Search Riverview Police Records
Riverview police records come from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Riverview is an unincorporated census-designated place in southeastern Hillsborough County with around 95,000 residents. HCSO provides all law enforcement services to Riverview, which means deputies handle incident reports, arrests, and all police activity in the area. People seeking police records from Riverview submit requests to the sheriff's office public records unit.
Riverview Quick Facts
Law Enforcement Services in Riverview
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office serves Riverview. The area is not an incorporated city, so there is no Riverview police department. HCSO deputies patrol Riverview, respond to calls, investigate crimes, and write incident reports. All police records from Riverview are maintained by the sheriff's office.
HCSO operates district offices across the county. The South District office serves Riverview and surrounding areas. While you can visit district offices for some matters, all public records requests go through the main records division in Tampa. The sheriff's office headquarters is at 2008 E 8th Ave in Tampa, which is where the records unit is located.
Riverview residents follow the same process as other parts of Hillsborough County when requesting police records. Florida's public records law under Chapter 119 requires agencies to provide access to most law enforcement records. Some records stay confidential due to active investigations, juvenile privacy protections, or victim confidentiality rules. HCSO staff review each request and release what they can under state law.
How to Request Police Records
To get police records from Riverview, you submit a public records request to HCSO. The sheriff's office accepts requests online, by mail, in person, and by email. Most people find online requests the easiest method since you can track the status and get notifications without calling or visiting an office.
When you request records, include as much detail as possible. The incident date, location, names of people involved, and the report number if you have it all help staff locate your records faster. If you were involved in the incident, mention that in your request. More information means faster processing.
Most incident reports and crash reports are ready within a few business days. Requests for older records or records that need legal review may take longer. HCSO will contact you if they need more information or if there are fees to pay before releasing the records. Processing time depends on the complexity of the request and the volume of requests the office is handling.
Florida law under Florida Statutes § 119.07 requires agencies to respond to public records requests promptly. If your request is denied, HCSO must explain why. You have the right to challenge denials in court if you believe the records should be public.
Types of Police Records
Police records from Riverview include incident reports, arrest records, crash reports, and other law enforcement documents. Each type has different uses and availability under Florida law.
Incident reports cover crimes like theft, burglary, assault, vandalism, and fraud that happen in Riverview. These reports contain the date, location, victim and suspect details, and a narrative of the event. People use incident reports for insurance claims, court cases, and personal records. Most are public once the initial investigation is complete.
Arrest records show when someone was taken into custody by HCSO deputies in Riverview. These records include the charges, arrest date, and booking information. Arrest records are public unless sealed by court order. Booking photos and fingerprints from the county jail are separate but related. If the arrest led to prosecution, court case records will be at the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court.
Traffic crash reports document accidents in Riverview. Deputies investigate crashes and write reports that include driver information, vehicle details, and diagrams of the scene. Insurance companies often request these after accidents. You can get crash reports from HCSO or through the statewide portal at flhsmv.gov. The state portal charges $10 per report and is often faster than requesting directly from the sheriff's office.
Crime statistics and calls for service data are also public records. This data shows trends and activity levels across Riverview and other parts of the county. Researchers and journalists request this information to analyze public safety patterns. HCSO may provide this in report form or raw data files depending on what you ask for.
Note: Most routine incident reports from Riverview are available within 3 to 5 business days of the request.
Records Request Fees
Fees for police records in Riverview depend on what you request and how much work it takes to fulfill. A single incident report may have a small copying fee or be free. Large requests with many pages or extensive research time can cost more.
Florida law under Florida Statutes § 119.07 sets limits on what agencies can charge. Standard copying costs are 15 cents per page for regular size paper. Certified copies cost extra. If staff spend significant time searching for records or redacting exempt information, HCSO can charge for that labor at the rate allowed by law.
When you make your request, ask HCSO for a cost estimate. They can tell you the fee before processing your request. Most people pay less than $20 for a single incident report. Crash reports through the state portal cost $10. Background checks from FDLE have their own fee schedule separate from local police records.
Background Checks and Criminal History
For a complete criminal background check that includes arrests from Riverview and other places in Florida, go to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. FDLE maintains the statewide criminal history database and processes requests for personal background checks and employer screenings.
You can request your own Florida criminal history through FDLE's website or by mail. The fee is $24 for a state background check. National checks through the FBI cost more. Visit fdle.state.fl.us for forms and instructions. You can also call the Criminal History Records Unit at (850) 410-8161 for help.
Background checks pull arrest records from across the state, including any charges from Riverview. Personal requests usually take about two weeks to process. Employer requests for licensing or employment may take longer depending on the type of check and current volume at FDLE.
If you need a specific incident report from Riverview, contact HCSO. For a full criminal history search, use FDLE. Most people request police reports for single incidents and background checks for complete criminal records.
State and County Resources
In addition to local police records from Riverview, several state agencies maintain records that may be useful. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement offers a public records portal at fdle.justfoia.com where you can submit requests for state-level law enforcement records. FDLE does not have local incident reports, but they do provide statewide criminal justice data.
Florida Highway Patrol responds to crashes on state highways that pass through or near Riverview. If FHP investigated your crash, request the report through the state portal or contact FHP directly. The FHP contact page is at flhsmv.gov.
Hillsborough County maintains the county jail and court system. If an arrest in Riverview led to charges, the court case records will be at the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court. For more on county resources and other agencies that serve Riverview, see the Hillsborough County police records page.
Hillsborough County Police Records
Riverview is part of Hillsborough County, and HCSO serves the entire unincorporated area. For more information on county law enforcement services, records request procedures, and other resources, visit the Hillsborough County police records page.