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Pinellas County Criminal Defense Attorney | Brancato Law Firm, P.A.

Short answer: A Pinellas County criminal defense attorney represents people charged in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, where Pinellas criminal cases are heard at the Pinellas County Justice Center, 14250 49th Street North in Clearwater. People arrested in Pinellas are held at the Pinellas County Jail on the same road, and unlike Hillsborough County, Pinellas offers supervised release without a money bond for some charges through the Sheriff’s Alternative Sentencing Unit. The Brancato Law Firm, P.A. defends felony and misdemeanor cases in Pinellas County from our office across the bay in downtown Tampa.

Rocky Brancato, founder of The Brancato Law Firm, P.A., has more than 25 years of experience defending felony and misdemeanor cases in Tampa Bay. He served as Chief Operations Officer and Chief Assistant Public Defender of the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office, overseeing a staff of over 100 attorneys, and he has tried more than 150 jury trials to verdict. Our attorneys at this Tampa criminal defense firm handle Pinellas cases with the same preparation we bring to every courtroom.

Where Are Criminal Cases Heard in Pinellas County?

Location	Address	What happens there
Pinellas County Justice Center	14250 49th St. N., Clearwater	Felony and misdemeanor criminal cases
Pinellas County Jail	14400 49th St. N., Clearwater	Booking and custody

Under Sixth Circuit Administrative Order 2026-014, all county criminal sections, including advisory hearings, are assigned to the Justice Center. The St. Petersburg Judicial Building and the Clearwater courthouse downtown are listed for civil matters (Sixth Circuit courthouse directory). Pinellas County had an estimated 948,563 residents in 2025 (U.S. Census Bureau), and law enforcement agencies made 25,595 arrests in 2020 (FDLE).

What Happens After an Arrest in Pinellas County?

Infographic of how a Pinellas County criminal case begins: booking at the Pinellas County Jail in Clearwater, first appearance within 24 hours, supervised release without bond for some cases, and diversion programs.

Booking. People arrested in Pinellas are booked at the Pinellas County Jail. Family members can check custody status at the Sheriff’s inmate search.
Bond. Many charges have a set bond under Administrative Order 2026-022, the Pinellas bond schedule for 2026. A person arrested while already on supervised pretrial release cannot bond out before first appearance. The Sheriff’s Office explains how to post bond, including card payments up to $2,500 per charge.
Advisory hearing. First appearance, called an advisory hearing in Pinellas, takes place within 24 hours of arrest, where the judge reviews probable cause and sets release conditions.
The filing decision. The Sixth Circuit State Attorney’s Office decides what charges to file.
Resolution. Cases end in a decision not to file, a dismissal, a diversion program, a negotiated plea, or trial.

Pinellas County offers pretrial supervision that Hillsborough does not. The Sheriff’s Alternative Sentencing Unit runs Supervised Release on Recognizance for certain nonviolent felonies and misdemeanor domestic violence cases, and Supervised Bond with GPS, alcohol monitoring, or drug testing. Asking for the right program at the advisory hearing can mean going home without posting a money bond.

Our guide on what to do in the first 48 hours after an arrest walks through the steps that protect your case.

Who Prosecutes and Defends Cases in Pinellas County?

Cases are prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, led by State Attorney Bruce Bartlett, which covers both Pinellas and Pasco Counties. The Sixth Circuit Public Defender is Sara Mollo. Most arrests are made by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, and by the St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, and Pinellas Park police departments. Forensic testing in Pinellas is often done by the county’s own Pinellas County Forensic Laboratory, operated under the District Six Medical Examiner, rather than by FDLE. Our forensic science defense page explains why that matters.

What Diversion Programs Are Available in Pinellas County?

Pretrial Intervention for misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies.
DROP, a first-time DUI diversion program for cases with a breath result of .150 or less, or a refusal.
Adult Drug Court.
Veterans Treatment Court, operating in Pinellas since 2011.
Mental Health Court, available in Pinellas County only.

