West Palm Beach Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in West Palm Beach, Florida?
Arrest records are public documents in West Palm Beach, Florida, pursuant to Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, commonly known as the Florida Public Records Act. This legislation establishes that all records made or received by any public agency in the course of its official business are available for public inspection, unless specifically exempted by law. The Florida Constitution and the Public Records Act create a right of access to records in the custody of public agencies, including those pertaining to arrests made by law enforcement agencies within West Palm Beach jurisdiction.
The West Palm Beach Police Department maintains arrest records as part of its official documentation process. These records become public once they are filed with the clerk of the court or when the arresting agency completes the booking process. Under Florida Statute § 119.07, any person has the right to inspect or copy any public record during the regular business hours of the custodial agency, subject to any applicable exemptions or confidentiality provisions.
Certain arrest records may be exempt from public disclosure, particularly those involving:
- Juvenile offenders (except under specific circumstances outlined in § 985.04)
- Active criminal intelligence information
- Ongoing investigations
- Victims of certain crimes as specified in § 119.071
How to Look Up West Palm Beach Arrest Records in 2025
The Palm Beach County Criminal Justice System has modernized its record-keeping systems to provide multiple access points for arrest record retrieval. Members of the public seeking arrest records in West Palm Beach have several official channels available:
West Palm Beach Police Department Records Division
600 Banyan Boulevard
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561) 822-1900
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
West Palm Beach Police Department
Individuals may submit requests in person at the Records Division counter. A government-issued photo identification is required for all in-person requests. The department accepts payment for record copies via cash, credit card, or money order.
Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller's Office
205 North Dixie Highway
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561) 355-2996
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Palm Beach County Court Records
The Clerk's Office maintains court records related to arrests and subsequent case proceedings. Public terminals are available for searching court records, and certified copies may be obtained for a fee as prescribed by Florida Statute § 28.24.
Online Access Options:
- The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office Booking Blotter provides a searchable database of recent arrests
- The Palm Beach County Clerk's Public Records Search portal allows access to court case information
- The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) offers statewide criminal history searches for a fee
Pursuant to Florida Statute § 119.07(4), agencies may charge a reasonable fee for the duplication of records, not to exceed 15 cents per one-sided copy for duplicated copies of not more than 14 inches by 8½ inches.
Contents of a West Palm Beach Arrest Record
West Palm Beach arrest records contain standardized information as mandated by Florida Statute § 119.021, which requires public agencies to maintain records according to professional standards. A typical arrest record includes the following components:
Biographical Information:
- Full legal name of the arrested individual
- Any known aliases or previous names
- Date of birth and age at time of arrest
- Physical descriptors (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Identifying marks such as tattoos or scars
- Residential address at time of arrest
- Gender and race
Arrest Details:
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency and officer identification
- Booking number and facility
- Charges filed (including Florida Statute numbers)
- Arrest type (warrant, probable cause, on-view)
- Weapon involvement, if applicable
- Property seized during arrest
Case Processing Information:
- Court case number
- Bond amount and status
- Arraignment date
- Plea entered
- Court disposition (if resolved)
- Sentence information (if convicted)
Supplemental Documentation:
- Booking photographs ("mugshots")
- Fingerprint records
- Incident reports
- Witness statements (may be redacted)
- Officer narratives
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and West Palm Beach Police Department maintain these records in accordance with Florida Department of Law Enforcement standards and retention schedules established by the Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services.
Expungement of Arrest Records in West Palm Beach
Florida law provides mechanisms for the expungement or sealing of arrest records under specific circumstances. Pursuant to Florida Statute § 943.0585 (expungement) and § 943.059 (sealing), eligible individuals may petition to have their arrest records removed from public access.
Eligibility Criteria for Expungement:
- The arrest did not result in a conviction
- Charges were dismissed, nolle prossed, or resulted in acquittal
- The individual has no prior sealed or expunged records in Florida
- The offense is not among those enumerated in § 943.0585(2) as ineligible
Eligibility Criteria for Sealing:
- The individual received a withhold of adjudication
- The individual has completed all terms of probation or sentence
- The offense is not among those enumerated in § 943.059(2) as ineligible
The expungement process in West Palm Beach requires petitioners to:
- Obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement
- File a Petition for Expungement with the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court
- Serve copies of the petition on the State Attorney's Office and arresting agency
- Attend a hearing if required by the presiding judge
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
P.O. Box 1489
Tallahassee, FL 32302
Phone: (850) 410-8109
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office
401 North Dixie Highway
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561) 355-7100
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Palm Beach County Government
Upon successful expungement, all records pertaining to the arrest are physically destroyed by all criminal justice agencies. When records are sealed, they remain intact but are confidential and exempt from public records requests. Law enforcement agencies and certain government entities retain access to sealed records for specific purposes outlined in § 943.059(4).
Individuals with expunged or sealed records may lawfully deny the existence of the arrest in most circumstances, except when applying for certain professional licenses, employment with criminal justice agencies, or other exceptions enumerated in Florida Statutes.
Search Arrest Records in West Palm Beach
