Palm Beach County Police Records

Palm Beach County is the third most populous county in Florida with over 1.5 million people. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement in unincorporated areas and many cities under contract. Multiple city police departments also serve the county. West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and other cities have their own police forces. Each agency maintains separate records. Request from the agency that handled your incident to get police records in Palm Beach County.

Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is one of the largest law enforcement agencies in Florida. The sheriff patrols unincorporated areas and provides police services to many cities under contract. This includes Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, and others. Deputies respond to thousands of calls each year. All of these create police records that go into the agency's system.

The main headquarters is at 3228 Gun Club Road in West Palm Beach. Call (561) 688-3000 to reach the sheriff's office. The Records Section handles public records requests under Chapter 119 Florida Statutes. Staff can tell you what records are available and how much copies will cost. Some records can be provided quickly. Others take time to prepare depending on the size of your request.

Visit the sheriff's website at www.pbso.org for info on requesting records. The agency may offer an online portal for submitting requests and tracking their progress. Many Florida law enforcement agencies now use digital systems to handle public records. This makes the process faster and easier for both staff and requesters.

City Police Departments

Many cities in Palm Beach County have their own police departments. These agencies keep separate records from the sheriff. West Palm Beach Police Department serves the county seat. Boca Raton Police Department covers that city. Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Jupiter, and others also have police forces. If your incident happened in city limits, request records from that city's police department.

Each department processes its own public records requests. They all follow the same Florida public records law, but procedures may vary. Some have online portals. Others handle requests by phone or in person. Fees are the same because state law sets the maximum amounts. Contact the department that handled your call to get records in Palm Beach County.

Cities served by the sheriff include Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Greenacres, Lantana, Lake Park, Juno Beach, and others. Records for incidents in these cities come from the Palm Beach County Sheriff. The town of Palm Beach has its own police department separate from the sheriff and county agencies.

Note: The Florida Highway Patrol handles crashes on interstate highways and state roads throughout the county.

Public Records in Palm Beach County

Florida's public records law applies to all agencies in Palm Beach County. Chapter 119 makes all government records public unless specifically exempted by law. Police records have exemptions for active investigations, victim privacy, and law enforcement safety. Most records become public when investigations close.

Active criminal investigations stay confidential. This protects witnesses, evidence, and ongoing cases. The exemption applies as long as there is a reasonable expectation of an arrest or prosecution. Once a case closes, most info becomes available. Some details may still be protected under other statutes.

Info that remains confidential even after a case closes:

• Names of sexual offense victims
• Identities of child abuse victims
• Home addresses of current and former law enforcement officers
• Personal info and photos of undercover officers
• Confidential informant identities
• Body camera video from inside private residences without written consent

Victims of domestic violence, stalking, sexual battery, and aggravated battery can request confidentiality of their personal info. The request must be in writing. This exemption lasts five years. Agencies must redact names, addresses, and phone numbers from public records during that time under Section 119.071.

Complaints against law enforcement officers are confidential while under investigation. The investigation is presumed inactive 45 days after the complaint is filed if no finding has been made. After that, the complaint and investigation records become public unless another exemption applies. This is covered in Florida Statute 112.533.

How to Get Police Records

Anyone can request police records in Palm Beach County. You do not need to be involved in the case. You do not have to explain why you want the records. Agencies cannot ask your reason. They can only request details that help them find the right records.

Include specific info when you make a request. The date and time help. The location narrows the search. Names of people involved make it easier. A case number speeds things up if you have one. The more detail you give, the faster staff can respond.

Ways to request police records:

• Visit the records office during business hours
• Call the agency's main number or records line
• Use an online public records portal if available
• Send a written request by mail
• Email the public records contact address

Agencies must respond promptly to requests. They tell you when records will be ready. Large or complex requests may take longer. They must provide a cost estimate if fees apply. You decide whether to pay or withdraw your request. If they deny access, they must cite the specific law that exempts the info.

