Perform a free search for Bay County arrest records to find out if someone has been taken into custody. These records are kept by local record custodians and are available for the general public to view unless exempted for some reason.
This streamlined resource covers the process of looking up previous and current arrest records in Bay County, Florida, along with complete information on how to find a bail bondsman or post bail on behalf of someone to get them out of jail.
How To Find Recent Bay County Arrest Records & Mugshots at No Cost
According to Chapter 119, Section 1 of the Florida Statutes (2023), all municipal, county and state-level records are open for public inspection without any question and that agencies are obligated to make those records available to citizens. The county clerk, sheriff’s office and local law enforcement agencies serve as the record custodian to these records.
Bay County Clerk of Court: For finding arrest records in Bay County, Florida, the Clerk of Court offers an accessible way to search recent court cases and mugshots.
Interested individuals can use the Case Search Tool to look up anyone who has served custody or is included in the recent mugshots in Bay County.1 There are three ways to search using this tool:
- Search By Name
- Search By Case Number
- Search By Citation Number
To search by name, individuals need to enter at least the last name of the subject and then click on the blue search button to get a list of relevant records.
The following information about each arrest record is displayed once the search is made:
- Name
- PIN
- Party Type
- Case Number
- Status
- Citation Number
- Booking Number
For more details about a particular record, curious parties can click on the ‘Summary’ icon displayed at the far left of each record or see more details about the party by clicking on the hyperlinked name. Individuals can print the summary for free and also find useful information about a record, including party details, charges, events, case dockets, and much more.
The clerk of court also provides certified copies of arrest records through their E-Certify Portal for $1 per page and $2 for certifications. For more information or any query, inquirers can go through the their FAQs page or reach out to the Bay County Clerk of Court through the following means:2
Bay County Clerk of Court
300 E, 4th Street
Panama City, FL 32401
Phone: (850)-763-9061
Email: [email protected]
Bay County Sheriff’s Office: Another effective way to search for recent mugshots and arrest information is through the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, which is also a custodian of public records.
There are some fees regarding specific records that have to be paid in advance to receive information.3
Citizens can also report to the sheriff’s office in case of any suspects regarding a subject at (850)-747-4700.4
To get a hold of more information, individuals can browse through the Bay County Sheriff’s Office Jail Division or contact the office directly to request arrest records; their contact information is listed below:5
Bay County Sheriff’s Office
Highway 77, 3421 North
Panama City, FL 32405
Phone: (850)-747-4700
Email: [email protected]
Panama City Police Department – Lastly, residents of Panama City – the most populated city of Bay County, Florida – can also request recent mugshots or arrest records through their City Police Department by visiting in person or contacting them through phone.
Individuals can read more useful information through citizen resources and reach out to the Panama City Police Department via the following contact details:6
Panama City Police Department
1209 E. 15th St.
Panama City, Florida (32405)
Phone: (850)-872-3112
Email: [email protected]
Apart from official government sources, third-party resources such as VINELink can also be used to look up arrest records in Bay County. Inquirers can refer to the following section to search for information on previous offenses and arrest records in Bay County.
How To Uncover Information on Previous Offenses & Arrests Made in Bay County Florida
Interested parties can find information on prior local offenses and arrests – before 1987 – via the Bay County Clerk of Court.
Requesters can use the search tool provided by the Bay County official records browser to look up for arrest records as old as 1912 bifurcated further by individual or corporations and firms category.7
Note that non-certified copies of records are available for free, while certified ones are $2 each.
Since there isn’t a manual way to enter subject details, searchers are required to select the directory according to the timeframe they wish to find records for – opening a drop-down option of initials from where individuals can select the last or first name initial of the subject. Once the initial is selected, a list of relevant records will show complete information about the case and the arrestee.
Bay County Clerk of Court – Individuals can read out useful information or get help through the FAQs section or contact the Bay County Clerk of Court through the following means:
Bay County Clerk of Court
300 E, 4th St.
Panama City, FL 32401
Phone: (850)-763-9061
Fax: (850)-872-3198
Email: [email protected]
Panama City Police Department – The Panama City Police Department provides citizens with previous arrest records and offense information upon request.8
Interested parties can either call the department from 8 AM to 5 PM on working days, fax them, mail them, or submit their record requests in person.
