Hillsborough County Criminal Records Search: Cases & Public Records
Hillsborough County, Florida · Official record access guide
Find Hillsborough County Criminal Records, Court Cases and Dockets
The fastest way to search Hillsborough County criminal records is to use the Clerk’s HOVER system for felony and misdemeanor court cases. For recent arrests or current jail custody, use the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. For a statewide Florida criminal-history check, use the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
These sources answer different questions. A Hillsborough criminal case search may reveal court hearings, filed charges, docket events, dispositions and sentencing information. An arrest inquiry may show booking details without confirming whether prosecutors filed a case. An FDLE criminal-history search has a separate fee and verification process.
Choose the Correct Hillsborough County Criminal Records Search
Do not begin with a general people-search website. Identify the record you want, then use the official agency responsible for it.
Criminal Court Case
Use HOVER to search felony, misdemeanor and criminal traffic court records.
Recent Arrest or Jail Custody
Use the Sheriff’s Who’s In Jail service, reached through its official website.
Florida Background Check
Use FDLE for available statewide Florida criminal-history information.
Official Certified Copy
Find the court document in HOVER and use eCertify when eligible, or ask the Clerk for a copy.
Sealed or Expunged Case
Review Hillsborough’s Expungement and Sealing Unit information and Florida eligibility rules.
Federal Criminal Case
Use PACER for cases in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Which record do you need?
How to Search Hillsborough County Criminal Court Records Using HOVER
HOVER means Hillsborough Online Viewing of Electronic Records. The Clerk’s system provides public case indexes, docket entries, and nonconfidential court document images when access is authorized.
- 1
Open the Clerk’s official HOVER homepage
Visit HOVER. Look for the section labeled Search Court Records by.
- 2
Choose the most precise search method
Available options include Case Number/Uniform Case Number, Citation Number, Party or Business Name, and Date Range / Court Type / Case Type. Choose a case number first when you have one.
- 3
Search by name if the case number is unknown
Enter the person’s legal name using the site’s available fields. Try a middle initial or name variation if necessary. Use criminal court or relevant date filters to narrow results where offered.
- 4
Identify felony or misdemeanor jurisdiction
For felony cases, examine Circuit Criminal results. For misdemeanors, check County Criminal. Criminal traffic cases may use a separate traffic-related classification.
- 5
Open the matching case
Compare the case number, party name, filing date, case category, assigned division, and available details. Similar names alone are not proof of identity.
- 6
Examine the Events and Judgments information
Read the docket chronologically. Look for charging documents, arraignment, motions, plea, disposition, sentencing, dismissal, or later court orders as applicable.
- 7
Open document images only when publicly available
HOVER indicates document availability through its event icons. Some records can be viewed online; others are restricted or exist only as paper files.
- 8
Save the court case number
Keep the exact case number and relevant disposition information. You will need them if you request a certified copy, archived file, or Clerk assistance.
- 9
Request verification if the outcome is important
For immigration, licensing, legal or other consequential purposes, use the official Clerk-maintained record or a certified document instead of relying solely on a screenshot.
Hillsborough County Felony, Misdemeanor and Criminal Traffic Cases
Circuit Criminal: Felony Cases
Hillsborough’s Circuit Criminal/Felony Department maintains case records for felony prosecutions. Docket activity may include probable-cause proceedings, formal charges, arraignment, plea, trial, sentencing and post-judgment orders.
County Criminal: Misdemeanor Cases
County Criminal handles misdemeanor records. Typical matters can include eligible misdemeanor theft, battery, assault, and other offenses. Some traffic crimes are handled through criminal traffic procedures.
How to Read a Criminal Case Docket
| Entry | Meaning | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Arrest / complaint | Allegation or initial proceeding | Was a formal charge filed? |
| Arraignment | Court appearance involving charges and plea procedure | Plea, scheduled hearings and later docket events |
| Information | Charging document filed by a prosecutor | Exact counts and amendments |
| Dismissal / nolle prosequi | A charge or prosecution was dismissed or not pursued | Which counts were affected? |
| Judgment / sentence | Final or important court action concerning outcome or penalty | All counts, sentence, and subsequent orders |
| Appeal | Review in an appellate court | Separate appellate case number and later mandate |
Do not describe someone as convicted merely because a charge appears on the docket. Review the disposition of each count and any later orders.
Hillsborough County Arrest Records, Booking Information and Jail Searches
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has a separate Who’s In Jail service for current custody inquiries. This is different from the Clerk’s court-case search.
- 1
Open the official Sheriff’s website
Visit teamhcso.com, then locate Who’s In Jail under Top Services.
- 2
Continue to the arrest inquiry
Follow the Sheriff’s search link, acknowledge any displayed disclaimer, and search with the identifying information requested by that system.
- 3
Compare booking details
Check available names, booking identifiers, custody information and arrest details. Do not assume all similarly named people are the same person.
- 4
Check the Clerk for court outcome
Return to HOVER to find a related prosecution and determine whether charges, court events or a disposition are publicly available.
