Arrest records in Pembroke Pines, Florida are public documents accessible to all citizens pursuant to Florida's Public Records Law, Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. This legislation, commonly known as the Florida Sunshine Law, establishes that all government records, including arrest records, are available for public inspection unless specifically exempted by statute. The law promotes governmental transparency and accountability by ensuring citizens have access to records created or maintained by public agencies in the course of official business.
The City of Pembroke Pines maintains compliance with Florida Statutes § 119.01, which states that "all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying by any person." This statutory provision applies to arrest records generated by the Pembroke Pines Police Department and other law enforcement agencies operating within city jurisdiction.
Certain exceptions to public disclosure exist under Florida Statutes § 119.071, including records pertaining to active criminal investigations, juvenile offenders, and victims of specific crimes. Additionally, pursuant to Florida Statutes § 943.0585 and § 943.059, records that have been legally sealed or expunged are exempt from public disclosure requirements.
Multiple official channels exist for members of the public seeking to access arrest records in Pembroke Pines. The following methods are available in accordance with established procedures:
In-Person Requests at Police Department: Citizens may obtain arrest records by visiting the Pembroke Pines Police Department Records Division located at 9500 Pines Boulevard, Pembroke Pines, FL 33024. The Records Division operates Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and can be reached at (954) 436-3200. Proper identification is required when requesting records in person.
Broward County Clerk of Courts: The Broward County Courthouse maintains criminal case records, including arrest information. The main courthouse is located at 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. Records may be requested during business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The Clerk's Office can be contacted at (954) 831-6565.
Online Public Records Portal: The City of Pembroke Pines provides public records access through an online request system. This system, known as GovQA, allows citizens to submit formal requests for arrest records and track the status of their requests electronically.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE): The FDLE maintains a statewide criminal history database accessible at 2331 Phillips Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. Citizens may request criminal history information by submitting a completed Applicant Fingerprint Form and payment of applicable fees as prescribed by Florida Administrative Code 11C-6.004.
Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 119.07(4), agencies may charge reasonable fees for duplication of records. Current fee schedules include $0.15 per one-sided copy for pages not exceeding 8½ × 14 inches and $1.00 per certified copy. Additional special service charges may apply for extensive requests requiring significant agency resources.
Arrest records maintained by the Pembroke Pines Police Department and accessible through public records requests typically contain the following information as prescribed by Florida law:
Certain information may be redacted from public arrest records in accordance with exemptions provided in Florida Statutes § 119.071, including:
The City of Pembroke Pines Records Custodian is responsible for ensuring that exempt information is properly redacted before records are released to the public, in accordance with Florida Statutes § 119.07(1)(d).
The expungement process in Pembroke Pines follows Florida state law as codified in Florida Statutes § 943.0585 (expungement) and § 943.059 (sealing). This legal procedure allows for the removal of arrest records from public access under specific qualifying circumstances.
Eligibility requirements for expungement of Pembroke Pines arrest records include:
The formal process requires:
Processing fees apply in accordance with Florida Administrative Code 11C-7.006 and include a $75.00 fee payable to FDLE for the Certificate of Eligibility. Additional court filing fees may apply as determined by the Broward County Clerk of Courts.
Upon successful expungement, Florida Statutes § 943.0585(4) provides that the subject of the expunged record "may lawfully deny or fail to acknowledge the arrests covered by the expunged record." However, exceptions exist for certain employment scenarios, professional licensing applications, and criminal justice agencies as specified in Florida Statutes § 943.0585(4)(a).