Palm Beach County public records include court filings, arrest logs, inmate booking data, mugshots, and government documents. Florida law keeps most of these records open for anyone to see or copy.
This page explains where to search Palm Beach County arrest records, how to use the PBSO arrest log, and how to get booking information from the county jail.
The Clerk and Comptroller holds court records and property documents. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) holds arrest records, jail booking records, and daily arrest logs. Each agency has its own search system. You can use either one to find who got arrested, when it happened, and what the charge was.
Palm Beach County Public Records and Florida Law
Florida’s public records law, Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, makes almost all government records open to the public. The law covers Palm Beach County arrest records, court files, and any document made or received by a government office. You do not need a reason to ask for records. You do not need to show ID.
Some records stay sealed. Active criminal investigation files, certain victim data, juvenile records, and some personnel files are exempt under Section 119.071. When an agency denies a request, it must cite the exact law that allows the denial. If you think the denial was wrong, call the Florida Attorney General’s mediation line at (850) 245-0140. The service is free.
Florida law sets the fees. Standard copies cost $0.15 per single-sided page and $0.20 per double-sided page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee. The first 15 minutes of staff time to pull records is free. After that, an hourly research fee applies.
Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller
The Clerk and Comptroller for Palm Beach County is Mike Caruso, CPA. His office keeps all court records from the 15th Judicial Circuit. The 15th Circuit covers only Palm Beach County, so all circuit-level court cases sit in one system.
The Clerk’s office also holds Official Records. These include property deeds, mortgages, liens, marriage licenses, plats, and tax deeds. County commission meeting minutes and agendas live in the same system. The Clerk’s office offers electronic certified copies for many of these documents.
You can reach the Clerk’s office at:
- Address: 301 N Olive Ave, Ninth Floor, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
- Phone: (561) 355-2996
- Email: publicrecords@mypalmbeachclerk.com
- Website: mypalmbeachclerk.com
The court records search portal sits at mypalmbeachclerk.com/records/court-records. The Official Records portal sits at mypalmbeachclerk.com/records/official-records. You can search civil, criminal, family law, and probate cases by party name, case number, or filing date. Official Records can be searched by name, document type, or date range. The database goes back many decades for property records.
For statewide cross-county searches, the Florida clerks portal at myfloridacounty.com also covers Palm Beach County Official Records. Property values and tax bills are not held by the Clerk. Those come from the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser and the Tax Collector in separate systems.
Palm Beach County Arrest Records and Booking Search
Palm Beach County arrest records show who was taken into custody, the date and time of the arrest, the charge, and the booking facility. Most arrest records become public once the person is booked into the county jail. Records of an active investigation may stay sealed until the case closes.
You can search arrest records in three main ways:
- PBSO arrest log: The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office posts a daily arrest log with recent bookings.
- County jail inmate search: The Palm Beach County Main Detention Center has an online inmate lookup tool.
- Court records: Once charges are filed, the Clerk’s court portal shows the case.
Each system shows a different piece of the arrest timeline. The arrest log shows the event. The inmate search shows the current status. The court portal shows the legal case that follows the arrest.
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) Arrest Records
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is the largest law enforcement agency in the county. PBSO handles arrests made by its own deputies and operates the county jail. PBSO arrest records include incident reports, offense reports, arrest affidavits, and jail booking information.
PBSO maintains a public arrest log that updates daily. The log lists people arrested in the past 24 to 72 hours. It shows the arrestee’s name, age, city of residence, charges, booking time, and booking number. The log is a fast way to see who got arrested recently in Palm Beach County.
To request older arrest records, contact PBSO’s Records Division. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can ask in person, by mail, or by phone. The Records Division charges standard fees under Florida law.
PBSO contact for arrest records:
- Address: 3228 Gun Club Rd, West Palm Beach, FL 33406
- Phone: (561) 688-3000
- Records Unit: (561) 688-3640
- Website: pbso.org
How to Search Palm Beach County Arrest Records by Name
To search Palm Beach County arrest records by name, start with the PBSO arrest log on the sheriff’s website. The log shows recent arrests with full names. Click the arrestee’s name to see the charges and booking photo.
For older arrest records, use the Clerk’s court records portal. Search by last name and first name. The system will pull up any criminal cases linked to that person. The case file includes the arrest date, the charging document, and the court hearings.