As per Chapter 119, Section 7 of the Florida Statutes (2023), custodians of public records may charge a fee when giving access to public records; therefore, the Panama Police Department may charge a fee depending on the nature and volume of the request. Contact the Panama City Police Department through the methods outlined below:
Panama City Police Department
1209 E. 15th St.
Panama City, Florida (32405)
Phone: (850)-872-3112
Fax: (850)-872-3198
Email: [email protected]
Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE): Individuals who want to find previous offense information and arrest records across the state can do so through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The office of the general council is the custodian of public records that process citizens’ requests for information covering various aspects.
Curious parties can read more information regarding public records requests through the FDLE’s guide to requests and reach out to the General Council Office to request prior arrest information through the following details:9
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Office of the General Council
2331 Phillips Rd
Tallahassee, Florida (32308)
Phone: (850)-410-7676
Email: [email protected]
Interested parties can learn how to post bail for someone or hire a professional bail bondsman to get someone out of jail in Bay County, Florida, through the following section.
How To Find a Bail Bondsman or Post Bail for Someone Arrested in Bay County
For individuals to post bail for someone arrested in Bay County, they first need to know the bail amount that the court decides during the first hearing. The first hearing takes place after the arrest, where a subject is handcuffed and taken into custody, with the booking process starting shortly after it.
A criminal defense attorney can be of great help if the subject is arrested for any criminal charges. For minor misdemeanors, the subject can represent him or herself in front of the court.
During the first hearing, the judge examines the case and decides the bail amount mostly on the below parameters:
- Driving Under Influence: $500 – $5,000
- Third Degree Felony: $2,000
- Second Degree Felony: $7,500
- First Degree Felony: $15,000
- Felony: $25,000 – $100,000
Note that the bail amount has to be paid in cash at the Bay County Jail Facility at the following address, and individuals can also ask any questions or queries through the said details:10
Bail County Jail
5700 Star Lane
Panama City, Florida 32404
Phone: (850)-785-5245
Email: [email protected]
A bail bondsman can be of great help to individuals who do not have the financial cushion to pay for bail in full.
The bail bondsman’s job is to settle the full bond amount and convince the court that the subject will be present in all court hearings. According to Chapter 648, Section 33 of the Florida Statutes (2023), a fee is to be paid by the offender to the bail bondsman, which is the 10% flat rate for all bail bondsmen operating in Florida.11
A meeting with the bail bondsman is set up in the jail or in a permitted area where an agreement is signed, and the 10% fee is paid in advance – after which the offender is released from the jail. The process of a bail bond can take up to 8 hours, depending on the department and county.
Complete information about looking up current and previous Bay County arrest records has been disclosed in this resource, along with all of the necessary nuances and information regarding the bail process. Responsible citizens are requested to prefer government agencies for any record search to ensure the best level of accuracy.
References
1Bay County Clerk of Court & Comptroller. (2024). Case Search. Retrieved March 07, 2024 from, <https://court.baycoclerk.com/BenchmarkWeb2/Home.aspx/Search>
2Bay County Clerk of Court & Comptroller. (n.d.). Contact. Retrieved March 07, 2024, from <https://www.baycoclerk.com/about/contact/>
3Bay County Sheriff’s Office. (2023). Fee Schedule. Retrieved March 07, 2024, from <https://www.bayso.org/uploads/BCSO%20Fee%20Schedule.pdf>
4Bay County Sheriff’s Office. (n.d.). Online Reporting. Retrieved March 07, 2024, from <https://www.baysomobile.org/er/>
5Bay County Sheriff’s Office. (n.d.). Contact Bay County Sheriff’s Office. Retrieved March 07, 2024, from <https://www.bayso.org/contact-us.aspx>
6Panama City Police Department. (n.d.). Citizen Resources. Retrieved March 07, 2024, from <https://panamacitypolice.gov/citizen-resources>
7Bay County Clerk of Court & Comptroller. (n.d.). Bay County Official Records Browser. Retrieved March 07, 2024, from <https://apps.baycoclerk.com/DirectApp/>
8Panama City Police Department. (n.d.). Public Records Request. Retrieved March 07, 2024, from <https://www.panamacitypolice.gov/public-records-request>
9Florida Department of Law Enforcement. (n.d.). FDLE’s Guide to Public Records Requests. Retrieved March 07, 2024, from <https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/Open-Government/Documents/FDLEGuidetoPublicRecords.aspx>
10Bay County Sheriff’s Office. (2023, June 01). Judicial, Warrants & Court Services Division. Retrieved March 07, 2024, from <https://www.bayso.org/jail-division>
11The Florida Legislature. (2023). Statutes & Constitution: View Statutes Online Sunshine – The 2023 Florida Statutes (including Special Session C). Retrieved March 07, 2024, from <http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0600-0699/0648/0648.html>