts access to them. Law enforcement agencies retain the ability to access expunged records for specified purposes under § 943.0585(4)(a), Florida Statutes.
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