Martin County Public Records /Martin County Criminal Records

Martin County Criminal Records

What Is Martin County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Martin County, Florida, are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are maintained by multiple agencies across the county and state, each responsible for a distinct segment of the criminal justice process.

Key distinctions exist among the types of criminal records maintained in Martin County:

Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. An arrest does not constitute a conviction, and individuals may have arrest records without corresponding convictions.
Felony vs. misdemeanor: Felonies are serious offenses punishable by more than one year of incarceration in a state facility. Misdemeanors are lesser offenses typically resulting in fines or county jail sentences of up to one year.
Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public under Florida law. Juvenile records are confidential by statute and are routinely sealed or expunged upon the subject reaching adulthood, subject to certain exceptions.
Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants represent current judicial orders authorizing law enforcement to apprehend an individual. Historical records document past arrests, charges, and dispositions that have been resolved.

The principal agencies maintaining criminal records in Martin County include:

Martin County Sheriff's Office — responsible for arrest records, booking information, and jail records
Martin County Clerk of the Circuit Court — maintains court case files, charging documents, pleas, trial records, sentencing orders, and dispositions
Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) — maintains the statewide criminal history repository
Stuart Police Department — maintains arrest records for incidents occurring within the City of Stuart

Criminal records in Martin County typically include charges filed, arraignment proceedings, pleas entered, trial outcomes, sentencing details, probation and parole conditions, and any subsequent modifications to court orders. Case information may be accessed through the Martin County Clerk of the Circuit Court.

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

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

Stuart Police Department 200 SW Flagler Ave., Stuart, FL 34994 (772) 288-5300 Stuart Police Department

Are Criminal Records Public In Martin County

Criminal records in Martin County are generally accessible to the public pursuant to Florida's Government-in-the-Sunshine Law and the Florida Public Records Act, codified at § 119.01, Florida Statutes, which establishes the public policy that all state, county, and municipal records shall be open for personal inspection by any person. Under this framework, adult conviction records, court proceedings, charging documents, and sentencing orders are presumptively public.

The following categories of records are available for public inspection:

Adult arrest records and booking information
Court case filings, dockets, and dispositions
Sentencing orders and probation conditions
Sex offender registration information
Mugshots and booking photographs (subject to certain statutory limitations)

Certain categories of records are restricted or exempt from public disclosure under Florida law:

Ongoing criminal investigations: Records pertaining to active law enforcement investigations are exempt from disclosure to the extent that release would impede the investigation, pursuant to § 119.071(2)(c), Florida Statutes.
Sealed and expunged records: Records that have been sealed or expunged by court order are not available for public inspection and must be treated as if they do not exist for most purposes.
Juvenile records: Records of juvenile proceedings are confidential under § 985.04, Florida Statutes, with limited exceptions for serious or repeat juvenile offenders.
Victim information: Identifying information for victims of certain crimes, including sexual offenses and domestic violence, is protected from public disclosure.

Members of the public may inspect available criminal records at the offices of the Martin County Clerk of the Circuit Court or through the online portals described in subsequent sections of this page.

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Martin County in 2026

Members of the public seeking criminal records in Martin County may access them through several official channels. The process varies depending on the type of record sought and the level of detail required.

Step 1: Identify the appropriate agency. Court case records and dispositions are maintained by the Martin County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Arrest and booking records are held by the Martin County Sheriff's Office or the arresting law enforcement agency. Statewide criminal history background checks are processed through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Step 2: Conduct an online search. The Martin County Clerk of the Circuit Court provides a public case search portal through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal and the clerk's own online system. The Martin County Sheriff's Office publishes a current jail roster on its official website.

Step 3: Submit a public records request. Members of the public who require records not available through online portals may submit a written public records request to the appropriate agency. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or electronically. The Martin County Clerk of the Circuit Court accepts requests at its main office at 100 E. Ocean Blvd., Stuart, FL 34994. Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding holidays.

Step 4: Request a statewide criminal history check. For a comprehensive background check reflecting all Florida criminal history, members of the public may submit a request to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement through its Criminal History Information portal. Name-based searches are available to the public; fingerprint-based searches are required for certain employment and licensing purposes.

Step 5: Pay applicable fees. Agencies may charge fees for copies of records pursuant to § 119.07, Florida Statutes. The standard fee for paper copies is currently fifteen cents per page for single-sided copies. Fees for certified copies and electronic records may vary.

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

How To Find Criminal Records in Martin County Online?

Several official online portals provide access to Martin County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.

Martin County Clerk of the Circuit Court – Online Case Search The clerk's office provides public access to court case records through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney name. The portal contains criminal case filings, docket entries, charges, pleas, and dispositions for cases filed in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit. No registration is required for basic public case searches.

