Martin County Arrest Records

Several law enforcement agencies operate in Martin County, including the Martin County Sheriff's Office and city police departments like the Stuart Police Department and Sewall's Point Police Department. These agencies are charged with maintaining law and order in the county, and part of their duties involves carrying out arrests when necessary. Generally, a law enforcement officer can arrest a person if probable cause exists to believe the person has committed a crime or if a warrant directs the arrest.

The Martin County Sheriff's Office is primarily responsible for carrying out arrests within the county's boundaries. The Sheriff can also liaise with any city police department to perform an arrest if the vicinity of the arrest is under the police department's jurisdiction. The arresting agency generates an arrest record to document all pertinent information following an individual's arrest. The record provides vital information for a trial should the suspect be charged with an offense. Once apprehended, an individual may be detained at the county jail until their court hearing, released on bail, or released without charges.

Some arrest records eventually become a part of the Martin County court records. This happens when the detainee is charged by the prosecutor and goes through a trial/hearing to ascertain their guilt or innocence. In such circumstances, a person's arrest record could be obtained alongside the court case record maintained by the Martin Clerk of the Circuit Court.

Are Arrest Records Public in Martin County?

Yes. Martin County arrest records are publicly available under Fla. Sta. § 119, the Florida Public Records Law. This statute allows for the examination of arrest records by members of the public. However, the statute also restricts some arrest records or components of arrest records from the public view. The restriction is usually done to protect the privacy of the subject of the record or prevent confidential information from being disseminated.

Juvenile and sealed records are examples of restricted arrest records. Access may also be prohibited if an arrest record relates to an ongoing investigation. Only authorized persons may have access to confidential records.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Martin County arrest records that are publicly accessible contain the following information:

• Identifying information about the arrestee (full name, age, sex, and race)
• Date and time of the arrest
• Location of the arrest
• Arresting agency and arresting officer
• Reason for arrest, including offense information
• Brief narration of the arrest event
• Booking information

Martin County Crime Rate

The Department of Law Enforcement in Florida (FDLE) maintains a repository of statewide crime data that is accessible to everyone. The data comprises information obtained from law enforcement agencies across the state, including Martin County.

According to the FDLE's 2021 crime statistics (its most recently released data), the total crimes recorded in Martin County were 1,819. The following is a breakdown of the most frequent crimes in Martin and the number of times they occurred.

• Larceny: 1,189
• Aggravated assault: 247
• Burglary: 165
• Motor vehicle theft: 90
• Rape: 105

The crime rate per 100,000 was 1,143.6, and the clearance rate was 18.2 per 100 offenses. Clearances refer to the number of crimes that law enforcement agencies successfully handled.

Note: The FDLE's crime figures only capture reported crimes. The actual number of crimes committed may exceed the numbers provided.

Martin County Arrest Statistics

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement also documents and discloses the number of arrests made in the state.

The arrest data for the year 2021 shows that 3,106 arrests were made in Martin County, representing an arrest rate of 1952.8 per 100,000 people. The total number of adults arrested was 3,017, and the total number of juveniles (people under 18) was 89.

Drug violations resulted in the highest number of arrests, with 470 arrests recorded that year. These were followed by simple assault and driving under the influence (DUI), with 425 and 406 arrests, respectively. Other arrests made in Martin included:

• Larceny: 164
• Liquor law violations: 110
• Aggravated assault: 145
• Fraud: 56
• Burglary: 42
• Motor vehicle theft: 47
• Destruction/vandalism: 55
• Rape: 10
• Weapons violation: 39
• Robbery: 8
• Kidnap/abduction: 1
• Miscellaneous arrests - 1,082

Find Martin County Arrest Records

Individuals can contact the Martin County Sheriff or any city police department to obtain an arrest record in their custody. The Sheriff's Office lists the county's most recent arrests (for up to 10 days) on its Recent Bookings page. The Sheriff's Office Corrections Department can also be contacted by phone at (772) 220-7200 to determine if an arrested person was placed in the county jail.