For statewide criminal history, use the FDLE Public Records Portal. For traffic crash reports, go to the Florida Crash Portal after the 60-day confidentiality period. Local incident and arrest reports come from the Palm Beach County agency that handled the call.

Types of Police Records

Law enforcement agencies create many types of records. Incident reports show calls for service and what happened. Arrest reports document who was arrested and why. Crash reports detail traffic accidents. Booking records show who is in jail. Each type contains different info and has different access rules.

Incident reports include the date, time, and location. Names of involved people may appear. A narrative describes what officers observed and did. Some details get redacted based on exemptions. The report becomes public when the investigation closes. You can request copies from the agency that wrote the report.

Arrest records show the person's name, age, address, and physical description. The charge appears on booking documents. Mugshots are public unless the arrest is later expunged or sealed. Bond amounts and court dates may be included. The record stays on file even if charges are dropped. To remove an arrest from your record, petition the court for sealing or expungement.

Jail records show current inmates at the Palm Beach County Jail. This includes booking date, charges, and bond info. Many agencies post inmate rosters online. Once someone is released, they come off the roster but the booking record remains with the sheriff. Contact the jail at (561) 688-3000 for inmate information.

Traffic Crash Reports

Traffic crashes in Palm Beach County are investigated by multiple agencies. The Florida Highway Patrol handles crashes on I-95, the Florida Turnpike, and state roads. City police cover crashes in their jurisdictions. The sheriff responds to crashes in unincorporated areas and contract cities. All reports go to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Crash reports are confidential for 60 days under Florida Statute 316.066. Only people involved in the crash, their lawyers, insurance agents, and certain others can get them during this time. This protects personal info from commercial use. After 60 days, reports become fully public.

Buy crash reports through the Florida Crash Portal. Search by date, driver name, or report number. Each report costs $10 plus a $2 convenience fee. Pay online by credit card. Download your report within 48 hours or the link expires and you must buy it again.

Reports usually appear in the portal within 10 days of the crash. If you need a report sooner or it is not online, contact the investigating agency. For help with crash reports, call FLHSMV Crash Records at (850) 617-3416 option 5. Email CrashRecords@flhsmv.gov or mail requests to FLHSMV Crash Records, 2900 Apalachee Parkway MS 28, Tallahassee FL 32399.

Record Copy Fees

Florida law sets maximum fees for public records. Standard copies cost up to 15 cents per one-sided page. Two-sided copies cost up to 20 cents per page. Certified copies add up to $1 per document. These limits are in Section 119.07.

Requests that take more than 15 minutes or involve more than 20 pages may have extra fees. Agencies can charge for staff time at the employee's hourly rate. This covers searching, reviewing, and copying records. They must give you a cost estimate before doing the work. You can agree to pay or withdraw your request.

Electronic records on CD or USB drive cost what the media costs plus staff time. Special data extraction or format conversion can be billed at actual cost. Agencies must explain all charges. They cannot profit from public records requests. Fees can only recover actual expenses.

Legal Help and Resources

Legal aid organizations serve Palm Beach County residents who need help with police records or criminal law matters. Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County provides free services to low-income individuals. Call their office to see if you qualify. The Florida Bar lawyer referral service can connect you with local attorneys.

The FDLE Office of Open Government answers questions about public records law. Call (850) 410-7676 or email publicrecords@fdle.state.fl.us. Their website has sample request letters and info about exemptions.

For criminal history questions, contact FDLE Criminal History Records at (850) 410-8161. They can tell you what shows on your background check. To seal or expunge a record, file a petition with the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court. The clerk provides forms and instructions.

Cities in Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County has many cities and towns. Some have their own police departments. Others use the county sheriff for law enforcement services.

Other cities include Delray Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington, Lake Worth, Greenacres, Royal Palm Beach, Palm Springs, Riviera Beach, and many more. Contact the sheriff or city police based on where your incident occurred.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Palm Beach County. Each has its own law enforcement agencies and records systems.