Are Criminal Records in Pasco County Publicly Accessible?

Yes, Pasco County criminal records are accessible to the public according to Chapter 119 of the Florida Sunshine Laws. This body of laws gives the public the right to inspect and make copies of government records, including criminal records. Exemptions are also provided in these laws that guide the restriction of public access to certain records. Such restrictions are placed on records from ongoing investigations, medical records, student records, financial information, trade secrets, and victim information.

Records exemptions also include information that has been expunged or sealed by court orders. The public and authorized individuals or entities can access and obtain criminal records through mail, in-person, or online records requests. Criminal records include documents from the archives of the courts, law enforcement agencies, and incarceration facilities.

Each agency provides access to specific records, such as arrest records from law enforcement agencies and court records from the courts. Requesters may be denied access to records when the request is invalid, or the information provided for the records search is insufficient. Requests can also be denied when the requester does not have the required authorization.

Who is Eligible to Access Pasco County Criminal Records?

Pasco County criminal records are available to these individuals subject to a valid records request:

• The general public can access criminal records after filing a written request and paying the required fees. Access to juvenile records and other sensitive criminal records like victim information may be restricted from public access.
• Employers can access job-related details and records of arrests without convictions, subject to the individual’s written consent.
• Attorneys can have access to more details than other entities for the purpose of representing their clients adequately.
• Law enforcement agencies can have access to details of criminal records for official purposes, which may be subject to the provision of the purpose of the request and a valid ID.

How to Request Criminal Records in Pasco County

Criminal records can be requested using mail-in, in-person, or online records requests. Follow these steps to obtain Pasco County public criminal records:

• Understand your records needs, which will help determine the agency from which to request. Court records will be requested from the county courts, while arrest records are maintained by law enforcement agencies.
• Get the required information to accompany the request, such as the individual’s name, address, birth date, charges, arrest date, the arresting officer, case number, court dates, judge’s name, sentencing details, supervision details, and parole or probation conditions.
• Choose your preferred request mode between online requests using the Public Records & Crime Statistics website, mail-in, and in-person requests.
• Complete the request form adequately with the details of the records of interest.
• Pay the required fees according to the agency’s guidelines and verify your identity if required or directed by the records custodian.
• Before you receive the records, you must wait for the processing time to lapse, which will vary depending on the request type or request mode.

In-person records requests can be submitted at this address:

Pasco County Sheriff’s Office
7530 Little Road
New Port Richey, Florida 34654

Alternatively, third-party search platforms like floridacourtrecords.us offer online repositories for accessing criminal records in the county. Such sites typically offer user-friendly interfaces and may not restrict users based on their geographical location. However, they are unregulated and should not serve as reliable options for finding criminal records.

What Information Is Contained in Pasco County Criminal Records?

Pasco County criminal records contain details that are publicly accessible. These records generally contain information that gives details of the records registrant, their alleged crimes, and court information. Criminal records will generally provide the following information about an individual and their criminal history:

• Full name
• Address
• Arresting officer
• Arresting charges
• Case number
• Arresting date
• Court dates
• Plea entered
• Sentencing information
• Supervision dates
• Probation or parole conditions

Pasco County criminal records details are in line with the provisions of the Florida Sunshine Laws, which also provides exemptions. These exemptions are details or information that are personal and violate individual privacy, such as victim details, juvenile records, medical records, trade secrets, and ongoing investigation details.

Are There Restrictions on Accessing Criminal Records in Pasco County?

Yes, there are certain restrictions on accessing Pasco County criminal records according to Chapter 119 of the Florida Sunshine Law. These exemptions help prevent private information from being publicly accessible and provide protection for individual privacy and public safety. Pasco County criminal records restrictions include the following:

• National security records such as intelligence, military, and foreign affairs.
• Law enforcement investigation records
• Personally identifiable records such as addresses, medical records, Social Security Numbers, and Driver’s license numbers.
• Confidential commercial information and trade secrets.
• Information from pending litigation
• Student and personnel records

These restrictions also include records that have been sealed or expunged by the court. However, they may not apply to certain entities and agencies, such as the courts, parole and probation officers, authorized persons, such as researchers and child protection services, and law enforcement agencies.

What Happens if My Request for Pasco County Criminal Records is Denied?

Pasco County criminal records are accessible to the public through records requests, but these requests may be denied or rejected where these conditions apply:

• The request did not meet the required standard
• The requester did not provide enough details for records search and retrieval
• The requested records are sealed or expunged
• The records are subject to exemptions and regulations
• The agency does not have the records in its archives

Denied records requests can be appealed by filing a Petition for Writ of Mandamus at the Pasco County Circuit Court. This Petition should be filed with accompanying documents like the denial letter or explanation. You can also seek legal counsel to review the denial letter and navigate the appeal for denial. Requesters who have received denial responses can contact the agency at:

Pasco County Clerk and Comptroller
7530 Little Road
New Port Richey, Florida 34654
(727) 847-8000

How to Expunge or Seal Pasco County Criminal Records

Pasco County criminal records can be sealed or expunged according to the state’s laws to protect personal privacy and security and ensure justice is served. Expungement is the removal of records, while sealing involves redaction or restriction of records that are available to individuals who have satisfied the waiting period, completed the sentence given, and committed offenses that qualify for sealing or expungement.

Requesters can seal parts of their records by confirming their eligibility for expungement or sealing, gathering all information and documents to support the petition, filing a petition and submitting it at the Pasco County Circuit Court with the affidavit showing eligibility, the proposed order, and a Certificate of Eligibility. Serve the petition and accompanying documents at the State Attorney’s Office and attend the court hearing, if any, until the court’s verdict is given. The Order of Expungement can be obtained from the court and served on the law enforcement agency and other agencies in custody of the criminal records.