Martin County Police Records

Martin County police records are maintained by the Martin County Sheriff's Office and city police departments on Florida's Treasure Coast. With over 160,000 residents, this county includes Stuart, Palm City, and other communities along the Atlantic coast. The Sheriff handles unincorporated areas and operates the county jail. City police departments like Stuart PD maintain their own records. You can request incident reports, arrest records, and crash reports from these agencies. Florida public records law allows any person to access most police records unless specific exemptions apply under state statute. Contact the appropriate agency directly for records requests. Most documents become available once a case closes.

Martin County Sheriff's Office

The Martin County Sheriff serves as the primary law enforcement agency for unincorporated areas. They operate the county jail, handle patrol duties, and conduct investigations. All police records created by Sheriff deputies are public under Florida law once cases close. Sheriff records include incident reports, arrest records, crash reports, and booking logs.

These documents contain names, dates, locations, charges, and narratives. Most records become available when a case closes. Active investigations may have restricted access under statutory exemptions. To request police records from Martin County Sheriff, contact their records division. Provide details like names, dates, case numbers, and locations if available.

The Sheriff follows Florida Chapter 119 requirements. Staff can help locate documents and provide cost estimates for copies. Martin County Sheriff does not have a fully public online search portal for all police records. Contact the records unit by phone or visit in person for assistance.

How to Get Police Records

Public records requests in Martin County must follow Florida law. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes gives every person the right to inspect government records. You do not need to be a resident or explain why you want records.

To request police records, gather this information:

• Name of person involved in the incident
• Date or approximate date when it happened
• Location where it occurred (city, street, area)
• Type of incident (arrest, theft, crash, etc.)
• Case number or report number if available
• Which agency responded (Sheriff, Stuart PD, etc.)

Call the appropriate agency first. Staff can tell you if records exist and what the cost will be. Some requests are filled within a few days. Large or complex requests may take longer and incur fees for staff time and copies under Florida law.

Note: Active criminal investigations can be withheld under Florida statute exemptions until the case closes or the investigation ends.

Arrest and Booking Records

Martin County Sheriff operates the county jail. All arrests in the county result in booking at this facility whether made by Sheriff or city police. Booking records are public immediately under Florida law. They include name, photo, charges, bond, and booking date. The jail roster updates regularly with new arrests and releases.

You can request booking information from the Sheriff's Office. This is different from the full arrest report. Arrest reports include the officer's investigation narrative and witness statements. Get the arrest report from the agency that made the arrest. Mugshots and booking details are public records in Florida and cannot be withheld.

Traffic Crash Reports

Traffic crashes in Martin County are investigated by the Sheriff, city police, or Florida Highway Patrol. Any crash with injury, death, or property damage over $500 requires a report. The investigating officer files the report with the state. Order crash reports online through Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles at www.flhsmv.gov/traffic-crash-reports/.

Search by date and county. The site charges a fee per report. Most reports are available within a few days of the crash. For crashes on major highways, Florida Highway Patrol likely investigated. For local roads, check with the Sheriff or city police.

Florida State Police Records

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains statewide criminal records. FDLE collects arrest and disposition data from Martin County agencies and all other Florida jurisdictions. Background checks search this central database. Submit public records requests to FDLE at fdle.justfoia.com/publicportal.

Create a free account and describe what you need. FDLE responds within a few business days. This portal is for FDLE documents, not local Martin County police records. For criminal background checks, call FDLE at (850) 410-8161. The fee is $24 per check.

Florida Public Records Law

Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes governs public access to government documents. Police records fall under this law unless exempted. Martin County law enforcement must allow inspection and copying of public records. You can request records in any format. Agencies can charge fees for duplication and extensive search time.

If costs will exceed $200, they must give you a written estimate first. Some records are exempt from public disclosure. Active criminal investigations can be withheld. Confidential informant identities are protected. Personal information like social security numbers gets redacted.

Criminal History Records

Statewide criminal history records come from FDLE. They compile arrest and court data from Martin County and all other jurisdictions. Background checks pull from this central system showing arrests, charges, and dispositions. Contact FDLE Criminal History Records at (850) 410-8161. The fee is $24 for a Florida background check.

Include fingerprints with your mail request. Electronic fingerprinting is available at many locations across Florida. The FDLE office is in Tallahassee at 2331 Phillips Road. Walk-in service is available Monday through Friday during business hours.

FDLE Public Records

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement serves as the state's central law enforcement agency. They assist local police, maintain databases, and process background checks. The public records unit handles requests for FDLE documents. Contact FDLE Public Records at (850) 410-7676. Email publicrecords@fdle.state.fl.us with questions.

Mail to FDLE, P.O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, FL 32302. FDLE provides resources for Martin County residents including crime statistics and sex offender registry searches. Visit www.fdle.state.fl.us for statewide law enforcement information.

Florida Highway Patrol

The Florida Highway Patrol patrols Interstate 95 and other major highways in Martin County. They investigate serious crashes and provide traffic enforcement. FHP reports are public records available through standard channels. For FHP records or questions, visit the FHP contact page or call *FHP (*347) from a cell phone.

This reaches the nearest FHP dispatch. Use this for highway crash information or road conditions in Martin County. Crash reports from FHP are available through the FLHSMV online ordering system.

Cities in Martin County

Martin County's main city is Stuart, which serves as the county seat. Other communities include Palm City, Jensen Beach, Indiantown, and Ocean Breeze Park. The Sheriff's Office serves unincorporated areas and operates county jail services. Contact the specific police agency for each area to get police records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Martin County. Each has its own law enforcement agencies and records systems. Check the exact location of your incident to determine which county has jurisdiction.