Are all proceedings at the 15th Judicial Circuit - Palm Beach County Courthouse - either electronically recorded or stenographically reported for county and circuit criminal cases?
Yes. Misdemeanors, traffic criminal, juvenile, commissioner hearings are all electronically recorded. There are some felony divisions which are recorded and some with stenographers [court reporters].

For civil, family and traffic infraction cases it is the responsibility of the litigants to hire a court reporter.

Can I order a tape or a transcript from a court hearing?
Yes. You may obtain a copy of a tape or a transcript from any electronically recorded proceeding. If the proceeding was stenographically reported [court reporter] only a transcript is available. Download a Transcript/Tape Order Form .

If I don't know if a proceeding from a felony case was electronically recorded or if there was a court reporter present, how can I determine that?
If you are not sure at the time of your request, when the request is received and processed that will be determined and you will be advised.

Is there a fee for a tape or transcript?
Yes. A copy of a tape from a proceeding in county court [misdemeanors and traffic], juvenile, commissioner hearings and for electronically recorded felony divisions the fee is $10.00 per tape, and the transcript fee is $1.75 per page for an original and one copy and $2.75 for an original and two copies. For stenographically reported felony divisions the fee is $4.50 per page for an original and one copy and $5.50 for an original and two copies.

How long does it take for a tape or transcript to be produced?
A tape from an electronically recorded proceeding, if in inventory, may be obtained within a week from the time of the request. A transcript from either an electronic/stenographic proceeding may be obtained within two to three weeks from the time of the request.

Can I expedite a request for a tape or transcript, and how long does it take?
Tape requests are on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be expedited; however, the turnaround time for tapes is less than a week. You can expedite a transcript request. The turnaround/delivery time from the time of the request is 5 to 7 working days depending on the length of the hearing.

What is the fee for an expedited transcript request?
For electronically recorded proceedings the fee is $2.63 per page and for stenographically reported proceedings the fee is $6.75 per page.

Can I get a transcript the next day, within 24 hours, and what is the cost?
Yes, within reason. This is called Daily Copy. If the proceeding lasted for up to two hours, for electronically recorded proceedings the fee is $3.50 per page, and for stenographically reported proceedings the fee is $9.00 per page.

Is payment required at the time of the request for either a tape or transcript, and how does that work?
No. But a transcript will not be produced without some type of deposit. For electronically recorded proceedings contractual transcribers are used to produce the transcript. When the request is processed a transcriber will be assigned to your request. Once the work is picked up by the transcriber he/she will contact you for any type of deposit required and financial arrangements are made directly with that person. If the proceeding was stenographically reported once the request is processed it will be given the to the court reporter for a page estimate. Upon receipt of this information from the court reporter our office will call and advise of the estimated number of pages for the particular proceeding and any deposit required to begin transcription.

Can a tape or a transcript be mailed or sent by a courier?
Yes. The fee to mail a tape is $2.00. To mail a transcript[s] would vary depending upon the amount of pages and weight. If you have an account with a courier company you may use that and send us a pre-addressed envelope[s] with the shipping information and account number for the overnight courier to pick up.

Court Reporting Services Programs:

CAT Computer Aided Transcripts
Our CAT Program is staffed by Stenographic Reporters covering five felony divisions of the Circuit Court. They are supported by a staff of Text Editors/Scopists that coordinate and produce all appellate transcripts as well as those ordered by the Court, attorneys and the public.

Centralized Recording Program
Our Centralized Recording Department was the first in the state. It covers all County Court Criminal Divisions and Juvenile Courts in the Main Courthouse (12 DIvisions). A central monitoring station is operated by a single Electronic Recording Clerk who is responsible for all playbacks requested by juries and the Court. Transcripts required of this program are prepared in-house and by Contractual Transcriptionists authorized by the Court.

Electronic Recording Program
Currently three Criminal Divisions of the Circuit Court are being electronically recorded by Recording Clerks assigned to those divisions. The proceedings are recorded on a dual cassette recorder. Playbacks are done by the individual Electronic Recording Clerks.

Transcripts are prepared in the same manner as the centrally recorded divisions. In addition to the Felony Divisions, all County Criminal Courts in all satellite are recorded, as well as Domestic Relations Commissioners' hearings. Tapes are also available for all electronically recorded proceedings.