Martin County Public Records / Martin County Arrest Records

Martin County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Martin County

Arrest records in Martin County, Florida, are generally accessible to members of the public under the Florida Public Records Law. Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 119.01, all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying by any person, unless a specific exemption applies. This broad presumption of openness means that arrest records maintained by the Martin County Sheriff's Office, local law enforcement agencies, and the Clerk of Courts are ordinarily available upon request.

It is important to distinguish between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not indicate guilt or a criminal conviction. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. Under Florida law, an individual may have an arrest record without ever having been convicted of a crime. Both types of records may appear in background checks, though they carry different legal and social implications.

Certain categories of arrest records may be exempt from public disclosure. Records involving juveniles, ongoing investigations, confidential informants, or sealed and expunged cases are among those protected from general release under Florida Statutes § 119.071, which enumerates specific exemptions to the public records law.

What's in Martin County Arrest Records

Martin County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and maintained by law enforcement agencies. The specific contents of an arrest record may vary depending on the arresting agency and the nature of the offense.

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and any known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Race, sex, height, weight, and eye and hair color
Social Security Number (may be redacted in public copies)
Last known residential address

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Name and badge number of the arresting officer
Arresting agency (e.g., Martin County Sheriff's Office, Stuart Police Department)
Incident or case number

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed
Florida Statute citation for each charge
Classification of offense (felony, misdemeanor, or civil infraction)
Degree of offense (e.g., first-degree felony, second-degree misdemeanor)

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Date warrant was issued
Jurisdiction of the warrant

Booking Information:

Date and time of booking
Booking number assigned by the detention facility
Name of the facility where the individual was booked

Bond/Bail Information:

Bond amount set by the court or pretrial services
Type of bond (cash, surety, or release on recognizance)
Bond conditions, if any

Court Information:

Case number assigned by the Clerk of Courts
Scheduled court appearance dates
Assigned judge or division

Custody Status:

Current custody status (in custody, released, transferred)
Release date and method of release

Additional Information May Include:

Mugshot photograph taken at booking
Fingerprint records
Vehicle information if relevant to the arrest
Co-defendant information

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Martin County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Martin County arrest records through several official channels. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or through online portals maintained by the relevant agencies.

Martin County Sheriff's Office: Individuals may submit a public records request directly to the Sheriff's Office Records Division. Requests may be made in person at the main office, submitted via the agency's online public records portal, or sent by mail. A fee may be assessed for copies pursuant to Florida Statutes § 119.07, which governs inspection and copying of public records.
Martin County Clerk of Courts: Court-related arrest and case records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts. Members of the public may search case records through the Clerk's online portal or visit the courthouse in person during business hours.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE): Statewide criminal history records, including arrest records from Martin County, are available through the FDLE Criminal History Information portal. Requests may be submitted online with applicable fees.

Martin County Sheriff's Office 800 SE Monterey Road, Stuart, FL 34994 (772) 220-7000 Martin County Sheriff's Office

Martin County Clerk of Courts 100 E. Ocean Blvd., Stuart, FL 34994 (772) 288-5576 Martin County Clerk of Courts

Florida Department of Law Enforcement 2331 Phillips Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308 (850) 410-7000 Florida Department of Law Enforcement

Public counter hours for the Martin County Clerk of Courts are currently Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays. The Sheriff's Office Records Division maintains similar business hours; members of the public are advised to confirm current hours directly with the agency prior to visiting.

How To Find Martin County Arrest Records Online

Several official online resources are currently available for locating arrest records associated with Martin County.

Martin County Clerk of Courts Online Portal: The Clerk of Courts provides a publicly accessible case search tool at the official Clerk website. Users may search by name, case number, or date of birth to locate arrest and court records.
FDLE Criminal Justice Information: The FDLE's Offender Search tool allows members of the public to search for individuals with criminal histories in Florida, including those arrested in Martin County.
Martin County Sheriff's Office Inmate Search: The Sheriff's Office maintains a current inmate roster on its official website, which lists individuals currently held at the Martin County Jail. This resource is updated regularly and provides booking information, charges, and bond amounts.
Florida Courts E-Filing Portal: Court records associated with criminal cases, including those originating from arrests in Martin County, may be accessed through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, subject to applicable exemptions.

How To Search Martin County Arrest Records for Free?

Members of the public may access certain Martin County arrest records at no cost through the following methods.

Online Inmate Roster: The Martin County Sheriff's Office publishes a free, publicly accessible inmate roster on its official website. This roster includes current detainees and recent bookings.
Clerk of Courts Case Search: The Martin County Clerk of Courts provides free online access to court case records, including criminal cases arising from arrests. Users may search by name or case number without charge.
FDLE Public Records Search: The FDLE offers a free sex offender and predator search tool. However, full criminal history record checks through FDLE require a fee.
In-Person Inspection: Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 119.07, any person may inspect public records in person at no charge. Fees apply only when copies are requested. Members of the public may visit the Clerk of Courts or Sheriff's Office Records Division during business hours to inspect records without incurring copy fees.
Court Records at the Courthouse: Criminal case files, including arrest-related documents, may be reviewed in person at the Martin County Courthouse free of charge.

