Hillsborough County is the fourth-most populous county in Florida. Approximately 1.46 million people reside in Hillsborough. Its county seat is Tampa City. Other popular cities in Hillsborough County include Lakeland, Brandon, and Riverview.

Courts in Hillsborough County

Hillsborough’s 13th Judicial Circuit Court has courthouses in the cities of Tampa, Ruskin, Plant City, and Brandon. The apex court has general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases in the county. Civil disputes above $15,000 settlements and other criminal cases beyond the county courts in Hillsborough County are resolved at the Circuit Court. Other legal matters brought before Hillsborough Circuit Court judges include probate matters, family law cases, and mental health cases.

County Courts in Hillsborough County have limited jurisdiction over some criminal and civil matters. County Court judges preside over criminal cases such as misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and other local ordinance violations. They also resolve landlord-tenant disputes and simple marriage dissolution cases. Civil cases brought before Hillsborough’s County Courts are typically monetary disputes below $15,000.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Hillsborough County

The Clerk of Court is the custodian of all public court records in Hillsborough County. Interested persons can view and print non-certified copies of court records online. The county clerk also allows individuals to request certified court documents. Note that public court records maintained by the Clerk of Court often contain the following information:

• Court transcripts
• Dockets
• Affidavits of witnesses
• Jury lists
• Depositions
• Subpoenas
• Indictments
• Court judgements

Types of Public Court Records in Hillsborough County

Hillsborough County provides public access to the following public records:

• Criminal records showing court proceedings and verdicts in cases involving prosecutors and accused defendants.
• Civil court records of disputes between individuals or organizations, such as lawsuits, contract disputes, and personal injury cases.
• Family court records involving family-related issues such as divorce, child custody, and support arrangements.
• Probate records showing documents of how deceased persons' estates are distributed.
• Traffic court records involving traffic violations, including speeding tickets, DUI charges, and other infractions.
• Small claims court records involving relatively small amounts of money, typically under a specific financial threshold.

Confidential Court Records

In Hillsborough County, not all records are accessible to requesters. According to Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420, the following types of records are confidential and are not available to the public:

• Juvenile and adoption records, involving minors.
• Baker Act records. These are documents related to involuntary psychiatric evaluations and commitments.
• Substance abuse records
• Victim identity information. These are records that identify the victim of sexual offenses, child abuse, or domestic violence.
• Social Security numbers
• Bank account numbers
• Credit card numbers:
• Grand jury records
• Trade secrets
• Attorney-client privileged information

Juvenile Delinquency in Hillsborough, FL

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Hillsborough County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Florida often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 4 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Hillsborough County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 4 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Hillsborough County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Hillsborough County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Hillsborough County, FL

https://www.myflorida.com/

County Seat:	Tampa
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1834
Total Square Miles:	1,266
2019 Population:	1,408,566
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Hillsborough County, FL Courts