The County Court Criminal Department is the largest single court related section within the Clerk's Office. This department handles all misdemeanors and criminal traffic violations which have a maximum penalty of one year or less in the county jail. The responsibilities for this department also include, but are not limited to, processing violations of county and municipal ordinances, civil traffic infractions along with misdemeanors that occur in conjunction with a civil traffic infraction (resisting arrest, etc.) and overdue parking tickets.

The Clerk is responsible for calendaring county court criminal cases for court, attending each court session and recording disposition of the Court. In addition, the Clerk has responsibility for reporting dispositions on all traffic cases, including non-court required appearances on civil traffic infractions, and placing drivers license suspensions on citations when the violations have not been satisfied in a timely manner.

The County Court Criminal Department is located at 255 N Broadway in Bartow, Florida. In addition, the Clerk has full-service branch offices located in Lakeland and Winter Haven. The specific branch location is determined by the site of the violation.

The Clerk of Court is authorized by Florida Statute to reinstate the drivers license and privilege to drive through direct access with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles when a person complies with all obligations and penalties imposed. The Clerk is able to enter the reinstatement on the record while the person is being served. A reinstatement fee may be imposed.

Please call 863-534-4446 for more information.