Manatee County Arrest Records

On taking an individual into custody, a Manatee arrest record is created to document the details of the arrestee. Typically, this report is prepared by the county law enforcement agency where the arrest occurred, which often includes the Sheriff’s office.

When a law enforcement officer makes an arrest, a criminal investigation process and correction are initiated. An arrest is carried out when evidence convinces a reasonable person that a crime has occurred, is ongoing, or is about to happen. This evidence may include heroin statements, incriminating proof, or witness testimony. According to Florida statute 901, the usual requirement is for the peace officer to obtain a warrant from a Judge before making an arrest, but Florida statute 901.15 provides an exception to this rule.

Following an arrest, the defendant is taken to the central jail and undergoes various booking procedures such as property intake, medical screening, fingerprinting, photographing, and warrant checks. This process involves collecting personal information, including name, date of birth, address, and mugshot, before the individual is incarcerated. Additionally, the arrestee is searched, and their personal belongings are stored until their release from custody.

A public arrest record can be obtained through a criminal history check by contacting the agency responsible for the arrest or by contacting the Manatee Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller, as it forms part of the Manatee County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Manatee County?

Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, also known as the Florida Public Record Law, mandates that agencies must make arrest records available for public inspection and copying. However, according to Florida 119.071, certain records are exempt from disclosure by court order. These exemptions include confession records, ongoing criminal and intelligence investigations, sealed and expunged records, confidential records, and juvenile arrest records.

Researchers can peruse the Sunshine Manual provided by Florida’s Attorney General online for more information on access to open records (of which an arrest record is one) and exemptions.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The Manatee arrest record provides a comprehensive range of information and data about a defendant. The extent of details available to a researcher varies depending on the agency providing the record. This information includes:

• Information regarding the arrestee: full name of the offender, physical descriptors
• Details regarding the arrest: location of arrest. arresting agency, arrest status, mugshot, age at the time of arrest, date and place of birth, occupation, booking number
• Charges

Manatee County Crime Rate

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) releases an annual report on County and Municipal Offenses containing crime data by county. However, this report did not include the 2021 data for Manatee County due to a limited sample size of 19.5% of the population. Despite this, the Bradenton Police Department, representing 56,442 individuals in the total population, reported a total crime index of 942. Larceny topped the list with approximately 559 cases, followed by aggravated assault with 214 cases, and motor vehicle theft ranked third in prevalence with 67 reports. The crime rate per 100,000 individuals supervised by this agency stood at 1,669.

Similarly, in 2021, the Palmetto Police Department documented a total crime index of 370, with a crime rate of 2,772 per 100,000 residents. Notably, the most frequent crimes reported by this department were Larceny with 225 cases, aggravated assault with 62 reports, and burglary with 47 cases. For more insights, interested parties can refer to the report for crime rates in other agencies that did report within the county.

Contrastingly, in 2020, with a population size of only 403,120, the crime rate per 100,000 individuals reached 2,000.4, resulting in a crime index of 8,064. Larceny accounted for 4,884 cases, aggravated assault for 1,403, and burglary for 779 instances.

Manatee County Arrest Statistics

FDLE’s County and Municipal Arrest Reports for 2021 published the report of the total number of arrests based on arresting agencies. The arrest rate per 100,000 individuals was 1,653, 821 being adults and 112 juveniles. Most of these arrests were for cases of larceny with 79, aggravated assault with 65 records, and 12 cases of burglary.

Find Manatee County Arrest Records

Multiple avenues exist for accessing an arrest record in Manatee County, depending on the holding agency and the extent of the search required. Individuals can directly contact the agency responsible for the arrest or contact the Sheriff’s office. For example, where the agency is known, say, the Bradenton Police Department, one can request a record online, via mail, or in person. Online, arrest records can be requested as public records. One would need to provide essential details like the offender's name or date of birth is crucial if the case number is not available. Researchers may need to register to access these records.

For an in-person inquiry, one can visit the address below during working days.

The Records Office
Bradenton Police Department lobby
100 10th Street West

In a case where the arrest was made by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office or the arresting agency is unknown, requesters can peruse the online arrest inquiry tool to access records of arrests. This tool provides information on individuals booked into the Manatee County jail, including those currently in custody and those released within the last 90 days.

Alternatively, individuals can send an inquiry mail to:

Custodian of Public Records
Sharon Chasteen, Record Director
Extension 2295
Phone: (941) 747-3011

Moreover, individuals can conduct an arrest inquiry in person during regular working hours at:

Manatee County Sheriff's Office Record Section
600 Highway 301 Boulevard West
Suite 202, Bradenton, Florida 34205

Before initiating a search, individuals should review the available fees online.

In cases where the arrestee was taken into custody by a federal law enforcement agency, residents can utilize the Federal Bureau of Prisons' federal inmate search tool to conduct name or booking number searches.

Free Arrest Record Search in Manatee County

Individuals can perform cost-free arrest record searches in Manatee County at various locations, including the Office of the Sheriff, the city-level arresting agency like the Palmetto Police Department, or the relevant courthouse where the legal proceedings occurred.

Alternatively, private websites operated independently of the government also offer free access to Manatee's arrest records. The depth of information available through these sites varies, typically providing basic details about an arrestee at no charge.

