Pembroke Pines Background Check

Background check records for Pembroke Pines are held at the Broward County Clerk of Courts in Fort Lauderdale. Pembroke Pines is one of the most populated cities in Broward County, with close to 180,000 residents spread across the western part of the county. The Broward Clerk keeps court records, case files, and criminal history data that make up the local side of a background check. For statewide checks, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement runs criminal history searches through its own system. Residents and organizations in Pembroke Pines use both county and state records to get a full picture when running a background check.

Broward County Court Records for Pembroke Pines

All court records for Pembroke Pines go through Broward County. The Clerk of Courts is Brenda D. Forman. Her office manages criminal case files, civil suits, and other court documents that show up in a background check. The main clerk office is in Fort Lauderdale, about 15 miles east of Pembroke Pines. You can visit in person or use the online search tools to pull up records.

The Broward Clerk has an online case search on their site. It is free to look up case details. You can search by name or case number to find criminal and civil records for anyone in Pembroke Pines. This is one of the first places to check when you need public court data for a background check. The clerk site also has records for traffic cases, small claims, and domestic matters filed in the county.

Note: Court records in Broward County may take a few days to show up in the online system after a case is filed.

Running a Background Check in Pembroke Pines

Pembroke Pines residents can access public records through several channels. The city sits in western Broward County and falls under the jurisdiction of the 17th Judicial Circuit.

The City of Pembroke Pines website has links to local services, but background check records come from county and state sources. The city does not keep its own criminal history files. You have to go to Broward County or the FDLE for that information. The Pembroke Pines Police Department can help with local incident reports, but formal background checks require the state or county systems.

FDLE Criminal History Checks

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement handles statewide background checks. This is the main state agency for criminal history records. Their system covers all 67 Florida counties, so a search through FDLE will pick up records from Pembroke Pines and everywhere else in the state.

FDLE runs two types of searches. A name-based search uses the person's name and date of birth. It costs $24 and you can submit it online through CCHInet. Results come back fast. A fingerprint-based search is more thorough. It links to the FBI database and checks nationwide records. Fingerprints must be taken at an approved LiveScan provider near Pembroke Pines. Several locations in western Broward County offer this service.

You can learn more about FDLE criminal history services at their main records page. The site explains the types of checks, who can request them, and what forms you need. Most results for Pembroke Pines background checks will include arrests, charges, and dispositions from courts across the state.

Note: FDLE name-based checks do not include out-of-state records unless those records were reported to the Florida system.

Background Check Fees

Costs for a background check in Pembroke Pines depend on which type you get. The FDLE name search is $24. That fee covers the state criminal history report. A fingerprint search costs more because it includes the FBI portion. LiveScan providers charge their own fee on top of the state fee, so the total for a fingerprint check is usually $50 to $80.

At the Broward County Clerk, looking up court records online is free. If you need certified copies of documents, the clerk charges per page. You can call (954) 831-6565 for current copy fees. The MyFloridaCounty portal also gives access to official records from Broward County, including liens, deeds, and other recorded documents tied to a person in Pembroke Pines.

Public Records Access

Florida has broad public records laws. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes makes most government records open to the public. This includes arrest records, court filings, and many other documents used in background checks. You do not need to give a reason to request records. The law applies to all agencies in Pembroke Pines and throughout Florida.

The Attorney General's Open Government page has guides on how to make public records requests. If an agency in Pembroke Pines denies your request, the AG's office can help you understand your rights. Most records are available, though some have exemptions under state law.

Certain records are sealed or expunged. Chapter 943 of the Florida Statutes covers the rules for sealing and expunging criminal records. If a record has been sealed, it will not show up in most background checks for Pembroke Pines. Only specific agencies can see sealed files. The FDLE handles all seal and expunge requests for the state.

Types of Background Checks in Pembroke Pines

Different situations call for different types of checks. Here are the main ones used in Pembroke Pines:

• FDLE name-based criminal history search
• Fingerprint-based state and FBI check
• Broward County court record search
• Federal court record search (Southern District of Florida)
• Sex offender registry check

The type you need depends on the situation. A simple court record search at the county level may be enough for some purposes. Other cases call for the full FDLE and FBI fingerprint check. Chapter 435 of the Florida Statutes sets out which checks are needed for certain regulated activities in the state. This law applies to Pembroke Pines the same as everywhere else in Florida.

The Florida Clerks website can help you find the right clerk office for any county. Since Pembroke Pines is in Broward, you will be working with the Broward Clerk for local records.

Note: Federal court records for Pembroke Pines fall under the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Fort Lauderdale.

Broward County Background Check Records

Pembroke Pines is part of Broward County, and all local court records flow through the Broward County Clerk of Courts. The county handles cases for more than 30 cities and towns across the area. For a full look at county-level resources, fee schedules, and search tools, see the Broward County background check page.

View Broward County Background Check Records

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Pembroke Pines and share Broward County resources for background checks:

• Hollywood
• Miramar
• Davie
• Fort Lauderdale
• Coral Springs