Martin County Sheriff's Office – Jail Roster The Martin County Sheriff's Office publishes a current inmate roster on its official website at martinsheriff.org. The roster reflects individuals currently held at the Martin County Jail and includes booking date, charges, and bond information. This resource reflects current custody status only and does not constitute a comprehensive criminal history.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement – Public Records Search The FDLE maintains a statewide criminal history database accessible through its Criminal History Information portal. Name-based searches of Florida criminal history records are available to the public for a fee. The portal contains arrest and disposition data reported by law enforcement and courts statewide.

Florida Courts – MyFloridaCourtAccess The statewide court access portal at myflcourtaccess.com provides access to circuit and county court records across Florida, including Martin County. Users may search criminal, civil, traffic, and family court cases. Registration is available for enhanced access features, though basic searches do not require an account.

Records available exclusively through in-person inspection include certain sealed case indices, physical court files, and records predating electronic filing systems. Members of the public seeking such records must appear at the Martin County Clerk of the Circuit Court during public counter hours.

Can You Search Martin County Criminal Records for Free?

Florida law mandates that public records be made available for inspection free of charge. Pursuant to § 119.07(1)(a), Florida Statutes, every person who has custody of a public record shall permit the record to be inspected and examined by any person desiring to do so at any reasonable time, under reasonable conditions, and under supervision by the custodian. Fees may be charged only for duplication of records, not for inspection.

The following resources are currently available at no cost:

In-person inspection at the Martin County Clerk of the Circuit Court: Members of the public may inspect court case records at no charge at 100 E. Ocean Blvd., Stuart, FL 34994, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Online case search via MyFloridaCourtAccess: Basic criminal case searches through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal are available at no cost.
Martin County Sheriff's Office jail roster: The current inmate roster is publicly accessible on the Martin County Sheriff's Office website at no charge.
FDLE public records inspection: In-person inspection of criminal history records at FDLE offices is available without charge; fees apply to copies and electronic delivery.

Fees are assessed for printed copies, certified copies, and certain electronic record formats. The standard statutory copy fee is currently fifteen cents per single-sided page and twenty cents per double-sided page.

What's Included in a Martin County Criminal Record?

A comprehensive criminal record in Martin County may contain the following categories of information:

Identifying Information

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth
Physical description, including height, weight, hair color, and eye color
Mugshot and booking photograph
Last known address
State Identification Number (SID) assigned by FDLE
FBI Number assigned by the Federal Bureau of Investigation

Arrest Information

Date, time, and location of arrest
Arresting agency and officer
Booking number and booking date
Charges filed at the time of arrest
Bail or bond amount and conditions
Jail facility where the individual was held

Court Case Information

Case number and court of jurisdiction (Circuit or County Court)
Filing date and case type
Charges and applicable Florida Statutes, including felony or misdemeanor classification
Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, or no contest)
Attorney of record and prosecuting agency

Disposition Information

Verdict or case outcome
Conviction date, if applicable
Sentencing details, including type and length of sentence, fines, restitution, and special conditions
Appeals filed and outcomes
Probation or parole terms and supervising agency

Additional Record Elements

Active or recalled warrants
Protective or restraining orders
Sex offender or sexual predator registration status, maintained through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Sex Offender Registry
DUI or DWI convictions
Traffic violations adjudicated in criminal court
Pending charges and scheduled court dates

How Long Does Martin County Keep Criminal Records?

Criminal records in Martin County are retained in accordance with the Florida Department of State's General Records Schedule for Law Enforcement Agencies and the records retention schedules applicable to Florida courts. Retention periods vary by record type and agency.

Current retention periods for principal record categories include:

Arrest records and booking information: Retained permanently by the Martin County Sheriff's Office for felony arrests; misdemeanor arrest records are generally retained for a minimum of five years following case closure.
Court case files – felony convictions: Retained permanently by the Martin County Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Court case files – misdemeanor convictions: Retained for a minimum of ten years following case closure.
Court case files – cases not resulting in conviction: Retained for a minimum of five years following case closure, subject to expungement orders.
Juvenile records: Retained in accordance with confidentiality requirements; records are typically destroyed upon the subject reaching age 26, unless the individual was adjudicated for a serious or violent offense.
Statewide criminal history records: Maintained indefinitely by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement unless expunged or sealed by court order.

The Florida Department of State publishes official records retention schedules applicable to law enforcement and court records. Members of the public and records custodians may reference the Florida Department of State Records Management program for current schedules and guidance. Expungement or sealing of a record pursuant to § 943.0585 or § 943.059, Florida Statutes, removes the record from public access and requires the custodial agency to treat the record as if it does not exist for most purposes.