Hillsborough County booking reports show who was arrested, when they were booked, and what charges they face. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office runs the booking system for all arrests in Tampa, Temple Terrace, Plant City, and other areas in this Florida county.
Anyone can look up current inmates, recent arrests, and older booking history through a free public search tool. The system holds electronic records going back to January 1, 1995, and updates every 30 minutes. This page covers how to search booking reports, what each report shows, which laws apply, and how to contact the right office for help.
Hillsborough County Quick Facts
Before you search, it helps to know the basic facts about Hillsborough County and its jail system. These numbers and details come straight from the Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Census records.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Population | 1,512,070 residents |
| County Seat | Tampa, Florida |
| Judicial Circuit | 13th Judicial Circuit |
| Jail Facilities | 2 adult detention centers, 1 juvenile center |
| Electronic Records Since | January 1, 1995 |
| Database Update Time | Every 30 minutes |
| Search Cost | Free for the public |
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Booking System
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) handles every arrest made in the county. Tampa police, Temple Terrace officers, and Plant City cops all bring arrestees to HCSO facilities. There are no city jails in Hillsborough County. The Sheriff’s Office runs the only booking system and keeps all arrest records under one roof.
How the Arrest Inquiry Database Works
The HCSO Arrest Inquiry tool is the main way to search Hillsborough County booking reports online. The system sits on the Sheriff’s Office public website and stays open 24 hours a day. It shows adult arrest records from January 1, 1995, to the present day. Juvenile records stay sealed under Florida law and do not appear in the public search.
The database refreshes every 30 minutes. That means booking data you see online stays close to real time. After someone is released from jail, their booking record stays in the system for 90 more days. So even if a person goes home, you can still see their charges, bond, and mugshot for three months after release.
Search Methods and Filters Available
The arrest inquiry tool gives you four ways to search for booking reports. Each method works for different needs. Pick the one that matches what you know about the person you are looking for.
- Name Search: Type the full name or last name. You can also add a first name to narrow results.
- Booking Number: Enter the booking number if you already have it. This gives you the exact person right away.
- Booking Date Range: Pick a date range to see everyone booked during that time. Useful for finding recent arrests.
- Release Date Range: Search by release date to find people who left jail in a specific window.
You can also check a box to only show people still in custody right now. This filter helps when you want to know if someone is in jail today versus booked and released.
What Booking Records Show in Results
Each Hillsborough County booking report lists the same set of public data points. Knowing what each field means helps you read the results faster.
| Field | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Full Name | The arrestee’s legal name on file |
| Date of Birth | The arrestee’s birth date |
| Booking Number | A unique ID for the booking event |
| Booking Date and Time | When the person was processed into jail |
| Release Date | When the person left jail, if released |
| Custody Status | Current state: in jail, released, or transferred |
| Charges | The criminal charges filed at booking |
| Bond Amount | The dollar amount set for release, if any |
| Mugshot | Booking photo taken at intake |
Hillsborough County Jail Facilities and Booking Process
Hillsborough County runs two adult jail facilities and one juvenile center. All three sit inside Tampa city limits. Each plays a different role in the booking and housing process. Where someone ends up depends on the time of arrest, current jail capacity, and charge type.
Orient Road Jail Booking Center
The Orient Road Jail sits at 1201 Orient Road in Tampa. It serves as the main intake facility for Hillsborough County. Most new arrests start here. Officers bring arrestees to this location for the first round of processing. The booking process includes fingerprinting, photos, charge entry, medical screening, and property inventory. After the initial booking, staff may move the inmate to the Falkenburg Road Jail for longer housing.
Falkenburg Road Jail Main Facility
The Falkenburg Road Jail sits at 2310 North Falkenburg Road in Tampa. This is the larger of the two adult facilities with about 3,300 beds. Many inmates stay here for the full length of their pretrial stay or short sentence. The facility holds men, women, and people with special needs in separate housing units. Inmates also transfer here from Orient Road after intake.
Juvenile Booking Center Tampa
The Hillsborough County Juvenile Center sits at 3948 W. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Tampa. Staff can be reached at (813) 871-7650. The center handles all arrests of people under 18 years old. Under Florida law, juvenile booking records are not public. Only felony charges may show up in limited public court records. Parents and legal guardians can get details by calling the juvenile center directly.