Get Manatee County Criminal Records

When an individual is arrested, found guilty as charged and convicted of a crime, they acquire a criminal record. According to the Sunshine Law in the state, these records are classified as public records. The law stipulates that interested parties can request access to these records; however, if a criminal record is considered confidential or sealed, it will not be accessible to the public.

Various government agencies maintain criminal records. To obtain criminal records specific to Manatee County, individuals can initiate their search at the Office of the Sheriff. For a comprehensive background check, one can request a criminal record from the Sheriff's office, the state's central repository, or the FBI.

Conducting a countywide background check can be done in person, through the public portal, or via mail. Requesters must provide accurate details such as the subject's full name (first and last), date of birth, sex, and race. For in-person requests, individuals can visit the records section at the Sheriff's office, or they can send mail to the same location.

Requests should include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a $2 fee. Payments can be made via checks or credit cards.

In addition to the Sheriff's office, members of the public have the option to contact any of the other law enforcement departments in Manatee County, totaling nine and serving various cities within the county.

Residents seeking a statewide background check can visit the Division of Criminal Justice Information Services website, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, or send mail to:

Florida Department of Law Enforcement
User Services Bureau Criminal History Services
P.O. Box 1489
Tallahassee, FL 32302

For an instant criminal record search via the FDLE website, individuals can do so online from their homes for a $25 fee (including processing) or opt for a certified/non-certified check through mail for $24. The researcher must provide relevant details about the record subject and a return mail address.

Moreover, individuals looking to review their criminal records can conduct a national background check by reaching out to the FBI. This can be done online through an approved vendor or via mail to:

FBI CJIS Division - Record Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, West Virginia 26306

Lastly, individuals can obtain criminal records from the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. Researchers can access these records through the online case management system provided, conducting searches by name or case number.

Manatee County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

An arrest alone does not indicate that an individual has been convicted of a crime; the principle of being innocent until proven guilty in a court of law applies to arrestees. If an individual is proven guilty of a crime by a judge or jury, their criminal history will reflect this conviction. Conversely, if a defendant is found not guilty, this outcome will be documented in the arrest information.

An arrest record primarily documents an individual's interactions with law enforcement authorities, such as the Sheriff's and Police departments. On the other hand, a criminal history record provides more comprehensive information concerning an offender's dealings with law enforcement agencies and the judicial system. This detailed record may include:

• Details of arrest warrants
• Records of arrest and custodial procedures
• Manatee County court records
• Outcomes of court case proceedings

In Manatee County, individuals can readily access arrest records at the office of the arresting agency, for instance, the Sheriff's office or the Bradenton Police Department, while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement offers access to detailed criminal history records of offenders.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

An individual's arrest record is not automatically expunged after a specific period, particularly in cases where the arrest resulted in an indictment unless the arrestee formally requests for their record to be sealed or expunged. This indicates that a person who maintains an arrest record and does not receive approval for expungement will carry that record throughout their lifetime.

Expunge Manatee County Arrest Records

To prevent public access to an arrest record in Manatee, individuals must request expungement or the sealing of the record. The expungement process is governed by Section 943.0585 of the Florida Statutes and Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure, 3.692, while record sealing is guided by Section 943.059 of the Florida Statutes.

Those who meet the eligibility criteria are required to:

• File a petition to expunge or seal their criminal record, along with a Certificate of Eligibility
• Submit an affidavit
• Proceed to apply for expungement or sealing in accordance with Florida's statutes and rules of criminal procedure

The defendant must complete and submit the expungement form and the mentioned documents to the circuit court where the case was adjudicated.

Various types of expungements available for application include Administrative Expungement, Automatic Sealing, Automatic Juvenile Expungement, and Early Juvenile Expungement, among others.

Manatee County Arrest Warrants

When a law enforcement officer suspects that an individual has committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime, they may request an arrest warrant. This request entails presenting supporting evidence to establish the basis for the suspicion. Additionally, the officer is usually required to submit an affidavit detailing the grounds for the belief. Subsequently, the judge carefully reviews the evidence before deciding whether to issue the arrest warrant or not.

An arrest warrant is an official document typically issued by a magistrate or judge at the county courthouse, granting the authority to law enforcement officers to arrest an individual. This authorization allows the officer to conduct what would otherwise be considered an unlawful act.

Usually, an arrest warrant includes key information such as:

• The name of the individual subject to the warrant, including any aliases
• The name of the issuing judge
• The issuing county
• The date when the warrant was issued
• The specific reason or purpose for the warrant being issued

Manatee County Arrest Warrant Search

In most cases, researchers have the ability to obtain an arrest record as well as an arrest warrant from Manatee County. While the state lacks a centralized repository for arrest records, individuals seeking this information can inquire at the Sheriff’s office or the courthouse. Public arrests are easily accessible, but the availability of arrest records is typically dependent on the completion of an investigation or the classification of the record as private.

To retrieve these records, individuals must provide specific details to assist the record keeper in locating the information.

Do Manatee County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. As is the case in many counties and states, arrest warrants in Manatee County do not come with an expiration date, remaining valid until the individual named in the record is apprehended or voluntarily surrenders to address the repercussions of the alleged crime leading to the warrant issuance.