Pinellas County, Florida, was created in 1912 after a local referendum. With a landmass of 1,574 square kilometers, it is the second smallest county in the state. The county is located on the west coast and has its county seat at Clearwater. Pinellas County is renowned for its aviation history, where the world’s first scheduled commercial airline flight took place in 1914.

Courts in Pinellas County

Pinellas County court system consists of 5 Circuits and County Courts. The Pinellas County Circuit Courts have general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil lawsuits filed in the county. However, they typically preside over cases outside the authority of the County Courts. They have exclusive jurisdiction over general civil claims for amounts exceeding $50,000. The Circuit Court has 4 Divisions: Civil, Criminal, Family, and Probate Division.

The County Courts have limited authority over some civil and criminal cases. They have jurisdiction over lawsuits relating to violations of municipal and county ordinances. The County Courts preside over all civil, criminal, small claims, and traffic Division.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Pinellas County

Public court records are the documents and papers maintained by the courts. Public records are open to the public for inspection and copying. The Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller is the record custodian and grants access to public court records through the Webtool. The portal provides access to public civil, family, criminal, traffic, and probate cases. Furthermore, the office allows in-person requests for public court records during business hours. Lastly, record seekers may mail written requests for public court records to the Clerk’s Office to purchase the records.

Types of Public Court Records in Pinellas County

Pinellas County court records provide insight into the county's legal process. The following court documents are open to the public:

• Civil Court Records: Such as landlord-tenant disputes, title boundaries, real estate disputes
• Criminal Court Records: They include felonies, including armed robbery and drug trafficking, to misdemeanor cases, such as simple assaults and disorderly conduct
• Probate Court Records: Probate Court records open to the public include guardianship, wills, trust, name change, and conservatorship
• Family Court Records: Child custody, divorce, spousal support, child visitation, and child support

Confidential Court Records in Pinellas County

Confidential Court records are judicial documents exempted from public viewing or copying by law or court order. Usually, confidential court records contain personal identifying information or sensitive information that may lead to an invasion of privacy if open to the public. Generally, juvenile court records, adoption, and medical and mental health records are restricted from public view. Furthermore, where a court record contains personal identifying information such as bank account and credit card information, driver's license number, passport number, address, and personal email, the courts exempt such portions from public records.

Juvenile Delinquency in Pinellas, FL

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Pinellas County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Florida often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 3 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Pinellas County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 3 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Pinellas County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Pinellas County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Pinellas County, FL

https://www.myflorida.com/

County Seat:	Clearwater
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1911
Total Square Miles:	608
2019 Population:	970,637
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Pinellas County, FL Courts