Read about the 21-day rule and adversarial preliminary hearings and the right to an interpreter in Florida criminal court. For more answers at each stage, see our stage-by-stage guide to the Florida criminal case process.

Criminal Charges We Defend in Pinellas County

DUI and criminal traffic offenses
Drug crimes, including trafficking
Violent crimes and gun charges
Domestic violence
Sex crimes and internet crimes
Child abuse
Homicide
White collar and theft charges
Cases involving mental health or forensic evidence
Investigations before charges are filed

Areas We Serve in Pinellas County

We defend clients from St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, Pinellas Park, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Seminole, Oldsmar, Safety Harbor, Gulfport, St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, and every other community in Pinellas County.

Pinellas County Criminal Defense FAQs

Where are criminal cases heard in Pinellas County?

Criminal cases are heard at the Pinellas County Justice Center, 14250 49th Street North in Clearwater, including first appearance advisory hearings. The Brancato Law Firm defends Pinellas cases at the Justice Center from our Tampa office.

Can I be released without paying bond in Pinellas County?

Sometimes. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Alternative Sentencing Unit runs Supervised Release on Recognizance for certain nonviolent felonies and misdemeanor domestic violence cases. The Brancato Law Firm asks for supervised release at the advisory hearing when the client qualifies.

Is there a DUI diversion program in Pinellas County?

Yes. The State Attorney’s DROP program is a first-time DUI diversion program for cases with a breath result of .150 or less, or a refusal. Our attorneys at The Brancato Law Firm evaluate DROP eligibility in every Pinellas DUI case; see our DUI page.

Does Pinellas County have a mental health court?

Yes. The Sixth Circuit State Attorney’s Mental Health Court serves Pinellas County cases, but not Pasco County cases. The Brancato Law Firm helps clients and families apply for admission.

Do I need a Pinellas lawyer, or can a Tampa firm handle my case?

A Tampa firm can handle a Pinellas case. The Brancato Law Firm regularly appears at the Justice Center in Clearwater, about a 25-minute drive from our downtown Tampa office.

How do I find someone in the Pinellas County Jail?

Use the Pinellas County Sheriff’s online inmate search, which shows custody status and charges. The Brancato Law Firm can also confirm the advisory hearing time and bond for your family member.

Talk to a Pinellas County Criminal Defense Attorney Today

Our attorneys at The Brancato Law Firm, P.A., founded by Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney Rocky Brancato, can begin working on a Pinellas County case today, including at the advisory hearing. Call (813) 727-7159 for a confidential consultation. We also defend clients in Hillsborough County and Pasco County.

Trial attorney Jean-Luc Adrien speaks Spanish, Haitian Creole, and French, and our office has Spanish-speaking staff, so clients and families in Pinellas County can talk with us in their own language. Read more about criminal defense in Spanish and Haitian Creole.

The Brancato Law Firm, P.A.
620 E. Twiggs Street, Suite 205, Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 727-7159
Serving Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco Counties

Super Lawyers badge recognizing Tampa criminal defense attorney Rocky Brancato of The Brancato Law Firm, P.A. for excellence in criminal defense law in Florida.

The Brancato Law Firm, P.A. is a Tampa-based criminal defense practice. We are not affiliated with any other Brancato-named law firms.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Each case is unique, and outcomes depend on the individual facts and circumstances involved. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

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Tampa Office

620 E Twiggs St Suite #205

Tampa, FL 33602

Map / Directions

Phone: (813) 727-7159

Located minutes from the Hillsborough County Courthouse.

Meet Rocky Brancato

For over 25 years, Rocky Brancato has been a prominent force in Tampa Bay’s legal arena. Rocky rose to second-in-command at Tampa Bay’s largest defense firm before launching Brancato Law Firm, P.A. As a former specialized major crimes attorney for serious offenses like...