Public Records

The Law Office of Lisa B. McLean, Public Defender for the 13th Judicial Circuit (PD13) adheres the Florida Public Records Law, Ch. 119, F.S., as the law provides a right of access to the records of the state and local governments as well as to private entities acting on their behalf. In the absence of a statutory exemption, this right of access applies to all materials made or received by an agency in connection with the transaction of official business which are used to perpetuate, communicate or formalize knowledge.

PURSUANT TO Ch. 119, F.S., notice is hereby made that the contact information for the custodian of public records for PD13 is as follows:

Email: HR13@PD13.STATE.FL.US

General Public Record Inquiries: (813) 307-4004

News/Media Inquiries: HR13@PD13.STATE.FL.US

Mailing Address: Public Defender’s Office Public Records P. O. Box 172910 Tampa, FL 33672-0910

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

Current of Former Clients Requesting Copies of Files

All clients of PD13, whether current or former clients, receive a copy of their file. Clients receive either an electronic or paper/hard copy of their file depending on whether they are incarcerated or on bond. Additional requests for copies of files will incur charges.

Requesting Records

You do not have to give your name or explain why you are making a request. Pursuant to Florida law, public records request may be made anonymously however, the requestor must provide at least one method of contact to receive your requested materials. Please be mindful that under Florida law, emails sent to the PUBLIC DEFENDER’S office are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public-records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

Associated Costs

Requests for copies (electronic or hard copies) will be honored after payment is received. The documents will be prepared for inspection or copying only upon receipt of full payment. The amount of payment will be determined by the number of pages (if applicable) and materials in the requested file/files will be counted and costs calculated at the established rate.

Copy Fees: Fees are charged in accordance with Florida Statutes. The first copy of each page is typically $0.15, and each additional copy is $0.10 per page. Additional fees may apply for extensive research time or special requests.

Exempt and Confidential Records

While Florida has broad public records laws, certain information is exempt from disclosure under Florida Statutes. This may include:

Active criminal investigative information
Personal identifying information of victims
Sealed court records
Information protected by attorney-client privilege
Other statutory exemptions as provided by law

If your request includes exempt material, we will provide all non-exempt records and notify you of any exemptions applied in accordance with Florida law.

High Volume Requests

For requests that involve a high volume of records or require extensive time to process, we may need additional time to fulfill your request. We will provide you with an estimated timeline and any applicable costs for extensive research or duplication.

Complex requests may require consultation with our legal team to ensure proper redaction of exempt materials and compliance with all applicable laws.