Standard Hillsborough Booking Steps
Every arrest in Hillsborough County follows the same set of booking steps. Knowing each step helps families and lawyers track what happens after an arrest.
- Arrest: An officer takes the person into custody based on probable cause or an active warrant.
- Transport: Officers drive the arrestee to the Orient Road Jail for processing.
- Fingerprinting and Photos: Staff take fingerprints and a mugshot for the booking report.
- Charge Entry: Officers enter all charges and reason for arrest into the system.
- Medical Screening: Medical staff check for injuries, health issues, and mental health needs.
- Property Inventory: Staff log and store all personal items brought in by the arrestee.
- Housing: The person is moved to a holding cell or transferred to the Falkenburg Road Jail.
- First Court Appearance: A judge reviews charges and sets bond within 24 hours of arrest.
Florida Public Records Laws for Booking Data
Booking records in Florida are public by default. State law opens most government records to public view, and arrest records fall under this rule. Several state statutes govern who can see the data, what gets shared, and what stays sealed.
Chapter 119 Florida Open Records
Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes is the main public records law. It says any record made or received by a government agency is open for public view. The HCSO follows this law. Anyone can search the arrest inquiry database or request copies of booking reports from the Sheriff’s Office. You do not need to give a reason for the request. The office must respond in a reasonable amount of time.
Chapter 943 State Data Sharing
Chapter 943 of the Florida Statutes deals with criminal justice data sharing. Under this law, Hillsborough County sends arrest data to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). FDLE runs the statewide criminal history database. Felony arrests in Hillsborough County will show up in FDLE records over time. This sharing helps courts, police, and employers run background checks across the state.
Records Exempt From Public View
Some booking data stays sealed under Florida law. Knowing what is exempt helps set the right expectations before a search.
- Juvenile Records: All arrests of people under 18 stay private under Chapter 985.
- Medical and Mental Health Info: Health data tied to a booking is exempt from public view.
- Sealed or Expunged Cases: Records ordered sealed by a court disappear from public search.
- Personal Identifiers: Data beyond name, date of birth, charges, and booking info stays private.
Mugshot Removal Rules in Florida
Florida law protects people from mugshot extortion websites. Under Section 901.43, sites that post booking photos must take them down upon written request. If a site ignores the request, the penalty starts at $1,000 per day. The law also lets people sue for damages. Even with this law, booking photos stay on the official HCSO arrest inquiry tool for 90 days after release.
Inmate Services After Booking
Once someone is booked, family and friends can stay in touch through a set of inmate services. Hillsborough County offers money deposits, video visits, mail, and phone calls. Each service has set rules and hours.
Sending Money to Booked Inmates
You can send money to a booked inmate in three ways. Kiosks sit in the front lobbies of both adult detention centers. These machines take cash, checks, and credit cards. You can also send money online through a third-party platform that works with the jail. A third option is to mail a money order to 207 Kelsey Lane, Suite “G”, Tampa, FL 33619. Make sure to write the inmate’s full name and booking number on the money order.
Visitation Hours and Video Rules
Visits at the Hillsborough County jail happen by video only. There are no in-person visits. The Falkenburg Road Jail visitation center runs from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday visits are free for up to two hours. After two hours, the cost is $0.25 per minute. Remote online video visits run from 9:30 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. every day through the county’s video platform.
Mail and Postcard Rules for Inmates
Hillsborough County only accepts postcards for inmate mail. Regular letters and packages get rejected. Postcards must be between 3.5 by 5 inches and 6.125 by 11.5 inches. Write the inmate’s full name and booking number on the card. Put your own name and return address on the front. No stickers, glue, glitter, or extra paper is allowed.
Phone Calls From Hillsborough Jails
Booked inmates can make outgoing phone calls through a third-party phone service. Calls are collect or prepaid. Inmates cannot receive incoming calls. Phone time may be limited during lockdowns or shift changes. You can set up a prepaid account through the jail’s phone service provider to receive calls from a specific inmate.
Statewide Booking Search Resources
Sometimes you need to search beyond Hillsborough County. State and federal resources cover Florida inmates, sex offenders, and federal cases. These tools work well for follow-up searches.
