County Criminal

The Misdemeanor Department maintains the records for misdemeanor offenses and non-criminal, non-traffic infractions. Maintaining the records includes, but is not limited to, receiving and processing arrest related paperwork, charging documents from various law enforcement agencies, all pro-se pleadings, all e-file pleadings, and entering all court actions from the court minutes.

County Criminal FAQs

How do I view a Misdemeanor court file?

Electronic viewing of many court records, indexes and dockets as well as non-confidential document images is currently available on our Hillsborough Online Viewing of Electronic Records (HOVER) site, as authorized by the Florida Supreme Court. Pursuant to Florida Rules of Judicial Administration, access to all electronic and other court records shall be governed by the Standards for Access to Electronic Court Records and Access Security Matrix.

 

If you are authorized under Florida Rules of Judicial Administration to view a court file but are unable to view it online and/or you need a copy, you may view or pick up a copy of the file at our Tampa Edgecomb or Plant City locations. To allow adequate time for redaction processing, it may take four business days for your file to be available for on-site viewing and/or pick-up. We suggest that you pre-order the file for onsite viewing or pick-up by completing the Order Form for Misdemeanor files.

What is Misdemeanor?
The Misdemeanor Department of the Clerk of the Circuit Court is responsible for filing, processing and maintaining records for the court system related to misdemeanor offenses. Misdemeanors are violations of the law that are less serious than felony offenses. They are punishable by a fine, probation, and/or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year as opposed to a state prison sentence on a felony charge. Misdemeanor offenses include petit theft, worthless checks, prostitution-related charges, possession of marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia, resisting arrest without violence, battery (domestic violence), and assault.

What happens after an arrest on a misdemeanor charge and I am released from the Hillsborough County Jail?
The Clerk's Office receives the initial paperwork from the Hillsborough County Jail after a misdemeanor arrest. The Misdemeanor Department prepares the official court file, including the original arrest document as well as any release forms. This information is also forwarded to the Office of the State Attorney. The State Attorney then reviews the case and makes the determination on whether or not to file formal charges.

How will I know when to come to court?
When formal charges are filed with the Clerk's Office you will be notified by mail of an arraignment date. If you bonded out of jail, your bail bond agent will be notified as well. All notices will be sent to the address that was provided at the time of arrest. If you were detained and then released by law enforcement without going through the Hillsborough County Jail booking facility, you will have received an arraignment date on your Notice to Appear.

What are civil infractions?

There are violations of county ordinances knows as civil infractions that are neither criminal related charges or traffic related charges. Types of civil infractions are: littering, boating and fishing. Please read your citation carefully to verify if you have a mandatory court appearance or if the citation is a payable citation.

 

Boating/marine patrol cases:  a citation given on a violation of a boating/marine patrol citation may be a payable fine. Please read your citation carefully to verify if you have to appear in court or can pay the citation fine.

 

Game/fresh water fish cases:  some of the game/fresh water fish citations are a payable fine. Please read your citation carefully to verify if you can pay the fine or need to appear in court.

What is an arraignment?
An arraignment is a hearing where a defendant is advised of the formal charges filed by the State Attorney and is allowed to enter a plea to the charges. At the arraignment, a pre-trial date and possibly a trial date will be set.

What if I need to change my contact information?

How are cash bond refunds processed?
Effective July 31, 2017 the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office will continue to collect the cash bonds posted on behalf of the defendant, but will transmit the monies to the Clerk of the Circuit Court (Clerk). The Clerk will be responsible for processing the distribution of the cash bonds post disposition.  More information is available in the Cash Bond Depositor Instructions.

What are the fees and fines associated with this service?
See Misdemeanor Fees for more information.

What are my options for obtaining customer service from the Clerk's office?
Mail:  PO Box 3360, Tampa, FL 33601-3360
Email: Contact us
Phone:  (813) 276-8100
In person: Downtown Tampa, Plant City, or Brandon. Make appointment to file criminal cases in Tampa.