Individuals can also contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court to search a person's court record, which may include their arrest record. An online case search can be conducted via the Clerk's Office case management system using a case party's name, case number, or citation number. Alternatively, a court record can be requested by completing the Court Records Request web form. The requester can specify only to receive an arrest report on the form. The Records Request form (non-web option) can also be downloaded, completed, and forwarded via mail to the Clerk's office at the following address:

Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
Attn: Public Records Liaison
P.O. Box 9016
Stuart, FL 34995

Inquirers can also request a record from the Clerk's Office in person, by email, or by phone at (772) 288-5576.

Records of inmates arrested in Martin County but detained in a state correctional facility can be retrieved using the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) Offender Information Search tool. An inmate search can be performed with a person's first name, last name, or DC number (an identification number assigned by the FDC).

Lastly, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator can be used to obtain information about inmates on a federal level. An inmate can be found using their first, middle, or last name. Users can also search with a BOP register number, DCDC number, FBI number, or INS number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Martin County

No fee is currently attached to accessing arrest records from local law enforcement agencies in Martin County. Inquirers can freely acquire an arrest record provided they have the correct information about the subject of the record.

Individuals can also utilize the services of third-party companies that offer access to Martin County arrest records. These companies usually disclose a limited amount of arrest information to users for free. However, arrest records obtained from third-party vendors may not always be accurate and should be verified with information in the custody of law enforcement agencies.

Get Martin County Criminal Records

A criminal record shows an individual's history of involvement with law enforcement agencies and the courts regarding their criminal conduct. When an individual is arrested and the arrest documented, they acquire a criminal record in their name. The criminal charges, sentences, and convictions a person may have received in court can also be found in their criminal records.

Martin County criminal records are public records, except for juvenile criminal records. Per Fla. Sta, § 943.053, the criminal history of juveniles is confidential and can only be accessed by the minor, parent, or legal guardian. However, the criminal record may become public under the following circumstances:

• The minor was arrested for a crime that would be regarded as a felony if committed by an adult
• The juvenile was charged with a crime that would be a felony offense if an adult had committed it.
• The juvenile was found guilty of a felony-level crime.
• The juvenile's case was moved to an adult court.

The Records Unit of the Sheriff's Department maintains the county's criminal records. It is responsible for processing local background check requests on individuals. Interested persons can begin a criminal background check by filing a public records request on the Records Unit's Public Request portal. The requester is required to provide some personal information and details about the record needed. The status of a request can also be tracked on the portal using the request number and security key (issued after a request has been filed). Any processed record can be picked up at the Sheriff's Office during business hours. The office is located at:

Martin County Sheriff
800 Southeast Monterey Road
Stuart, FL 34994

Requests can also be mailed to the Sheriff's Office through the United States Postal Service (USPS). They must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Martin County residents requesting their criminal history from the Sheriff's Office are not charged for a request. Residents conducting a background check on a third party and out-of-county residents are required to pay a $5 fee.

Another place to obtain Martin criminal records is from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Division of Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS). This agency is charged with maintaining statewide criminal history records. A criminal history check can be executed through the CJIS as follows:

• Instant Check: This is an online process where the inquirer performs a search on the Instant Florida Criminal History Search portal. A request fee must be paid through a debit/credit card (a $1 card fee is incurred per transaction). The acquired record can be printed or forwarded to the requester's email.
• Certified/Non-Certified Search: To perform this search, information about the record's subject must be submitted to the FDLE through the Certified/Non-Certified Florida Criminal History Search portal. Requests for a certified record take six to seven business days to process, while non-certified records take five business days. The recipient may opt to have the record notarized. The record will be sent to the requester via US mail.
• Originating Agency Identifier (ORI) Search: An inquisitor may use a valid ORI to conduct a criminal record check on the ORI-based Florida criminal History Search portal. The search results are forwarded directly to the person authorized by the ORI to receive the records.

Each criminal history check conducted through the FDLE costs $24 minus any debit/credit card transaction fee incurred.

Alternatively, individuals (subjects of records) can obtain their personal criminal history check from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI receives criminal record check requests online, by mail, or through an approved channeler.

Martin County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Both arrest and criminal records arise from a person's contacts with the criminal justice system. However, they are not the same.

