Criminal records in Pasco County, Florida, are public documents accessible through several channels. PascoCourt.us allows you to search for publicly available information about criminal cases in the county. Additionally, the state's official court systems, the clerk of the circuit court's office, and law enforcement agencies — including the sheriff's office — also provide access to criminal records. Below are practical instructions on how to search, understand, and obtain these records.
How to Search Criminal Records in Pasco
There are several ways to find criminal records in Pasco County. To start your search, you will need at least one of the following identifiers:
- Full first and last name of the person
- Date of birth
- Case number
Online Search
- PascoCourt.us — enter the name or case number to view publicly available information about county court criminal cases.
- Florida Courts Portal — on the Florida Courts website, you can find information about appellate cases, and the Pasco page on the state courts portal contains data about county and district appellate court services.
- FDLE — the Florida Department of Law Enforcement maintains the state's central repository of criminal histories. Through FDLE, you can order an official criminal background check.
- Pasco Sheriff's Office — to request a police report or background check, contact the sheriff's office records department. Inmate search is also available here.
- Inmate Search — the Florida Department provides links to inmate searches across all counties.
In-Person Visit
The Pasco County Clerk of Court (Clerk & Comptroller) serves visitors at several offices. Public access terminals for court records are typically located in courthouse buildings. To obtain records related to criminal or civil cases, contact the Pasco County Clerk of Court directly.
Written Request
A request for criminal records can be sent by mail to the Pasco County Clerk of Court's office. Include the person's full name, date of birth (if known), and case number. To obtain a state-level criminal history, send a request to FDLE with a completed form and fingerprints.
Search Pasco Criminal Cases by Case Number
A Florida case number has a standard format consisting of several elements:
- Year — two digits indicating the year the case was filed (e.g., 24 for 2024)
- Case Type Code — a letter code defining the category. For criminal cases, the most common are: CF (circuit felony), MM (county misdemeanor), CT (circuit criminal traffic), MO (county criminal ordinance violation)
- Sequential Number — a numerical sequence assigned to the case
Example: 2024-CF-001234 indicates a felony filed in 2024 under number 001234. If you know the case number, the search is much faster and more accurate — it immediately brings up the specific case without the need to filter results by name.
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in Pasco
Each criminal case contains several key informational blocks. Here's what each of them means:
Charges
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Statute Code | Reference to the specific section of the Florida Statutes under which the charge is brought |
| Severity | Felony (serious crime), Misdemeanor (less serious crime), Infraction (violation) |
| Amended Charges | The prosecutor may change the initial charge to another — this is reflected as an amended charge |
Case Status
- Pending — the case is open, and a decision has not yet been made
- Active — proceedings are actively ongoing
- Disposed — the case is completed, and the court has made a final decision
- Closed — all procedural actions are completed, and the case is closed
Hearings
In Pasco criminal cases, typical hearings include:
- Arraignment — the initial presentation of charges where the defendant pleads guilty or not guilty
- Pre-trial conference — a meeting before the trial to resolve procedural issues
- Motion hearing — consideration of motions by the parties
- Trial — the substantive court hearing
- Sentencing — the imposition of a sentence after a guilty plea
- Review hearing — checking compliance with the terms of the sentence (probation, etc.)
Court Results
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Guilty | Found guilty |
| Not Guilty | Found not guilty |
| Dismissed | The case was closed by the prosecutor or court |
| Nolle Prosequi | The prosecutor declined to prosecute |
| Withheld Adjudication | The court withheld formal adjudication — a common practice in Florida that allows avoiding formal conviction |
| Acquitted | Acquitted after trial |
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in Pasco
Certified copies of criminal records bear the official court seal and are accepted as legal documents. Here's how to obtain them.
Pasco County Clerk of Court (Clerk & Comptroller)
The clerk is the primary source for certified copies of court criminal records. Requests can be made in person, by mail, or through the public records request page.
What you need for a request:
- Full name of the defendant
- Case number (if known)
- Valid photo ID (for in-person requests)
- Payment of applicable fees
Pasco Sheriff's Office
To obtain police reports or a local background check, contact the Pasco Sheriff's Office records department through the public records request page.
FDLE — Statewide Criminal History
To obtain a complete criminal history of a person across Florida, submit a request to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. This usually requires fingerprints and a completed request form. FDLE results include arrests and convictions from all counties in the state.
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in Pasco
Fees for criminal records in Florida are set according to Florida Statutes, including § 28.24. Below are approximate rates:
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Copy of court document (per page) | $1.00 for the first page, $0.15 for each additional page |
| Certification fee | $2.00 per document |
| State background check through FDLE | Depends on the type of request; usually from $24.00 |
| Clerk's record search fee | May be charged separately depending on the complexity of the request |
Processing Times:
- Online search through the court portal — results are available immediately
- Request for a certified copy at the clerk's office — usually from one to several business days for in-person requests
- Mail request — depends on the volume; may take from one to three weeks
- FDLE check — usually 10–15 business days for fingerprint-based requests
Confirm exact fees directly with the clerk's office, as rates may be updated. Payment is usually accepted in the form of a money order, cashier's check, or (for in-person visits) credit card.