Clearwater Recent Bookings
Recent bookings in Clearwater are public records you can search online. The Clearwater Police Department handles law enforcement in the city, but the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office runs the jail and all booking operations. The county jail sits at 14400 49th Street North in Clearwater, right within city limits. It covers 54 acres and can hold more than 3,000 inmates. With about 116,811 residents, Clearwater is the county seat of Pinellas County. The sheriff provides an online "Who's in Jail" tool that shows current inmates and people released within the last 30 days.
Clearwater Quick Facts
Clearwater Arrest Records Search
The Clearwater Police Department is a full-service law enforcement agency. Officers patrol the city, respond to calls, and investigate crimes. When a Clearwater officer makes an arrest, the person is transported to the Pinellas County jail. Since the jail is located in Clearwater at 14400 49th Street North, the trip is usually short. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office books the person into the system and creates the public record.
The Pinellas County Sheriff provides a "Who's in Jail" search tool on its website. This tool lets you look up anyone currently in the jail or released within the past 30 days. Enter a name and the system returns matching results. Each record shows the person's charges, bond amount, booking date, and custody status. You can also reach the inmate search through the sheriff's main website at pinellassheriff.gov. Both links go to the same database of Clearwater and Pinellas County booking records.
The Clearwater Police Department website provides details about local law enforcement services and community programs in the city.
From the CPD site, you can find contact numbers, report a crime, and learn about the department's divisions.
How Clearwater Bookings Are Processed
Arrest procedures in Clearwater follow Chapter 901 of the Florida Statutes. Officers can arrest with a warrant or without one when they see a crime in progress, when probable cause exists for a felony, or in domestic violence situations. Once arrested, the person heads to the Pinellas County jail for booking.
The Pinellas County jail is a large facility. At 54 acres, it is one of the bigger detention complexes in the Tampa Bay area. The jail can hold over 3,000 inmates at a time. Staff process people from Clearwater police, Pinellas County deputies, St. Petersburg police, Largo police, and many other local agencies. The booking process includes fingerprinting, taking a mugshot, checking for warrants, and entering all charges. A booking number is assigned so you can track the person through the system. The whole intake can take several hours when the jail is busy.
Bond is set under the rules of Chapter 903 of the Florida Statutes. The 6th Judicial Circuit, which covers Pinellas and Pasco counties, has a bond schedule for common charges. Lower-level offenses often have a preset bond that lets people get out quickly. More serious charges need a judge at first appearance. Florida law requires that hearing within 24 hours of arrest. The "Who's in Jail" tool shows the bond amount for each charge, so you can check before making the trip to the jail.
Note: The Pinellas County jail in Clearwater shows both current inmates and those released within the last 30 days on its online search tool.
Pinellas County Jail Details
The Pinellas County jail is in Clearwater, which makes it convenient for families and attorneys who need to visit someone booked from the city. The facility is one of the largest in the region and houses inmates from across the county.
| Facility | Pinellas County Jail |
|---|---|
| Address | 14400 49th St N, Clearwater, FL 33762 |
| Phone | 727.464.6415 |
| Inmate Search | Who's in Jail |
| Police Department | Clearwater Police Department |
Call 727.464.6415 for questions about someone booked from Clearwater. Staff can tell you if a person is still in custody, what the bond is, and when visitation takes place. The jail has specific visitation hours and rules, so check the sheriff's website before you go. For copies of booking records or arrest reports, contact the records division at either the sheriff's office or the Clearwater Police Department depending on which agency's report you need.
Statewide Records for Clearwater Searches
When you need to search beyond Clearwater and Pinellas County, Florida has state-level tools available. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement runs a centralized criminal history database. The FDLE record check costs $25 and covers all 67 Florida counties in one search. This is helpful if you are not sure which county an arrest occurred in.
The Florida Department of Corrections runs a separate search for people sentenced to state prison. This is different from the Pinellas County jail. State prison holds convicted felons serving longer terms. The county jail holds people who were just arrested, are awaiting trial, or are serving shorter sentences. Use the Pinellas County tool for recent Clearwater bookings and FDC for state inmates.
Note: FDLE results may lag a few days behind what shows up in the Pinellas County jail search for recent Clearwater arrests.
Public Records Access in Clearwater
Florida's Sunshine Law under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes makes booking records public. Anyone can access them. You do not need to live in Clearwater. You do not need to say why you want them. The law applies to arrest reports, booking records, mugshots, and jail logs held by the Pinellas County Sheriff and the Clearwater Police Department.
The online "Who's in Jail" search is free to use. For printed or certified copies, agencies can charge standard fees. The rate is 15 cents per single-sided page and 20 cents per double-sided page. Requests that require a lot of staff time may have a special service charge. Juvenile records, sealed records, and expunged records are exempt from public access. But all standard adult booking records from Clearwater are open to the public under state law.
If a records request is denied, the agency must cite the specific statute that allows the denial. You can challenge a denial in court. Florida courts have consistently upheld broad public access to arrest and booking records across the state, including in Clearwater and Pinellas County.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Clearwater in the Tampa Bay area. If you are not sure where an arrest took place, check the Pinellas County jail first since it covers the whole county.
Pinellas County Recent Bookings
Clearwater is the county seat of Pinellas County, and the county jail sits right in the city. All arrests across Pinellas County are processed at this facility. For the complete county overview, additional resources, and more search tools, visit the Pinellas County page.