An arrest record only documents the details of an arrest event. Meanwhile, a criminal record is a more comprehensive record that captures the entirety of a person's criminal past. It includes the person's arrests, charges, convictions, and sentences.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

No statute explicitly states how long arrests remain on a person's criminal record in Martin County. Typically, an arrest remains a part of an individual's criminal history indefinitely. The only way an arrest record can become inaccessible to the public is if it is sealed or expunged by the court. Sealing a record limits its accessibility to authorized individuals, while expunging erases the record. An expunged record can only resurface by a court order.

Expunge Martin County Arrest Records

An individual can petition a court to have an arrest record sealed or expunged. However, for the petition to be feasible, the person must meet certain eligibility requirements outlined in Fla. Sta. § 943.0585 and Fla. Sta. § 943.059. These requirements include:

• No indictment or charge was filed
• The party was found not guilty of the crime(s) related to the arrest
• The charges were dismissed
• The individual has no prior history of sealing or expunction of a criminal record
• The person is not under court supervision in relation to the arrest
• The arrest record must not be for a crime listed in Fla. Sta. § 943.0584.

(Note: If a sealed record is to be expunged, it must have been sealed for at least 10 years unless the charges were dismissed.)

To seal or expunge a record, the petitioner must request a certificate of eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The FDLE will issue the certificate if the person meets the following:

• Fulfills the eligibility criteria
• Submits a certified copy of the disposition of charges for which the arrest was made
• Pays the $75 processing fee, except if waived by the Executive Director

A certificate of eligibility remains valid for 12 months following its issue. If the certificate is not utilized within that time frame, the petitioner must apply for another one.

The petitioner can apply for their arrest record to be sealed or expunged by submitting the certificate of eligibility, a sworn statement, and any other relevant documents/forms with the Martin County Clerk of Circuit Court. The sworn statement must state that the person meets the eligibility requirements and has no pending sealing or expunction petition in the court.

Martin County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a court document authorizing a law enforcement officer to arrest a person. Law enforcement personnel must obtain an arrest warrant to legally perform an arrest except for certain scenarios outlined in Fla. Sta. § 901.15. For example, a warrant may not be required because of the situation's urgency, such as if the arrest occurred after a pursuit.

Arrest warrants can only be approved by a judge. The law enforcement officer intending to make the arrest must submit an official complaint with relevant evidence to a judge. The judge is charged with examining the evidence and issuing an arrest warrant if probable cause is found or denying the request if the evidence is insufficient.

All arrest warrants issued in Martin County are directed to the Sheriff's Office in line with Fla. Sta. § 901.04. Only the county sheriff is authorized to execute the warrant. However, another sheriff may perform the arrest in circumstances involving an active pursuit.

An arrest warrant in Martin County typically contains personal information and, if needed, a physical description of the suspect. It also includes the crime the individual is suspected of committing, the county where issued, and the signatures of both the affiant and issuing judge.

Martin County Arrest Warrant Search

The Sheriff is the executor of all arrest warrants issued in Martin County. Thus, persons can check if they have an arrest warrant in their name by making inquiries at the Sheriff's Office during business hours. However, the department may execute an arrest upon such an inquiry if an active arrest warrant is found in the person's name.

A more convenient way to search for a Martin County arrest warrant is by searching the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) online warrant database. The Sheriff sends reports to the FDLE, which include arrest warrant information for persons wanted in the county. A search can be conducted using a person's name, race, sex, date of birth, or age. The search subject's last name or nickname is a compulsory search input. A search reveals the following information:

• The wanted person's name
• Date of birth
• Occupation
• Last known address
• Physical description (race, sex, height, weight, body markings, eye and hair color)
• Offense committed
• Reporting agency
• Agency case number
• Warrant number

Although the database is updated daily, the FDLE warns that information found on the database should not be acted upon and may not be accurate or current. Information should always be verified with the Sheriff's Office.

Individuals can also visit the courthouse or use the Circuit Court's online case search portal to obtain a person's court record. The record should indicate any arrest warrant issued in the subject's name.

Do Martin County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Once issued, an arrest warrant has no expiry date. It only becomes invalid if the subject has been arrested or dies. However, in certain circumstances, an arrest warrant may be recalled or quashed if the court deems the arrest no longer necessary or if errors are found in the issuance process.