Florida Department of Corrections Search
The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) runs a statewide inmate search. If someone arrested in Hillsborough County gets a state prison sentence, they show up in the FDC database. The FDC search covers people in state prison and those on state supervision. You can search by name, DC number, or inmate ID.
FDLE Criminal History Background Checks
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement runs statewide background checks. A check pulls data from every Florida county, including Hillsborough. You can request a check on yourself or, with written consent, on someone else. FDLE can be reached at (850) 410-7000. There is a fee for each request.
Federal Court Lookup for Hillsborough
Federal charges in Hillsborough County go to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The court’s Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system lets you search federal cases. Federal cases are different from state booking reports and are not on the HCSO arrest inquiry tool.
Contact Hillsborough County Sheriff
For more help with Hillsborough County booking reports, contact the Sheriff’s Office directly. Use the phone number for booking questions, records requests, and inmate status updates. The office address is below for in-person visits and mail requests.
- Main Office Address: 2008 East 8th Avenue, P.O. Box 3371, Tampa, FL 33605
- Main Phone: (813) 247-8300
- Arrest Inquiry Online: webapps.hcso.tampa.fl.us/ArrestInquiry
- Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
Common Questions About Booking Reports
Here are answers to questions people ask most often about Hillsborough County booking reports. These cover timing, accuracy, removal, and related searches. If you have a question not listed here, call the Sheriff’s Office at (813) 247-8300 for direct help.
How Soon Does a New Arrest Show Up Online?
New arrests in Hillsborough County show up on the arrest inquiry tool within about 30 minutes of booking. The system refreshes on a 30-minute cycle. There can be small delays if the booking process takes longer due to medical needs, language barriers, or a high volume of arrests. If you do not see a recent arrest right away, wait 30 to 60 minutes and check again. The data you see online matches the official HCSO record at the time of the last update.
Can I Remove My Booking Report From the Website?
You can only remove a booking report from the HCSO website if a court orders it sealed or expunged. Under Florida law, you must file a petition with the court and meet the legal rules for sealing or expungement. The Sheriff’s Office cannot remove a public booking report without a court order. If your case qualifies, the court will send the order to HCSO, and the agency will update the system. Booking photos on third-party mugshot sites can be removed by sending a written request under Section 901.43.
What Is the Difference Between a Booking and a Charge?
A booking is the process of taking someone into jail and logging their data into the system. A charge is the criminal offense the person is accused of. One booking can include multiple charges. For example, a person arrested after a traffic stop might face charges for DUI, drug possession, and resisting an officer. All charges will show up on one booking report under the same booking number. The booking number stays the same even if charges change later.
Are Juvenile Booking Reports Public in Hillsborough County?
No. Juvenile booking reports in Hillsborough County are not public under Florida law. Chapter 985 of the Florida Statutes keeps all juvenile records private. Only law enforcement, schools, and courts can access these records. Parents and legal guardians can get information by calling the Hillsborough County Juvenile Center at (813) 871-7650. If a juvenile is charged as an adult, the case may transfer to adult court, and that record can become public.
How Far Back Do Electronic Booking Records Go?
The HCSO arrest inquiry tool has electronic booking records going back to January 1, 1995. Records before that date may exist on paper or microfilm at the Sheriff’s Office. To request older records, contact the HCSO Records Section. You may need to submit a written request and pay a small copying fee. Older records can take longer to process because they are not in the digital search tool.
What Does a Bond Amount Mean on a Booking Report?
The bond amount on a booking report is the dollar figure set by a judge for the arrestee to be released from jail before trial. If someone pays the full bond, they can leave jail until the court date. If they cannot pay, a bail bondsman can post bond for a fee, usually 10 percent of the total. Some charges, like capital felonies, may have no bond allowed. The booking report shows the bond set at the first court appearance, and updates may not appear right away.
Can I Search Booking Reports for Other Florida Counties Too?
Yes. Every Florida county runs its own arrest inquiry tool. Hillsborough County covers the Tampa area. Nearby counties like Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, Manatee, and Hernando have their own Sheriff’s Office databases. For statewide searches, the Florida Department of Corrections covers state inmates, and FDLE covers criminal history records across all 67 counties. Each tool works the same way but covers a different area of the state.