Read the Sheriff’s official arrest-record warning and correction instructions →
How to Get Certified Criminal Court Records From Hillsborough County
Certified records may be needed for legal proceedings, immigration matters, professional licensing or other official uses. Hillsborough’s Clerk provides eCertify for qualifying electronically available court records.
- 1
Find the case in HOVER
Search by case number or party name and open the case details.
- 2
Locate the court document
Find a publicly viewable document, such as an eligible judgment or disposition. A certified purchase requires a viewable electronic document.
- 3
Select Purchase Certified Copies
The Clerk’s instructions direct users to choose the certified-copy option for an eligible document, then confirm certification.
- 4
Complete checkout
Review the document, applicable per-page/certification/service charges and payment total before authorizing payment.
- 5
Retrieve and verify the certified file
Use the email delivery link provided after payment. The document includes certification information that can be verified through the Clerk’s eCertify validation service.
What if the court file is not available online?
HOVER supports ordering certain paper court files for on-site viewing. Open the case, check the Events or File Location tab, and look for the paper-file request control. The Clerk’s instructions allow selecting a viewing location and requesting notification when the file is ready.
When no paper-file order control is shown, the Clerk lists filesordered@hillsclerk.com for questions about file location and availability. Include the case number, not unnecessary sensitive personal information.
Hillsborough County Criminal Record Search Costs and Fees
| Service | Published charge or access | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| HOVER public case search | Free public online lookup | Access limited to publicly permitted records |
| View/print available noncertified HOVER documents | No Clerk charge | Only where document images are publicly viewable |
| Certified court copy through eCertify | Document-specific checkout charges | Review full cart total; online purchases may include payment processing fees |
| FDLE instant Florida criminal history | $24 search + $1 card processing | Instant results are not certified |
| FDLE certified/noncertified search | $24 | Choose the appropriate FDLE option |
| FDLE personal review of your own record | No FDLE fee | Fingerprint acquisition may have a separate local charge |
Published FDLE amounts are from its official criminal history program. Clerk certification and other service fees depend on the requested document and current checkout or fee schedule. Verify before paying.
FDLE Criminal History Checks for Hillsborough County Residents
Florida’s Department of Law Enforcement operates the state’s criminal-history repository. Use FDLE when you need an available Florida statewide criminal-history response, rather than only a Hillsborough County docket.
Instant Florida History Search
Open FDLE’s Florida Checks page, select the Instant Search option, complete the required information, and pay the fee. The response can be printed or emailed, but it is not certified.
Personal Review of Your Own History
Florida Statute 943.056 provides a personal review procedure. FDLE does not charge for this review, but the applicant must follow fingerprint and request instructions. The personal-review result is not a certified employment or licensing record.
Hillsborough County Courthouse Locations, Phone Numbers and Directions
Contact the Clerk before traveling if you need a particular criminal case file, certified document, or on-site viewing service.
George E. Edgecomb Courthouse
800 East Twiggs Street, Room 101Tampa, FL 33602
Customer service: Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM
Phone: (813) 276-8100
Plant City Courthouse
301 North Michigan Avenue, Room 1071Plant City, FL 33563
Published hours: Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM
Phone: (813) 276-8100
Pat Collier Frank Courthouse
419 Pierce Street, Room 140Tampa, FL 33602
Published hours: Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM
Phone: (813) 276-8100
Brandon Regional Service Center
311 Pauls Drive, Suite 110Brandon, FL 33511
Published hours: Monday–Friday, 8 AM–4 PM
Phone: (813) 276-8100
Hillsborough County Sheriff and Jail Contacts
| Facility | Address | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Sheriff’s Operations Center | 2008 E. 8th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605 | (813) 247-8000 |
| Orient Road Jail | 1201 Orient Road, Tampa, FL 33619 | (813) 247-8300 |
| Falkenburg Road Jail | 520 N. Falkenburg Road, Tampa, FL 33619 | (813) 247-8300 |
Why a Hillsborough County Criminal Record May Not Appear Online
| Problem | Likely explanation | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Arrest appears but no court case | Prosecution may not have been filed, may be pending, or is under different identifying information | Confirm with the arresting agency and search HOVER again using available case details |
| Name search has no matches | Spelling, alias, date or court-type filters | Try a full case number, alternative spelling and a broader date range |
| Case appears but documents do not | Image restrictions, redaction, paper file or user-role limits | Read HOVER’s icon legend; contact the Clerk or order paper-file viewing |
| Misdemeanor not found | Wrong court category or incomplete details | Search County Criminal and criminal traffic categories as appropriate |
| Federal case missing | Federal cases are outside HOVER | Use PACER |
| Sealed or expunged record missing | Public access may be legally restricted | Consult the Clerk’s Expungement and Sealing Unit or a qualified attorney |
Sealed and Expunged Criminal Records in Hillsborough County
Florida law provides procedures for qualifying criminal-history record sealing and expungement. Eligibility depends on the nature and outcome of the record, applicable statutory requirements, prior history and other legal considerations.