How To Delete Arrest Records in Martin County

Florida law provides two primary legal mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: expungement and sealing. These are distinct legal remedies with different eligibility requirements and effects.

Expungement refers to the physical destruction or obliteration of a criminal history record. Once a record is expunged, it is removed from public access and, in most circumstances, the individual may lawfully deny the existence of the arrest. Sealing restricts public access to a criminal history record without destroying it. Sealed records remain accessible to certain government agencies and employers but are not available to the general public.

Eligibility for expungement or sealing in Florida is governed by Florida Statutes § 943.0585 (expungement) and Florida Statutes § 943.059 (sealing). General eligibility criteria include:

The individual has not been adjudicated guilty of the offense for which the record is sought to be expunged or sealed
The individual has not previously had a record expunged or sealed in Florida
The offense does not fall within a category of crimes specifically excluded by statute (e.g., sexual offenses, domestic violence offenses, certain violent crimes)

Steps to Expunge or Seal an Arrest Record in Martin County:

Obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement by submitting the required application and fee
File a Petition to Expunge or Seal with the Martin County Clerk of Courts
Serve the petition on the State Attorney's Office for the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit
Attend a court hearing if required by the assigned judge
Upon court approval, the order is forwarded to FDLE and the arresting agency for implementation

Martin County State Attorney's Office – 19th Judicial Circuit 415 South 2nd Street, Fort Pierce, FL 34950 (772) 462-6900 State Attorney's Office – 19th Judicial Circuit

What Happens After Arrest in Martin County?

The criminal justice process in Martin County follows a structured sequence of events from the moment of arrest through final case disposition.

Arrest and Booking: Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the Martin County Jail for booking. Booking involves recording personal information, photographing, fingerprinting, and entering charges into the system.
First Appearance: Within 24 hours of arrest, the individual appears before a judge for a first appearance hearing. At this hearing, the judge reviews probable cause, advises the defendant of charges, and sets bond conditions.
Arraignment: The defendant is formally presented with the charges and enters a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
Pretrial Proceedings: Depending on the complexity of the case, pretrial motions, hearings, and negotiations between the defense and prosecution may occur over weeks or months.
Trial or Plea: Cases are resolved either through a negotiated plea agreement or a jury or bench trial.
Sentencing: If the defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty, the court imposes a sentence in accordance with Florida sentencing guidelines.
Appeals: The defendant retains the right to appeal a conviction or sentence to the appropriate appellate court.

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Martin County?

Arrest records in Martin County are subject to retention schedules established under Florida law and applicable administrative rules. The Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services, publishes official records retention schedules that govern how long law enforcement and court records must be maintained.

Under the General Records Schedule GS2 for Law Enforcement Agencies, arrest records, booking records, and related documentation are generally retained for a minimum period that varies based on the nature of the offense and the outcome of the case. Felony arrest records are typically retained for a longer period than misdemeanor records, and records associated with unsolved crimes or ongoing investigations may be retained indefinitely.

Key retention principles currently in effect include:

State law mandates minimum retention periods to ensure accountability and the preservation of evidence
Different agencies maintain separate records — the Sheriff's Office, Clerk of Courts, and FDLE each retain records according to their respective schedules
Records retention preserves evidence and accountability, ensuring that historical arrest data remains available for law enforcement, judicial, and public interest purposes
Expunged or sealed records are subject to separate retention rules and are not available for public inspection following a court order

Members of the public seeking information on specific retention periods may consult the Florida Department of State Records Management program for official schedules.

How to Find Mugshots in Martin County

What Mugshots Are A mugshot is a standardized photograph taken by law enforcement at the time of booking. Mugshots typically include a front-facing and profile image of the arrested individual and are part of the official booking record.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained Mugshots are maintained by the Martin County Sheriff's Office as part of the booking record for each individual processed at the Martin County Jail. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement also retains mugshot photographs as part of statewide criminal history records.

Finding Mugshots Members of the public may request mugshot photographs through the Martin County Sheriff's Office Records Division by submitting a public records request. Requests may be made in person, by mail, or through the agency's online public records portal.

Can They Be Found Online The Martin County Sheriff's Office inmate roster, accessible on the agency's official website, currently includes booking photographs for individuals held at the Martin County Jail. Mugshots associated with recent arrests are generally visible on this roster.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially Official copies of mugshot photographs may be obtained by submitting a written public records request to the Sheriff's Office. A fee may apply for reproduced copies pursuant to Florida's public records law.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access Mugshots associated with expunged or sealed records are not available to the public following a court order. Juvenile booking photographs are exempt from public disclosure under Florida law. Additionally, mugshots related to active investigations may be withheld if release would compromise law enforcement operations.

Martin County Sheriff's Office Records Division 800 SE Monterey Road, Stuart, FL 34994 (772) 220-7000 Martin County Sheriff's Office