For a statewide criminal history check that covers Palm Beach County, use the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) public records portal at fdle.state.fl.us. FDLE’s central repository pulls from all 67 Florida counties. This is the best option for a full Florida arrest history search.
Steps for an arrest search by name:
- Go to the PBSO arrest log on pbso.org.
- Enter the last name in the search field.
- Review the list of matching arrestees.
- Click the booking number for full details.
- For older arrests, use the Clerk’s court portal or the FDLE criminal history search.
Palm Beach County Jail Booking and Inmate Records
The Palm Beach County Main Detention Center processes all PBSO arrests and most municipal arrests in the county. The jail is located at the PBSO headquarters on Gun Club Road in West Palm Beach. Booking records show the arrestee’s name, booking photo, charges, bond amount, and housing location.
The PBSO inmate search tool lets you look up current inmates by name or booking number. The tool updates every few hours. It shows the inmate’s status (in custody, released, transferred), the arrest date, and the next court date.
To use the inmate search:
- Visit pbso.org and click “Inmate Search” in the main menu.
- Type the last name and click search.
- Click the inmate’s name for full booking details.
- Note the booking number for future reference.
Booking photos are part of the public record in Florida. PBSO posts recent mugshots on its website and through third-party public records sites. Mugshots are public unless a court seals them. Sealed mugshots require a court order to view.
Palm Beach County Mugshots and Daily Arrest Log
Palm Beach County mugshots are taken at booking and become public records. The PBSO daily arrest log posts new mugshots each day along with the arrest details. The log covers arrests from the past 24 to 72 hours.
The arrest log shows:
- Full name of the arrestee
- Age and city of residence
- Date and time of arrest
- Location of the arrest
- Charges and statute numbers
- Booking number
- Mugshot
To see who got arrested in Palm Beach County today, check the PBSO arrest log. The log refreshes daily. For older records, use the inmate search or contact PBSO Records.
Palm Beach County Court Records Search
Court records show the legal case that follows an arrest. Once PBSO files charges, the case appears in the Clerk’s court portal. You can search by defendant name, case number, or attorney name. The portal covers criminal, civil, family law, and probate cases.
Criminal case files show the arrest report, the charging document, the plea, and the sentence. Court records are public unless the judge seals the case. Most sealed cases involve juveniles, certain family matters, or court-ordered sealing under Florida law.
For background checks that include Palm Beach County arrest records and court cases, the FDLE criminal history portal is the most complete statewide source. Private background check services also pull from public records, but the FDLE site is the official state system.
Types of Public Records in Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County holds many types of public records. The Clerk’s office keeps court and Official Records. PBSO keeps arrest and jail records. Other agencies keep their own records.
Main record types:
| Record Type | Office | Search Method |
|---|---|---|
| Court records (criminal, civil, family, probate) | Clerk and Comptroller | mypalmbeachclerk.com |
| Official Records (deeds, liens, mortgages, marriage) | Clerk and Comptroller | mypalmbeachclerk.com/records/official-records |
| Arrest records and arrest log | PBSO | pbso.org |
| Inmate booking and mugshots | PBSO Main Detention Center | pbso.org inmate search |
| Incident reports | PBSO Records Division | In person, mail, or phone |
| Property records | Property Appraiser | appraiser.co.palm-beach.fl.us |
| Tax records | Tax Collector | taxcollectorpbc.com |
| Building permits | Planning, Zoning, and Building | pbcounty.com |
| Meeting minutes | Clerk and Comptroller | mypalmbeachclerk.com |
Fees for Palm Beach County Records
Fees follow Florida’s standard structure. The Clerk’s office and PBSO charge the same rates for most records.
Fee list:
- Single-sided copy: $0.15 per page
- Double-sided copy: $0.20 per page
- Certified copy: $1.00 per page plus $5.00 certification fee
- Court certified copy: $1.00 per page
- Staff research: free for first 15 minutes, then hourly rate
- Electronic certified copy: fee varies by document type
Online viewing is free for most records. You only pay for certified copies or large research requests. Victims of certain crimes get free copies of their own records.
How to Make a Public Records Request in Palm Beach County
You can make a request by email, phone, mail, or in person. No special form is required. Be clear about what you need, including the record type, date range, and names involved.