The Hillsborough County Clerk operates an Expungement and Sealing Unit that assists with the local court process. An FDLE eligibility determination may be part of the applicable procedure.
- Find the related case number and final disposition through authorized court access.
- Review current FDLE sealing or expungement eligibility requirements and application instructions.
- Follow the required state and court filing steps, including any necessary certificate and fees.
- Contact Hillsborough’s Expungement and Sealing Unit for local processing and payment questions.
- Obtain qualified legal advice if your eligibility or legal obligations are unclear.
Clerk Expungement and Sealing Unit: (813) 276-8100, extension 3800. The Clerk also publishes Seal_ExpungementTeam@hillsclerk.com for related inquiries.
Other Public Records That May Help With a Hillsborough Criminal Case
Florida Appellate Records
For District Court of Appeal or Florida Supreme Court proceedings, search ACIS and cross-check the original Hillsborough trial-court case number.
Florida Sexual Offender Registry
Search FDLE’s official registry by name, county or other available criteria. Registry data does not replace court documents or an FDLE criminal-history check.
Federal Criminal Dockets
Federal criminal prosecutions involving the Tampa area are searched through the federal judiciary’s PACER system.
Do not confuse Official Records with court cases. Hillsborough’s Official Records search focuses on recorded instruments such as deeds and other recorded documents. Criminal court case dockets belong in HOVER, not the recorded-instrument database.
Using Hillsborough Criminal Records Responsibly
Public access does not establish that every result is accurate, complete, current or attributable to the person you intended to search. A matching name is not sufficient identity verification. A criminal charge is not proof of conviction.
For employment, housing, credit, insurance or other regulated eligibility decisions, the Fair Credit Reporting Act and other laws may impose additional requirements. CriminalCourtRecord.org is not a consumer reporting agency and does not provide consumer reports for those purposes.
Review the FTC’s official employer background-check guidance if the information will be used in employment screening.
Hillsborough County Criminal Records FAQs
1. How can I search Hillsborough County criminal records online?
Open HOVER at hover.hillsclerk.com. Choose Case Number, Party or Business Name, Citation Number, or the available court-type search. Open the matching criminal case and examine the docket, status and final disposition.
2. Is Hillsborough County criminal case search free?
HOVER provides free public case search access. Publicly viewable noncertified electronic documents can also be viewed and printed without a Clerk charge. Certified copies and other requested services may cost money.
3. Where can I find Hillsborough County felony records?
Use HOVER and search for Circuit Criminal cases. The Hillsborough County Clerk’s Circuit Criminal Department handles felony case records.
4. Where can I search misdemeanor records in Hillsborough County?
Use HOVER for County Criminal misdemeanor cases. Confirm the correct case type, filing date and outcome rather than relying solely on a charge listing.
5. Can I search Hillsborough County arrests by name?
The Sheriff’s Office provides an official Who’s In Jail/Arrest Inquiry service, accessible from teamhcso.com. Arrest results are separate from final criminal court dispositions.
6. How do I obtain a certified Hillsborough County criminal disposition?
Locate the case in HOVER. If the desired document is publicly available electronically, use the Clerk’s eCertify purchase process. Otherwise contact the Clerk for a certified copy request.
7. Why can’t I view a Hillsborough criminal court document?
Access may be limited by confidentiality, a court order, user-role restrictions, redaction requirements, or because the file is in paper format. HOVER’s FAQ explains paper-file ordering and document-viewing options.
8. How much does a Florida criminal background check cost?
FDLE publishes a $24 fee for its public criminal-history search. Instant online searches also have a $1 card processing charge. FDLE’s personal-review procedure for an individual’s own record has no FDLE service fee, although fingerprinting may cost extra.
9. Where are the Hillsborough County criminal courthouses?
The main Clerk’s court-service locations include the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse at 800 E. Twiggs Street, Tampa, and the Plant City Courthouse at 301 N. Michigan Avenue. Confirm the required service and file location before traveling.
10. Can sealed or expunged Hillsborough criminal records appear in HOVER?
Sealed, expunged and other confidential information may be restricted from public search or viewing. The Hillsborough County Clerk’s Expungement and Sealing Unit provides local procedural information for qualifying cases.
Official Sources and Research References
Use the primary government sources below to verify instructions, record availability, fees and access procedures. Agency websites and search interfaces may change.
- Hillsborough Clerk — HOVER Court Records
- HOVER FAQ — Paper Files, Images, Copies and eCertify
- Hillsborough Clerk — Circuit Criminal
- Hillsborough Clerk — County Criminal
- Hillsborough Clerk — Electronic Certified Documents
- Hillsborough Clerk — Locations and Service Options
- Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
- Sheriff — Arrest Records and Correction Information
- FDLE — Florida Criminal History Record Checks
- FDLE — Personal Criminal History Review
- Florida Courts — Appellate Case Information System
- U.S. Courts — PACER Federal Case Search