Wealth of Information at our Disposal

Our visit to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office was incredibly enlightening (you have to be escorted to the restrooms security is so tight!). Director of Community Affairs J.D. Callaway (like the golf clubs) and Cristal Nunez of media relations sat down with us to explain the relationship between the sheriff’s office and the media. They provided us with their standard operating procedures when it comes to media relations, as well as examples of the documents we can request and receive.


Standard Operating Procedure

It was a little foreboding to begin with a ten page guide to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office operating procedures. It really reads as an idiot’s guide to what you can and can’t request from them, when you can get it, and exactly what media can release for certain events like suicide or fire scenes.

Criminal Report Affidavit

Known as CRA’s, criminal report affidavits are not available online for anyone to see but are required for anyone going into jail. They contain a police officer’s report on what exactly went down and why. CRA’s list witnesses, victims, the criminal and all the facts tied to the case. These reports are available at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office in their records department.

Online Booking Sheet

Incredibly useful, most booking information can be found online by any member of the public (…a great tool before any blind date!). You can see the photograph of the accused along with their information, charges, and arrest information. This can be truly valuable due to its instantaneous availability thanks to the web. You can’t access a juveniles booking information though, unless he has been charged as an adult in which case the information would become public record.

General Offense Information

Once again found at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office records, general offense records contain detailed reports done after a CRA and can be generated inside a cop car. These records contain the offense, offender’s appearance, and a breakdown of what the officer did and observed during the arrest. In the example given to us, the officer had pulled over a man for a DUI. In detail he described his interactions with the man via field sobriety tests, the man’s refusal of a breath test, the car’s information, and arrest information.

Affidavit for Search Warrant

An affidavit for a search warrant can be found at the courthouse, not the sheriff’s office. It contains the issuing judges information and signature, what officers are allowed to search for and why. It’s a pretty simple but long document and completely necessary—if they don’t have it, nothing they take can be admitted as evidence in court!

Arrest Warrant

Something no one ever wants to receive, you can obtain an arrest warrant from the courthouse not the sheriff’s office. The warrant includes the defendant, their crime, their employment and appearance.