West Palm Beach Booking Records
Recent bookings in West Palm Beach are public records you can search right now. The West Palm Beach Police Department handles local arrests, but all booking and jail operations go through the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. PBSO runs the main jail at 3228 Gun Club Road in West Palm Beach. With a population of about 127,744, West Palm Beach is the county seat and one of the busiest areas for arrest activity in Palm Beach County. The sheriff posts a booking blotter that shows recent arrests from across the county, including those made by West Palm Beach police officers.
West Palm Beach Quick Facts
West Palm Beach Arrest Records
The West Palm Beach Police Department is the city's primary law enforcement agency. Officers patrol the city and make arrests for crimes that range from traffic offenses to felonies. Once an arrest is made, the suspect goes to the Palm Beach County jail for booking. The jail is right in West Palm Beach at 3228 Gun Club Road, so transport time is short. Staff at the jail take fingerprints, a photo, and log all charges into the system. That data becomes a public record under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office publishes a booking blotter online. This blotter shows who was recently booked into the county jail. You can see arrest data for West Palm Beach and every other city in Palm Beach County through this tool. Each entry lists the person's name, charges, bond amount, and booking photo. The blotter updates as new arrests come in throughout the day.
The West Palm Beach Police Department website provides information about local law enforcement services in the city.
From this site you can find contact details and learn how the department handles arrests in West Palm Beach.
How Bookings Work in West Palm Beach
The arrest process in West Palm Beach follows Chapter 901 of the Florida Statutes. Officers can arrest with a warrant or without one when they see a crime in progress or have probable cause to believe a felony occurred. Domestic violence calls allow warrantless arrest too. After the arrest, the officer drives the suspect to the Palm Beach County Main Detention Center on Gun Club Road for processing.
The booking process at the jail takes a few hours in most cases. Staff verify the person's identity, run a warrant check, take fingerprints and a mugshot, and enter all the charges. The person gets a booking number that tracks them through the system. You can use that number later to look up the case. Bond is set based on a schedule adopted by the 15th Judicial Circuit, which covers all of Palm Beach County. For less serious charges, the booking officer may set bond right away using the schedule. More serious offenses wait for a judge at first appearance.
Under Chapter 903, the person must see a judge within 24 hours. The judge reviews probable cause and decides on bond. Some people post bond and leave the jail the same day. Others stay until their court date. You can check bond status through the PBSO inmate search tool for anyone booked in West Palm Beach.
Note: The Palm Beach County jail on Gun Club Road is one of the largest detention facilities in South Florida, handling bookings from over 30 law enforcement agencies.
Searching West Palm Beach Booking Records
The PBSO booking blotter is the fastest way to find recent arrests in West Palm Beach. Go to the PBSO website and look for the booking blotter or inmate search section. You can search by name to find someone who was recently arrested. The results show the full booking record with charges, bond amounts, and the arresting agency. If West Palm Beach police made the arrest, the record will list them as the arresting agency.
You need just a name to start a search. A last name is enough, though adding a first name helps narrow down results. Common names may return many matches. In those cases, use the date of birth or booking date to find the right person. The booking blotter covers all agencies in Palm Beach County, so you will see results from PBSO deputies, West Palm Beach police, and other local departments mixed together.
For older records or formal copies, you can file a public records request with PBSO. Under Chapter 119, they must provide the records in a reasonable time. Standard copy fees are 15 cents per single-sided page. You do not need to give a reason for your request. You do not need to live in West Palm Beach or even in Florida.
West Palm Beach Jail Details
The Palm Beach County Main Detention Center is in West Palm Beach itself. This is where all bookings happen for the county. The facility sits on Gun Club Road and holds people awaiting trial, serving short sentences, or waiting for transfer to state prison. It is a large operation with staff on duty around the clock.
| Facility | Palm Beach County Main Detention Center |
|---|---|
| Address | 3228 Gun Club Rd, West Palm Beach, FL 33406 |
| Phone | 561.688.4400 |
| Sheriff Website | www.pbso.org |
| Police Department | West Palm Beach Police Department |
Call the jail at 561.688.4400 for questions about someone in custody. Staff can tell you if a person is still held, what the bond is, and when visitation is allowed. For records requests, ask for the PBSO records division. They handle public records for all booking data in the West Palm Beach facility.
State Records Search Tools
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement keeps a statewide criminal records database. If you want to search beyond just West Palm Beach, the FDLE record check costs $25 and pulls arrest records from all 67 Florida counties. This is useful when you are not sure where an arrest took place or when you need a full criminal history that goes beyond what the PBSO booking blotter shows.
The Florida Department of Corrections runs a separate search for state prison inmates. This covers people who have been convicted and sentenced to state prison. It does not include people sitting in the Palm Beach County jail waiting for trial. Use the PBSO tools for current West Palm Beach bookings and the FDC search for convicted inmates who have left the county system.
Note: FDLE results may not show the most recent West Palm Beach arrests since county data takes time to reach the state database.
Public Records Law and West Palm Beach
Florida has one of the strongest public records laws in the country. The state's Sunshine Law under Chapter 119 makes government records open to everyone. Booking records, arrest reports, and mugshots from West Palm Beach all fall under this law. Any person can ask for them. You do not have to explain why.
Section 119.07 says that custodians of public records must allow inspection at any reasonable time. The PBSO and West Palm Beach Police Department both follow this rule. Online tools let you view booking data without any cost. If you need official copies, the agency can charge for reproduction. Standard rates are 15 cents per one-sided page and 20 cents for two-sided. Requests that take extensive staff time may incur a special service charge, but viewing records is generally free.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near West Palm Beach. If an arrest happened outside the city limits, you may need to check booking records for the correct area. All arrests in Palm Beach County go through the same PBSO jail system.
Palm Beach County Booking Records
West Palm Beach is the county seat of Palm Beach County. All arrests in the county are booked at the detention center on Gun Club Road. The PBSO handles bookings from dozens of law enforcement agencies across the county. For the full county overview, search tools, and additional resources, visit the Palm Beach County page.