For Clerk records, email publicrecords@mypalmbeachclerk.com. For PBSO records, call (561) 688-3640 or visit the Records Division at 3228 Gun Club Rd, West Palm Beach, FL 33406. The Records Division accepts walk-in requests Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
If a request is denied, the agency must cite the law that allows the denial. You can appeal to the Florida Attorney General’s mediation program. The service is free and most disputes resolve in a few weeks.
Palm Beach County Cities
Palm Beach County includes many cities, each with its own police department that makes arrests within city limits. Municipal arrest records are held by the city police department, not PBSO. Common city police departments in Palm Beach County:
- West Palm Beach Police Department
- Boca Raton Police Department
- Boynton Beach Police Department
- Delray Beach Police Department
- Jupiter Police Department
- Palm Beach Gardens Police Department
- Lake Worth Beach Police Department
- Riviera Beach Police Department
- Wellington Police Department
For arrests made by a city police department, contact that department’s records unit. Each city has its own search system and request process.
Nearby Counties
Palm Beach County borders Broward, Martin, Okeechobee, Hendry, and Glades counties. For arrest records in those counties, contact the county clerk or sheriff’s office in that jurisdiction.
- Broward County: broward.org/Records
- Martin County: martin.fl.us
- Okeechobee County: okeechobeecountyclerk.com
- Hendry County: hendryclerk.com
- Glades County: gladescountyclerk.com
Official Contact Information
Use the contact list below for direct help with Palm Beach County public records.
Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller
Address: 301 N Olive Ave, Ninth Floor, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561) 355-2996
Email: publicrecords@mypalmbeachclerk.com
Website: mypalmbeachclerk.com
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO)
Address: 3228 Gun Club Rd, West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Main Phone: (561) 688-3000
Records Unit: (561) 688-3640
Website: pbso.org
Hours: Records Division open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)
Address: 2331 Phillips Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone: (850) 410-7641
Website: fdle.state.fl.us
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Florida Attorney General Open Government Mediation
Phone: (850) 245-0140
Website: myfloridalegal.com/open-government
For historical records and genealogy research, the Florida Department of State Library and Archives holds older documents from across the state. Visit the Library and Archives for more details.
Visit the Florida Department of State Library and Archives for historical records resources 
Frequently Asked Questions About Palm Beach County Public Records
How do I find recent arrests in Palm Beach County?
Check the PBSO daily arrest log at pbso.org. The log updates each day and lists people arrested in the past 24 to 72 hours. Each entry shows the arrestee’s name, age, city, charges, and booking number. You can also click the booking number to see the full booking record and mugshot. For arrests made by city police departments, contact that city’s police records unit directly.
Are Palm Beach County arrest records free to view?
Yes. The PBSO arrest log and inmate search are free to view online. You can also view most court records for free through the Clerk’s portal. You only pay for certified copies, large research requests, or physical printouts. Standard fees are $0.15 per single-sided page and $1.00 per page for certified copies.
Can I search Palm Beach County arrest records by name?
Yes. Use the PBSO inmate search tool to look up current and recent arrestees by name. For older arrests, search the Clerk’s court records portal using the defendant’s name. The portal shows criminal cases by name, case number, or filing date. For a full statewide check, use the FDLE criminal history search.
How long does PBSO keep arrest records?
PBSO keeps arrest records permanently. Older records are stored in the archives at the Records Division. The daily arrest log only shows the past few days, but full arrest records from past years are available through a records request. Expect a short wait for older files because staff may need to pull them from archive storage.
Are juvenile arrest records public in Palm Beach County?
No. Juvenile arrest records are confidential under Florida law. Only the parents, guardians, attorneys, and certain agencies can view juvenile records. The Clerk’s office and PBSO do not post juvenile booking information on public search tools. A court order is required to unseal a juvenile record.
What is the difference between an arrest record and a court record?
An arrest record is the police report showing the arrest event. It lists the arrestee, the date, the location, and the charges at the time of booking. A court record is the legal case that follows the arrest. It shows the charges filed by the state, motions, hearings, plea, and sentence. The arrest record comes from PBSO. The court record comes from the Clerk’s office.
Can I remove my mugshot from Palm Beach County arrest records?
Only under limited conditions. Florida law allows removal of mugshots from third-party sites if the person was never convicted, the record was sealed or expunged, or the person was the victim of identity theft. The mugshot still exists in the official PBSO and Clerk records. You must file a petition with the court to seal or expunge the record. The Florida Department of Legal Affairs handles mugshot removal complaints at (866) 966-7226.